Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Hollywood Holidays: Variety of Christmas tales to be found on video, DVD

Sick of "It's a Wonderful Life?"

Wondering what all the fuss is about for "Elf?"

Rather eat fruitcake than suffer through "Home Alone" again?

There are plenty of other yuletide choices collecting dust at a nearby video/ DVD rental store.

Following are some distinctive yuletide-themed films - some good, some positively awful - to get you in the holiday spirit or put you in the mind of Grinch.

"A Christmas Story" (PG, 95 minutes, 1983): Yes, this film is in danger of overkill at the holiday season thanks to TBS. But with the just-released 20th anniversary version two-DVD set, "A Christmas Story" is well worth picking up.

The now-classic story takes place in the 1940s, when all Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley) wants for Christmas is a Red Ryder BB gun. Rounding out the quirky cast of characters are Ralphie's father, "The Old Man" (Darren McGavin), his mother, "Mother" (Melinda Dillon) and his younger brother, Randy (Ian Petrella). Highlights include a tongue and a frozen pole, a visit to Santa and Christmas dinner at a Chinese food restaurant.

The package includes the film in pan-and-scan and letterbox format, after previously only being available as the former. The second disc comes with some great extras, including "Another Christmas Story" documentary at how this low-budget film became a holiday tradition.

Released in 1983, "A Christmas Story" only grossed just north of $20 million, including a re-release the following year. More depressing still, Bob Clark, who directed "A Christmas Story" and helped adapt the short story to the big screen, actually had a much bigger box-office hit in 1982: "Porky's," which made more than $110 million. Then again, "Porky's" isn't shown for 24 consecutive hours by any network.

And that's reason enough to celebrate.

"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"

(PG-13, 97 minutes, 1989): "Christmas Vacation" actually managed to redeem the "Vacation" series after the wretched "European Vacation."

The Griswold clan, led by patriarch Clark (Chevy Chase at his befuddled best), takes the holidays seriously, including a 25,000-Christmas-light display on their home to rival Disney, er, Wally World. Of course, plans go awry when cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) and his family show up unannounced in a broken-down RV just before Christmas.

"Christmas Vacation" is one of those films that fits perfectly into an annual seasonal viewing, with jokes that remain funny and a goofy but heartwarming message. Better than "Home Alone" any day.

"Jingle All the Way" (PG, 85 minutes, 1996) -- There's something not quite right about this movie's condemnation of Christmas commercialism.

Maybe it's because the film itself was supposed to be a holiday blockbuster with the now-governor of California himself as the career-a-holic dad who has lost sight of the true meaning of Christmas.

Unfortunately for Arnold Schwarzenegger and the film's producers, "Jingle All the Way" made only $60 million at the box office, essentially breaking even. The all-star cast includes Phil Hartman in the smarmy role he played so well throughout his career, Sinbad as Arnold's toy-buying nemesis, Rita Wilson (aka Tom Hanks' wife) and Jake Lloyd, in his first big role before playing the future Darth Vader in "The Phantom Menace." If only George Lucas had paid attention to Lloyd's acting skills -- or lack thereof -- Lucas could have avoided that dreadful casting decision.

"Trapped in Paradise" (PG-13, 111 minutes, 1994) -- There's not much to like about this pro-Christmas, pro-small-town values film. It's neither funny nor particularly memorable.

The plot, such as it is, concerns three thuggish brothers -- Nicolas Cage, Dana Carvey, Jon Lovitz -- who stumble into the financial opportunity of their lives in a virtually unguarded bank in Paradise, Penn. Of course, nothing goes according to the would-be bank robbers' plan, and the trio wind up trapped in the small town, where they encounter nothing but generosity among its residents.

There's a reason why Carvey and Lovitz have not maintained successful film careers. The former "Saturday Night Live" cast members do their best work on the small screen. And watching Cage sleepwalk through this film ... it's difficult to believe he would win a Best Actor Oscar a year later for "Leaving Las Vegas."

"A Midnight Clear" (R, 107 minutes, 1992) -- For a more somber Christmas tale, check out this story of a young army squadron fighting to stay alive in the dying days of World War II.

While holed up in an abandoned house in France, the platoon encounters a group of ragtag German soldiers who seem more playful than hostile: making snowmen, engaging in a snowball fight with the American G.I.s, even serenading them with Christmas carols. The question: Can they be trusted?

The film features an all-star cast, including a baby-faced Ethan Hawke and doe-eyed Gary Sinise. "A Midnight Clear" marked the second writing-directing job for actor Keith Gordon of "Christine" and "Back to School" fame who most recently directed "The Singing Detective."

Unfortunately, his career hasn't matched the greatness in this film.

"Silent Night, Deadly Night 5: The Toy Maker" (R, 91 minutes, 1991) -- The fifth in a series of slasher flicks that ran its course after the first film and long after the movies had drifted from the original holiday theme.

Still, part five not only returns to its Christmas roots, but boasts the casting coup of Mickey Rooney as the deranged toy maker, Joe Petto, who is out to kill children with his booby-trapped toys. Petto also has a son, Pino, who's equally evil. If the names don't ring a bell, try watching "Pinnochio" again.

Not exactly a typical holiday pleaser -- especially to watch Rooney slumming it -- but certainly worth a look for those inclined to explore nontraditional holiday fare.

"Scrooged" (PG-13, 101 minutes, 1988) -- Long before Bill Murray made his move to the indie film circuit, he was earning a good living as one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood.

In "Scrooged," Murray plays the modern-day character as a selfish TV executive (is there any other kind?) named Francis Xavier Cross. Co-written by former "SNL" scribe Michael O'Donoghue, there is an undercurrent of cynicism in much of the humor, which plays well with Murray's acerbic charm. Carol Kane has a surprisingly effective cameo, proving that a little of the actress goes a long way.

While "Scrooged" is not a replacement for the Charles Dickens classic, Murray is enjoyable enough to merit an annual visit.

"Trading Places" (R, 118 minutes, 1983) -- Certainly not a Christmas classic in the traditional sense; nevertheless, "Trading Places" is set mostly during the holidays and does have a unique seasonal message: revenge is sweet.

A twist on "Prince and the Pauper" by Mark Twain, the story involves Louis Winthorpe III (Dan Aykroyd) as a well-to-do New York commodity broker whose job and wealth are abruptly taken from him and awarded to a petty con artist, Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy). The switch is masterminded as a social wager by Winthorpe's employers, brothers Mortimer and Randolph Duke (Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy).

It takes the proverbial hooker with a heart of gold (Jamie Lee Curtis, finally showing off her comedic chops) to help make everything right again.

A brilliant piece of social satire, "Trading Places" is arguably the finest film work from Aykroyd and Murphy, and 20 years after its release remains as funny as ever.

"White Christmas" (not rated, 120 minutes, 1954) -- Sure, "It's a Wonderful Life" gets all the attention -- and rightfully so -- as the pre-eminent holiday film. But "White Christmas" has a seasonal charm all its own.

The story centers on Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye as a famous song-and-dance duo who team up with a sister act, played by Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, to help out their former army general and his financially troubled inn in Vermont. The musical numbers by Irving Berlin are great, but the real showstopper is Crosby eloquently crooning "White Christmas."

It doesn't get any more festive.

"Die Hard" (R, 131 minutes, 1988) -- For those who enjoy action movies, "Die Hard" offers a nice balance of testosterone and Christmas cheer.

Bruce Willis plays the Everyman caught in a bad situation not of his making. In this case he's a New York City cop, John McClane, whose Christmas Eve visit to Los Angeles to see his family goes awry when his estranged wife, Holly (Bonnie Bedelia), is among a group of employees held captive in a 40-story office building.

While "Die Hard 2: Die Harder" retains the Christmas setting, the film isn't as fun, exciting or clever as the original.

"Ernest Saves Christmas" (PG, 95 minutes, 1988) -- The second in the parade of Ernest films has Jim Varney's titular character ... well, the title says it all.

Essentially, Ernest meets Santa Claus, who has flown down from the North Pole to South Florida to give the sleigh reigns to his hand-picked successor -- and no, it's not Ernest.

Of course, this movie is more for the 12-and-under crowd, but really, "Ernest Saves Christmas" is not as bad as one would expect. It's similar to a cup of hot chocolate on a cold day: it gets you warm for a bit, but the satisfying feeling doesn't last long.

"The Nightmare Before Christmas" (PG, 76 minutes, 1993) -- Leave it to Tim Burton to find a way to combine the creepiness of Halloween with seasonal holiday cheer.

Based on Burton's own story idea, "The Nightmare Before Christmas" concerns Jack Skellington, ruler of the land of Halloween, who learns of Christmas and its joyous effect on children.

Filled with jealousy over his holiday competition, Skellington hatches a scheme to take over Christmas as well. He kidnaps Santa and delivers his own kind of toys -- frightening the children in the process. Eventually, of course, he learns there can be only one Santa Claus.

With spectacular stop-motion animation and whimsical art direction of both Christmastown and the land of Halloween, "The Nightmare Before Christmas" is a rare gem: a dual-holiday classic.

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