A Christmas movie starring Denis Leary. Seriously. It was Bad Santa before Bad Santa and done beautifully. Denis stars as a jewel thief trapped in a suburban home with an insanely dysfunctional family (with Kevin Spacey as the father). Denis basically brings his comedy rants to holidays. He lets everyone have it in this flick. This movie is probably going to be the least watched on this list and it's a shame because it's absolutely hilarious.
9. Home Alone
Even though I would've beat his little ass and his parents should've been thrown in jail, Macaulay Culkin was perfect as precocious Kevin McCallister. And casting Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern as the 'Wet Bandits' was genius. I remember the first time I saw this movie I kept waiting for Pesci to stab little Kevin in the neck. But good ole Joe steps out of his typecasting to show range in a comedy. I've ssen this movie 20 times and the traps are still just as funny. Keep the change ya filthy animal!
8. Emmett Otter's Jug-Band Christmas
Jim Henson takes time away from the Muppets to create, in my opinon, his best work ever. Emmitt Otter is full of catchy tunes with good melodies, and hilarious one-liners. The cameo from Kermit the Frog gave it legitimacy, but it didn't need it. This one is a classic, and it pisses me off that it's never shown on television. Everyone should be able to witness The Riverbottom Nightmare Band.
7. Bad Santa
The Anti-Christmas movie. I just saw this movie for the probably 50th time two days ago and laughed my ass off like it was the first time. Billy Bob Thorton should've gotten an Oscar for this one. No one else could've pulled it off, yet he does it so convincingly that I swear if I ever got to meet the man I would expect to see him with a bottle of Thunderbird in his hand. It's shocking, vulgar, and crude, and tasteless.....and brilliant. A true defining moment not just for holiday movies, but comedy in general.
6. Gremlins
Props for Joe Dante for being smart enough to set this movie during Christmas. It gave the dark theme of the story some balance. With all the violence and bloodshed seeing the Christmas trees and snow almost feels refreshing. Gizmo is still the cutest creature to every be put to film and all the characters were believable and well acted. The only thing I didnt like about the movie is not seeing Judge Reinhold get tore apart by Spike and his boys. Damn.
5. Elf
Casting Will Ferrell wasn't a stretch, but he nails Buddy the Elf with savant like precision. Even though I'm getting tired of seeing it on tv every other hour, this movie is a modern classic. It's so good that it put my father in the Christmas spirit and he makes Scrooge look like Santa Clause. After seeing this movie, my dad was singing Christmas carols at the top of his lungs. And in the end...that's all Buddy wanted.
4. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Who would've thought that after the European sequel that Chevy Chase could pull off a funny Vacation movie. Well, he did. All of his whacked out relatives and obsessive light display was utter bliss. Thank God for John Hughes (R.I.P.) because had it not been for his script, this movie would've been garbage. No one knows Christmas themed movies like Hughes. To be honest, the real star of this movie is Cousin Eddie. Randy Quaid steals every scene he's in. It's almost a shame too.....obviously someone else shares my sentiment because they made Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure. I'm not joking.
3. Scrooged
The sarcastic comedy of Bill Murray is more than welcomed in this modern retelling of Dickens' classic. Out of all the movies on this list, this is the one I enjoy watching more than once. Bill's comedic timing in this movie should be a standard that all comedians to follow. Had anyone else been cast as Frank Cross, this movie would've been a turd. But it's Murray's ability to mend his prickish attitude and comedy that makes the film. Being directed by Richard Donner doesn't hurt either.
2. It's a Wonderful Life
This movie will always have nostalgic place in my heart. I watch it every year with my mother....and she's sobs every year. It's almost ironic that one of the best holiday movies of all time failed at the box office. Probably had something to do with Christmas being mixed with themes of suicide. But Jimmy Stewart puts on his best performance in this movie, showing what a truly great actor he was. If you ever are in doubt about your place in this world, watch this movie and it'll help guide you where you need to be. If not, then at least watch it to try to spot the cameo from The Little Rascal's Alfalfa.
1. A Christmas Story
This movie really needs no explanation. Hands down the best Christmas movie ever. Good thing it had 'Christmas' in the title. Who would've thought the guy that directed Porkie's would go on to make a wholesome family Christmas movie? It's got cursing kids, tongues stuck to poles, pissed of Santas, bullies, bb guns, leg lamps, and a kid that won't eat. Everything needed for a great Christmas. On a side note, this movie was filmed in Cleveland and Ralphie's house was preserved to look as it did in the film. I live in Ohio and never knew that. I just might have to make a little drive to Cleveland some day.
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