Holiday Movies/TV 2024: A Season of Heartstrings and Netflix Support
When you have a year where things just kind of head towards down times, having a few laughs on the screen helps getting through the holiday season. This years I had a few more additions to the holiday playlist. What I found interesting is that I had a classic movie pop up into my feed, a movie my mom would actually watch while she wrapped presents. It made me question The Big Chill really a holiday movie? Picture it 1984, I’m turning 10 years old and my mother has declared that it’s wrapping night in our childhood home. My mother sent us off to bed and on the tradition that begins It came around for several more decades.
So, the question is, is The Big Chill a holiday movie? Many of us have traditions of watching certain movies, directors, series of films, or a Saga while we are wrapping presents or even putting ornaments on the Christmas tree. That’s what this list stems from, my family traditions. Recently I reached out to several friends and asked them. What is your favorite holiday movie to watch while wrapping Christmas presents. This tradition started with my mother at a young age for my sister and I, but one movie made it’s imprint starting in 1984 when she got her first copy of The Big Chill on VHS. The answer in the end, to my mother, The Big Chill was a holiday movie, as it fit the world she was creating every holiday season.
Meet Me Next Christmas (Netflix) - I cannot believe I am writing this review about Pentatonix on my blog. I have a love hate relationship with the group, this is evident in my holiday music reviews each year. They’re right up there with Mannheim Steamroller! Going back to holiday movie in question, the group plays a pivotal role in Meet Me Next Christmas on Netflix. I love the casting, minus the whining, 5 person musical group, and their so/so acting. Christina Milian and Devale Ellis are holiday movie pros, and their portrayal as crossing stars in this rom-com shows how hard work can carry a whole film. The story is actually pretty original and I really enjoyed, and finished the movie. This would have been my first add to the holiday watch list this holiday season, sadly the 5 Pentatonix, made the movie palpable enough for one watch.
That Christmas (Netflix) - This is probably one of the most surprising and original animated movies I’ve have seen in recent years. Taking the whole idea of unique families and building a movie around it, with an emphasis on the hard reality of disfunction. The legendary Richard Curtis, who gave us Love Actually and Nothing Hill, brings a tale of hurdles and overcoming them as a family and as friends. The kids loved this movie and I most certainly agreed that it needed to be added to our holiday playlist. Last year Curtis gave us Genie with Melissa McCarthy and it was just okay. But this movie hit the right holiday cheer for the season. BTW, did you know that Richard Curtis made an appearance in Love Actually as trombone player during the wedding scene? Curtis is comedy gold and this animated treat, is a perfect holiday addition to your personal rotation, kids or not. All of the family storylines he wove together touches is all.
Hot Frosty (Netflix) - Lacey Chabet returns this holiday season with another holiday movie on Netflix. She stars along with some familiar faces in Hot Frosty. It’s a live action Frosty movie we always thought we didn’t need. Last year, Chabet stared in two holiday movies, and Hot Santa is her 17th holiday movie, yes 17 movies. She could possible be the Queen of holiday movies. As corny as the title sounds, the story and cast actually round it out as a great sit and watch during the holidays. With the amazingly funny and holiday movie alumni, Katy Mixon (American Housewife) and holiday movie virgin Dustin Milligan (Schitt’s Creek) provide the comedic timing. I almost didn’t recognize Milligan, literally! I thought originally it was Jackson Rathbone from Twilight sagas. In this day and age, the spirit of Christmas can explain everything, right! Like a snowman coming to life. Then again, it’s just a movie. I think the crowning moment of this movie was the casting of Craig Robinson (The Office) as the antagonist. The movie grew on me pretty fast and I did add it to my holiday movie list. Even down to the cheesy extras doing silly silent motions, like the guy standing at the restaurant exit, giving Chabet a “You Go Girl” fist pump! Sadly not an add to my watchlist.
Our Little Secret (Netflix) Lindsay Lohan is truly a comeback that I am kind of happy to see happen. The Amazing Kristin Chenoweth is racking up her fourth holiday movie, I believe. This time she’s costarring with Lindsay Lohan, who has actually been picking some pretty solid vehicles as she returns to the screens in the universe. I have to say, this little game of cat and mouse actually flows really well. I really enjoyed Lohan’s performance, more so than her love interest. Of course Chenoweth steals my heart each time she walks on screen. No matter how campy and sugary her characters are. This is worth a watch for sure, but not quite list worthy.
The Snow Sister (Netflix) Yet again, Netflix has procured another magical European story with a flawless english voiceover, that you forget you are watching a foreign film. This story of two kids meeting during sad times in both of their families. They build a friendship on their love of family and the holidays. Yes, this movie is a heavier storyline, the overall story arch sucks you in completely, along with the great acting by the two young actors. The overall production created by the amazing Norwegian director Cecilie Mosli is flawless. From the treatment of film in post production, right down to the editing. I am adding this to my holiday playlist for sure. Even the kids, after the tears, found the greatness in this film.
The Merry Gentleman (Netflix) - Marla Sokoloff and Britt Robertson team up for the Magic Mike of the holiday season. The Merry Gentleman on Netflix is for all you men and ladies who like a little gentle flesh on the big or little screen. One thing I will say is the gents really do bring it. Listen, Chad Michael Murray is on fire lately. And I am not talking about his physique. We just watched him in Mother of the Bride with Brooke Shields, which is a fun watch. A new TV series on the CW and he’s returning to big screen in Freaky Friday 2, along with 3 other films in production. I am officially saying I would not watch this movie again, but secretly you know I will watch it again. The plot is predictable but watching Murry, Sokoloff and Robertson on screen is a treat. I have always enjoyed Robertson in Tomorrowland, and had hoped she would fly high in her career. I am loving she’s embracing the holiday movie genre, I think she will be brilliant. While Murray and Sokoloff are regulars. The Gen X’rs will also enjoy seeing Michael Gross (Family Ties) back on the screen, just wish he had more lines. Sadly not an add to my holiday watch list.
Nutcrackers (hulu) - Ben Stiller at Christmas. For Stiller’s first holiday themed movie he’s done in his long career. It’s not his only holiday movie, he also is Lucifer in with Jack Black, although not credited. An interesting production, with four real-life brothers, play for orphaned brother’s who are placed in the care of their uncle. The first half hour of the movie is a drag but hang in there. The story really kicks in and the kids shift from the bruising brood of young actors into a more relaxed and season kid actors. While I didn’t add this to my holiday watch list, it’s worth watching at least once in your lifetime. The only thing lacking from the movie is the rest of the cast, and their involvement in the storyline.
Dear Santa (Hulu) Staring Jack Black, this 2024 comedy, not the 2020 documentary. Honestly. this was a really funny movie and the kids loved it. It’s a spin on Lucifer son Satan receiving a letter intended for Santa. Desperate to prove his worth, Satan will do anything to turn a young kid to turn evil. The cast is where the gold is, with several classic comedic talents like Black, Keegan-Michael Key and PJ Byrne paired with rising talents like Robert Timothy Smith (Skeleton Crew) and Brianne Howey (Ginny & Georgia), with a Post Malone walking on to the camera for a scene or two. It’s a fun watch and the kids enjoyed its, but they agreed not list worthy.
Red One (Amazon) - What’s not to love, Captain America and Maui in one movie. The kids wanted this movie added to the holiday playlist. Red One is a kidnapping, or stanta-napping and rescue. Chris Evans is on search for Santa, while Dwayne Johnson is playing Santa’s chief of security. This is actually a pretty fun watch for kids. It is rate PG-13 but honestly an 8 year old can watch this movie. Yes, I added it to the holiday watch list.
The Best Christmas Pagent Ever (Starz) I thought the kids were going to love this one, but at the end of it, all I got was a “it was cute”. Sadly not list worthy. I do have to say while the outcast kids turning to good is not just a cliche storyline this year, or any year. Over all the movie was entertaining and worth a watch. I love Judy Greer, and she really does carry the whole film. That said, I do agree with the kids, not list worthy.
Carry On (Netflix) While the movie is set on Xmas Even, this story of a TSA agent being blackmailed to commit crimes at a airport is far from a Xmas movie. We are not talking about Die Hard here! Far from it. I liked the movie, but it was too predictable and not enough xmas.
This was a pretty good season for new movies. Sadly no real big releases in the theaters this season. The trend of theater releases is pretty much gone now. I honestly cannot remember the last XMAS movie I saw in the theater. Maybe The Family Stone (which is must watch every season, Keaton is brilliant.) There is some hope we see a theatrical release in 2025. For now, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays,
