Unless you party with the funnest people on the planet, after a while holiday gatherings can feel like a never ending marathon of small talk and big calorie desserts. To keep things fresh and interesting, interrupt the chatfest and play a crowd pleasing holiday movie. There is a holiday movie for just about any crowd. Here are a few of my favorites.
Dr. Seuss - How the Grinch Stole Christmas DVD for $14.99 is a holiday classic for many reasons. It's short enough to appeal to the short attention span crowd (kids and internet junkies who will simply DIE if they have to wait longer than an hour to check their email/Facebook page). It's strikes the perfect balance between sweetness, whimsy and humor which appeals anyone who is a kid at heart. The story and animation are simply entertaining, even after all these years.
What I love about A Christmas Story is that the story is told from 9 year old Ralphie Parker's point of view. This delightful holiday gem tells is set in the 1940's and tells the story of Ralphie's efforts to obtain the ultimate Christmas present, a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-Shot, Range Model Air Rifle, in spite of the fact that every adult that he tells warns him he'll shoot his eye out. Meanwhile The Old Man just got a strange award (a lamp shaped like a woman's leg), Ralphie's not too bright friend gets his tongue stuck to a flag pole, and Ralphie accidentally blurts out the f-word in front of his father.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is a delightful low brow goofball comedy with Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) and family. Clark and his wife are all prepared for a nice Christmas with the kids when their home is invaded by backwoods cousin Eddie and his brood, along with other wacky and/or stuffy relatives. Complications and chaos including over the top holiday lighting, a crazed squirel and even crazier characters create plenty of situations to laugh about.
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