Every year, in December, there’s a bevy of social media postings and articles about how much people loathe Love, Actually. And, of course, there are a host of articles and posts declaring their love for the film. I treasure parts of Love, Actually and will never trash the whole film–I simply fast forward through every scene involving Colin, the interminable Mr. Bean cameo, and that whole tragic Laura Linney just can’t let herself get laid by her dream man clip. (When I saw it in the theater, as we walked out, a woman in front of us was shaking her head. “Her brother would have been just as crazy ten minutes later,” she said.) But whether you’re a fan or not, there are so many other holiday films to consider.
My favorite holiday film is Elf. I love just about everything about it from Bob Newhart’s hilarious intro to Buddy’s denunciation of (fake) Santa to Zooey Deschanel singing Santa Claus Is Coming to Town. It always fills me with glee. I’m also very fond of A Charlie Brown Christmas—the soundtrack is my favorite holiday album.
But there are so many choices! Netflix alone has what seems like hundreds!
Do you have a holiday film you love? One you hate? Why?
Dabney Grinnan
Impenitent social media enthusiast. Relational trend spotter. Enjoys both carpe diem and the fish of the day.
I love many of the films you all have mentioned, but my favorite is “We’re no Angels” with Humphrey Bogart and Peter Ustinov. Three escaped convicts on Devil’s Island (and their pal Adolph the snake) proceed to help the family that has taken them in have a merry Christmas. Darkly funny and utterly charming, my Christmas is never complete without watching it.
I love classic movies, so one of my favorite Christmas movies is The Bishop’s Wife. Cary Grant is my idea of the perfect Angel. I also love the original Miracle on 34th Street with Edmund Gwynn and a young Natalie Wood. For modern classics, I go to A Christmas Story and Elf. As for Love Actually, I am on the love it side even with the plot holes and some annoying characters. And Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Yippie Kai Yay!
I’m one of those who stood in line outside the movie theater to see “Misery.” The poster was hanging near the line. A man looked at it and asked, “What sort of person who want to see a movie called “Misery” on Christmas?” The wife explained, “It’s Stephen King, dear.”
I’m glad our perceptions of what makes a Christmas movie have changed. Stations used to play the same movies and specials so often people got tired of them. Now, Christmas movies can be everything from “A Christmas Story” to “Die Hard” to John Carpenter’s “The Thing” (well, it has snow…) It all depends on the family and what they want to watch.
BTW… Has anyone seen Steve Martin’s black comedy “Mixed Nuts”? It was one of those movies that should have been so much better — great cast, great writer, commercial and critical failure. :-( But for me, it worked as a quirky anecdote when I was sick of the onslaught of Christmas specials. Unfortunately, I only had it on VHS.
I’m not a big holiday movie person, it appears. When I think of movies and holidays, the first thing that comes to my mind is The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Extended Edition, which we always watch in our house. One movie per day starting on Christmas Day.
It’s a Wonderful Life and Snowman are shown every Christmas on the television in my country, so I’ve seen those and also Love Actually, Nightmare Before Christmas, Die Hard and Edward Scissorhands. (Perhaps some others, my memory is frustratingly bad.) I like all the movies mentioned, but they are not particularly important to our family’s holiday traditions. Apart from the first two, I don’t think I’ve ever even watched them during the holiday season.
We’ve done the LoTR several times over the holidays over the past decade. We just watched all three extended version in two days. Whew…..
That’s impressive! I’ve thought about watching more than one extended edition per day many times, but so far I’ve always chickened out. Maybe someday. It’s good to have goals after all. ;D
My favorite Christmas film is Miracle on 34th Street (both versions). Love Actually is a close second I love everything about this movie particularly Hugh Grant(love love love him). Also have to watch The Bishop’s Wife,The Holiday and Home Alone 1 each year all sure to get me in the Holiday spirit
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Happy Holidays *******
I’ve never seen the modern version. It’s nice to hear it’s worth checking out.
I forgot to add one more plug for something I watched this year. There is a series on Netflix called Home for Christmas. Season 1 came out last year and Season 2 just came out today. Each season is short – 6 episodes about 20-30 min each. The series is Norwegian with English subtitles. It’s about a woman named Johanne who is single and almost 30 years old whose family pressures her to have a boyfriend. She gets so fed up that about a month before Christmas she lies and tells her family that she actually has a boyfriend so her family insists that she bring him to Christmas. She then goes on a series of hilarious dates, even trying speed dating. There’s more to the series than just her dating adventures. Johanne is a nurse, a really good one, and there is portrayal of her work with her patients and colleagues. Season 1 is funny, heartwarming and ends in a teeny bit of a cliffhanger but luckily Season 2 is now available and just as good as the first. I highly recommend it!
Yes! I absolutely loved both seasons. Crossing my fingers for a third.
I guess my tastes run towards the slightly subversive because some Christmas movies I’ve enjoyed are:
Die Hard (most definitely a Christmas movie)
Gremlins
Home Alone
Scrooged
This year I watched The Christmas Chronicles (heartwarming and going to watch the sequel before Christmas) and A Bad Mom’s Christmas (funny and raunchy).
For animated films, my family loves Arthur Christmas (it’s British and wonderful). We also love the classic Rankin-Bass TV shows such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Clause is Comin’ to Town, The Year Without a Santa Claus, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, and Frosty’s Winter Wonderland.
My favorite movie of all time is When Harry Met Sally, which I consider a New Year’s Eve movie due to the finale and that’s when we watch it every year!
I’ll admit I’m not much of a Christmas movie fan. I do like some of the old classics though: White Christmas and Shop Around the Corner have been mentioned. I also like to watch Christmas in Connecticut (Barbara Stanwyck version) and It Happened on 5th Avenue. And I will watch just about any version of A Christmas Carol. The George C Scott might be my favorite but I also have a soft spot for Scrooge McDuck.
I just discovered It Happened on Fifth Avenue last year and I loved it. So charming!
Hooray, Christmas In Connecticut! Glad it got a mention.
For the young and young at heart, I actually think The Santa Claus 2 is funny and charming. I hated the first one and definitely won’t be watching the third one, but the second one is a lot of fun for both kids and silly adults. Clever too.
And, of course, who doesn’t love the big showdown in Home Alone?
‘Merry Christmas you filthy animal!” I still laugh at that. I remember seeing Home Alone in the theatre and it was just the kind of movie that was needed at the time. During a recession it was the kind of silly laugh fest everyone was looking for.
I believe it goes, “Keep tha change, ya filthy animal!” ;-)
You’ve got to listen to the DVD audio commentary with Chris Columbus and the grown-up Macaulay Culkin if you haven’t already. It was fascinating to learn how the film was low budget, relied heavily on local actors and the director’s own family members for extras, Joe Pesci’s confession on how he remembered his lines (something like, “I just imagine there’s an f-word between every other line to give it a memorable rhythm. So if the line is “Marv, open the door,” I mentally say, “Marv, open the f-ing door” – LOL), what parts were improvised, etc.
The “Merry Christmas” version must be my family’s mutation of it, lol.
The original animated Grinch hasn’t been mentioned yet. Christmas Day will always be, just as long as we have we.
‘You’re a mean one Mr. Grinch’ has to be one of the best songs ever written.
I always say “I wouldn’t touch you with a 39 and a half foot pole” and people look at me funny. That’s OK I think it’s hilarious.
“The three words that best describe you are as follows: stink, stank, stunk!”
That’s my 3rd favorite.
Several of mine have been already mentioned, such as White Christmas, While You Were Sleeping, A Charlie Brown Christmas, and A Muppet Christmas Carol.
I would add The Holiday with Kate Winslet and Jack Black. It’s light and frothy, and Cameron Diaz isn’t a favorite, but I loved the Kate Winslet storyline, and Jude Law’s daughters.
A family favorite in my house is The Nightmare Before Christmas, although I haven’t seen it in years.
The Holiday is amazing! I would marry Jude Law just for Sophie and Olivia.
“You’ll fall off your chair laughing it’s so funny”. Mr. Napkin head!
Its the movie that made me think of Jack Black as a leading man. How sweet is he?
Another movie that I quote endlessly. “That was brilliant. Brutal, but brilliant.”
I keep meaning to watch it. Not a big Diaz fan.
You really should, Dabney. The rest of the cast are wonderful, and there are some truly great moments in the movie. Even if it doesn’t become a favorite, I think you will enjoy spending the time watching it.
I will! Thank you.
You would love it, it’s Nancy Meyers at her best. I’m not a huge Diaz fan. I think she plays against type here.
I adore It’s Complicated so that’s a plus.
I also love Something’s Gotta Give. I still haven’t watched It’s Complicated Yet so maybe this weekend. For some reason I’ve been “saving it” like I do certain books.
I always want her to run off with Keanu…..
Me too! but I guess she did for a while. Or maybe I just wish I could. Frances McDormand is fantastic as her sister.
What isn’t Frances fantastic as?
“You’re supposed to be the leading lady of your own life, for god’s sake!”
Isn’t Arthur the cutest? I want my own theme music.
The Nightmare Before Christmas is a household favourite, too. It’s an amazing piece of filmmaking – Danny Elfman’s score is fantastic and the overall look and feel is so wonderfully original.
I am probably the only person on the planet who thinks that “It’s a Wonderful Life” is the most overrated and most tedious holiday movie out there. I can’t stand it. My favorite holiday movie has to be “A Christmas Story” which is unoriginal but hey, you love what you love.
You’re definitely not the only person who feels that way about It’s a Wonderful Life. I like the film well enough, but it was pretty much panned when it came out. Probably the only reason it became a Christmas staple was because it fell into the public domain so channels showed it over and over around Christmas time. Then NBC thought “What have we done letting this money maker fall into the public domain!?” So with some slick lawyering, they got it pulled out of the public domain from some loophole, but not before it became a classic. Interesting stuff.
As for A Christmas Story, I like it okay. Some of the parts though- especially where the younger brother is eating like a pig while being egged on by the mother- come across as gross rather than funny and the scene drags out way too long.
I agree with the Die Hard love. Great movie. I did once attend an academic conference once where Die Hard was being examined for it’s subliminal anti-feminist messaging (Bonnie is using her name for professional role but decides she’s McClain by the end of the movie, the watch her boss gave her, in the company that John kind of hates, ends up being the thing that causes Hans to fall to his death and the watch goes with him, etc.). It was fascinating and I totally notice it all now, but still watch the movie every time I see it’s on.
My other favorite Christmas movie – though like Die Hard, isn’t really about Christmas per se – is Desk Set with Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. She’s a research librarian at a magazine in New York, he’s the guy brought in to install a computer that will replace most of her research dept. Love, love, love.
I love Desk Set so much!! It even tops “Woman Of The Year” for me.
‘Something about the way you wear that pencil in your hair says money”
‘Curfew shall not ring tonight!”
I adore everything about it and it makes me want to have a mid-century modern Christmas.
Oh my goodness,Yes! How could I forget Desk Set! I love that movie. In fact,not three days ago I recommended it to my brother!
I think there’s a lot good about Love, Actually (Emma Thompson breaks my heart every time) but the Laura Linney storyline gives me a rage as does the borderline-stalker with his #%$! flash cards about how much he loves Keira. Get a grip and GTFO.
Saw ‘A Christmas Story’ for the first time last year and it didn’t do much for me. Have never seen ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ as the bits I did see said ‘depressing’ which is never my go-to.
The husband and I watch ‘Die Hard’ every year, usually on Christmas Eve. :-) This year since we have Disney+ I might also make him watch the High School Musical holiday movie.
Like I said above, I like It’s a Wonderful Life, but it becomes more depressing with every passing year. I’m glad I’m not the only person who got that impression.
As for A Christmas Story, I’m with you there. I think it’s a decent film with some sparkling moments, but it didn’t really do it for me either.
Okay, and I’m going to be accused of being a Scrooge here, but I never liked the Muppets. Sorry, I just don’t. It’s one of those franchises everyone else seems to go ga ga over, and I just don’t get it. Fine, Kermit and Miss Piggy can be amusing for a two minute sketch, but after that, they and all the other characters grate on me. I find them annoying rather than cute, clever, or funny. Any other Muppet skeptics/haters around here? I’m writing this fully understanding this is a controversial position… And while I’m at it, Peanuts never did anything for me either. Bah humbug?
I’ll join you with Peanuts, I hated all that Snoopy and the Red Baron business. Bo-ring. But I love the Muppets. In movies particularly. I’m am one of those adults who paid money to see Muppet Treasure Island in the theatre. #noshame
Tim Curry!!
Yes! And Jennifer Saunders. Good stuff.
Thanks for bringing up Snoopy and the Red Baron. I always thought of it as uninspired filler.
And no, no shame intended. You do you. :)
Oh one good thing about getting older is I just don’t care. If I like it I will buy it, watch it, wear it, whatever. Outgrowing peer pressure is one of the compensations for getting older I think.
I love so many of the films mentioned including While You Were Sleeping, A Christmas Story and I always end up watching at least parts of Love Actually.
One of my absolute favorites is Elf. I never get sick of it (even though a blonde Zooey Deschanel is still odd to see). I saw it at the movies and loved it ever since. I think it’s genius they copied the elf costumes from Rudolph exactly and the cast is utter perfection. I can’t tell you how often that film gets quoted in my family “I like to whisper too!”
For me it’s just pure joy in a movie.
nods
Definitely love Love Actually. That movie came out before my first Thanksgiving visit to London. And I’ve gone back every year in November (except of course this one). London is spectacular with holiday decorations. Can’t believe you fast forward through the Colin Firth story. That was one of my favorite threads. Also love the scene where Hugh Grant’s protection officer sings along with him.
NO NO NO!!! Not the Colin Firth story. I love that one. The Colin story–the wanker who goes to the US and utterly inexplicably gets to bed three supermodels who share a twin bed.
And I so agree about London’s holiday decorations. I’ve only been there once when they were up but I long to go back.
No that’s Colin Frizzle!
Colin Firth is the one with the unfaithful girlfriend and brother who marries the Portuguese girl he couldn’t even speak to.
I know. I hate the character Colin. I love the character Jamie–Colin Firth plays him–and his love affair with his maid. And they were adorable in Red Nose Actually!
I loved Red Nose Actually!
But I also love Colin Frizzle- it’s so over the top and silly it makes me laugh. They are lampooning everyone (Americans the most I’m afraid- “and he’s Christian!”)
It’s funny to see a pre-Mad Men January Jones along with Elisha Cuthbert and Ivana Miličević (all of whom had varying degrees of success) as the ditzy bar girls.
I think Richard Curtis said Colin Frizzle is in jail now, lol.
LOL! I did like the scene in the bar where they were pronouncing words to see how differently they sounded or not.
In order for it to be Christmas in our house we have to (1) listen to Elvis’s Christmas album; then (2) watch, in no particular order:
“A Christmas Story”—I still tear up every time Ralphie open that package and finds a Red Rider BB gun.
“Blackadder’s Christmas Carol”—Ebeneezer Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson), “the nicest man in all of England,” is visited by the Christmas Ghost (Robbie Coltrane) and becomes decidedly less nice. With Miriam Margoyles and Jim Broadbent as Victoria & Albert.
“Bernard and the Genie”—just before Christmas, sad sack Bernard (Alan Cumming) loses his girlfriend and is fired from his job. But all is not lost: a genie (Lenny Henry) emerges from a lamp to grant Bernie’s wishes. Although, as the genie instructs him, “Treat the words ‘I wish’ with the same caution you’d use for the words ‘Please castrate me.’” Both hilarious and poignant—and with an unexpected spiritual message snuck in in a low-key way.
Yes on “A Christmas Story” – that is such a great film! I will have to check out “Bernard and the Genie”, I don’t think I’ve ever heard of it before.
It’s from the early 1990s, very low budget. We first saw it when the A&E Network really was Arts & Entertainment. We taped it and for years all we had was a grainy VHS copy to watch. A few years ago, we finally got it on dvd. I’m unaware if it’s available on any streaming service, but I think it’s worth checking out.
It’s available to stream for free with commercials from IMDB so I will definitely give it a watch sometime soon.
Miriam Margolyes and Jim Broadbent as Victoria and Albert is genius casting.
A Christmas Story is genius. It would be worth watching for the pole licking scene alone. I love that and adult Ralphie is the head elf in the move Elf.
I absolutely love Lenny Henry and have never heard of this, so now I have to find it — thank you so much for the recommendation!
https://www.amazon.com/Bernard-Genie-Lenny-Henry/dp/B0002S64OQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=bernard+and+the+genie&qid=1608315515&sr=8-2
In our house the line-up is always (in no particular order) The Muppet Christmas Carol, Elf, Scrooge (the 1951 Alastair Sum version) and It’s a Wonderful Life. Then, depending what else is “on” Scrooged, White Christmas, The Santa Clause. And of course, Die Hard, because nothing says “Christmas” like Bruce Willis in a sweaty vest. (Plus – Alan Rickman). Love Actually isn’t really on our radar – and I only watch it if I can fast forward through the Keira Knightly bits.
Die Hard. Hands down one of the best Christmas movies ever made.
:)
Pure cinematic gold :-)
I miss Alan Rickman. sighs
Me too :0(
It isn’t a Christmas movie but have you seen Rickman in The January Man? An oldie but a goodie . . .
I believe I actually have seen The January Man. Alan Rickman was some artist painting a nude woman, right? The reason I remember the movie is for one odd little fun fact that’s a bit of a spoiler…
No. I’ll have to check it out. My favorite of his roles is in Galaxy Quest. It’s just the best.
As much as I like Galaxy Quest, my favorite Alan Rickman movie will always be Truly Madly Deeply.
I find that movie unsettling and I’m not sure why. He’s also a stellar Snape.
Galaxy Quest is so much fun. And I love Rickman in it.
Muppet Christmas Carol is one of my favorites “Light the lamp not the rat!”
Even the vegetables don’t like him!
I felt so bad for the bunny shivering inside a sheet of newspaper in the night.
Isn’t it funny how the muppets can wring such emotions out of you? They did such a great job on that film.
Yep! Another perennial favorite. The year this came out in theaters my husband and I went to see it for our anniversary (mid-January). It was the most fun I’ve ever had at a movie because we were the only people in the theater! We splurged on popcorn and drinks and we could laugh and talk all we wanted. One of the best anniversaries we’ve ever had.
Ah, man! I wanted to be the first here to mention Die Hard. I saw it for the first time ever a few days ago and have no idea how I missed it. Christmas gold!
It’s a Wonderful Life comes to mind as a great Christmas movie. Each year I watch it is a little harder though because watching George Bailey’s dreams get smashed one by one becomes increasingly relevant. Fun fact, a lot of people hated the movie when it came out because it was immediately post-WW2 and the message of “Be content with your humdrum life” really aggravated people whose lives had been totally upheaved.
George C. Scott’s A Christmas Carol is also excellent, hard to believe it was made for TV. That was back when Hallmark actually made some big productions based on classic literature. Wish they’d go back to doing stuff like that, because they nailed it.
Although the Alistair Sim version of Christmas Carol is my gold standard, the other two I’ve also really enjoyed are the Muppets and the George C. Scott versions. Scott nails the embittered version of Scrooge and interprets him as a sarcastic man who refused to suffer fools, which has informed the way I see him when I reread the story every year. He’s a little less believable as the fully reformed Scrooge, imho, just as it’s hard for me to buy into Michael Caine ever having been all that mean in the first place, in the Muppets version ;) They are really two sides of a coin, both great performances, even though I still think the Sim version is the one that has it all!
I also love the musical version of Scrooge with Albert Finney. I defy you to get some of those songs out of your head once you hear them.
“December the 25th” has become a Christmas song staple on my playlist.
And I’m so happy you discovered Die Hard! What a fun movie with a great cast. Now I want to go watch it.
Speaking of A Christmas Carol and its numerous renditions, I highly recommend this funny short story by the late Butler Shaffer entitled “The Case for Ebenezer:” Stop Smearing Scrooge – LewRockwell. Shaffer, who was a lawyer in real life, decided that poor Ebenezer got too much of a bad wrap and decided to write a story/article pretending to be his defense attorney. It’s quite charming, funny, and insightful. Reading it has become one of my Christmas traditions.
Have you seen “The Man Who Invented Christmas” yet? It came out just a few years ago and I loved it because it went into some of Dicken’s real childhood history and trauma and the reason why he was such an avid reformer and advocate for children.
Dan Stevens is great as Dickens and the part where he comes up with the name for Scrooge is genius.
Never heard of it, might have to check it out. Thanks for the rec.
I took a look at the link- I didn’t get to read it all the way but I already love what I read so far. He even included one of my favorite Anatole France quotes. I’m already sold!
I’m in the Love, Actually camp. The multi-story strands work for me and I love that Joannie Mitchell lurks in the background. My husband (English) has had giggling girls ask him to say something on visits back to the USA so they can hear his accent. Sends me into peals of laughter. One time someone asked him if he was an Aussie. Eyebrows went up, very posh accent used to say “No, dear girl, not at all, so sorry”. More laughter. It’s just such a funny and poignant film.
That Joni Mitchell song/scene gets me every time. And I always wonder about that marriage. How unfaithful was he? Do they ever truly reconcile? That story line is absent in Red Nose Actually so we just don’t know!
Weird, I just thinking about that storyline this morning. Definitely resonates more these many years since I first watched.
Yep.
Emma Thompson makes me cry in that movie every time I see it.
The director confirmed he was unfaithful (despite my hopes) and that when Mia other woman character is wearing the necklace it means he already had sex with her and gave her the necklace. (Booooo)
The Rowan Atkinson character (who keeps popping up) was supposed to be like an angel and is why he kept Alan Rickman so long at the counter. He was trying to help.
I am just not an Atkinson fan so that whole scene irritates me.
I still wonder if she ever forgave him. Infidelity doesn’t always destroy a marriage.
I doubt she did, that whole scene where she tells him that he not only made her ridiculous but it made the life she leads ridiculous just tears me up. It’s clear they are toughing it out (probably for the kids) but he really destroyed something in their marriage.
I think it’s very real but it’s very hard to watch. And I’m a huge Alan Rickman fan. I’m still devastated he didn’t get to play the Vicomte de Valmont on film.
OMG yes. After I found out he did the role on stage I couldn’t watch the movie again because I’d’ve wanted to push John Malkovich out of frame.
Ive seen clips of Alan Rickman playing the part and I can only dream of how wonderful he would have been on film.
Have you ever seen Truly, Madly Deeply? Amazing!
I saw him play Valmont at the RSC – and he was utterly mesmerising. It was at The Pit (in the round) and he was often within touching distance of where I was sitting when he walked on/off stage. That was an amazing production – Lindsay Duncan and Juliet Stevenson were in the cast, too. And Truly, Madly, Deeply is a wonderful film.
I am now consumed with jealousy. If you asked me to pick some live performances throughout history that I could go back in time and see, his in that role would be one. Amazing!
Juliet Stevenson is great in everything as well. I think she’s an underrated actress.
I’ve had Truly, Madly, Deeply on my tbw list literally for years. But it is out of print and no one is streaming it. I’ve been checking used item stores and libraries but no go . . . so if you have a copy, take care of it!
That must be why I haven’t seen it in years. I am pretty sure I physically rented it years ago when it was new on VCR or whatever format. Sadly, I don’t own a copy. He and Juliet Stevenson (who played with him in Les Liaisons Dangereuses ) are fantastic together.
I seriously bawled my eyes out at that movie.
I watch Love, Actually year round I love all the interaction, the London scenes, the wonderful wedding…just EVERYTHING.
Favourite Christmas movie: the 1951 version of ‘A Christmas Carol’.
Favourite movies that I’ll watch year-round that happen to take place around Christmas: the original ‘Shop Around The Corner’ and ‘While You Were Sleeping’.
I LOVE The Shop Around the Corner – it’s SOOOO much better than You’ve Got Mail.
I was recently thinking to rewatch You’ve Got Mail as I was in peak ‘let’s revisit the 90s’ mode, but then I remembered that movie achieved the unlikely feat of making me dislike a Tom Hanks character (he’s just the worst, and actively rooting for a couple to not get together just defeats the whole purpose of a romcom). Give me the original any day! Plus the supporting characters are golden.
I love Frank Morgan’s performance as Matuschek and I love watching Pirovitch run upstairs or disappear into back rooms every time someone asks for his opinion.
Anytime I get annoyed with Tom Hank’s ruthlessness in “You’ve Got Mail” I just think that Amazon came along later and decimated Fox Books along with all the other big super store book chains.
I still love “You’ve Got Mail” it’s Meg Ryan at her most charming.
I also want to point out that if anyone is a member of the Broadway streaming service on Amazon, you can watch a performance from the 2016 revival of She Loves Me, which is based on the same play (Parfumerie by Miklos Laszlo) that Shop Around The Corner is based on. It’s super cute, the supporting players get their own subplots and while there is quite a lot of acid banter and chop-busting between the leads it never really edges toward meanness (an ever so slight quibble I have with the film, to be honest, even though I adore it).
Yes!! I’m going to re-watch that tonight. Love Jane Krakowski & Zachary Levi.
I love While You Were Sleeping. I love everything about it, including the fact that the people in it actually dress and live like “real” people do, not styled movie people. The family seems so warm and familiar to me and in no way artificial. Love, love love it!
Oh they’re the greatest. And almost every line in any of their scenes (and any scene with Joe Jr.!) has found its way into my family’s everyday vernacular.
Joe Jr is the best! “Who told!?” “I love them black underwear’s”.
And the family is priceless, as an old school Disney fan I was so excited to see Glynis Johns in it. She’s fantastic “How did Joe Kelly get to be a lectern? he takes Marijuana!” Every line in that movie is a gem.
‘But YOU are the best lookin’ chick on the third floor!’ gets me every time. And yes, the casting is perfect! <3
Ha ha, and “Come in you can try on my shoes”. Lucy is such a good egg.
While You Were Sleeping is a movie I watch every year. It just makes me feel so good. Our family has so many one-liners from that movie. “I should have gotten the blue spruce. They’re lighter.” “Mary mashed them.” “I didn’t say he was Spanish. I said he was tall.”
Us too — every single one of the lines you mentioned!
Also, I love:
‘I suck, or the outfit sucks?’
‘It’ s a toss-up.’
‘When my mother found out I was getting married to my wife, her intestines exploded.’
‘Each day I sit in this booth like a veal.’
I could go on forever, I really could!
”Do I like green jello?” “Yum”. “Curly” “He’s everyone’s favorite” “Because it’s not good for the baby!” “Dustin Hoffman is five foot six”
I’ve never seen a movie that gets a family so accurately and so funny at the same time without making it over the top.
So many movies are about the heroine wanting money or the most popular guy. You totally sympathize with Lucy because her motives are so understandable. Who wouldn’t fall in love with all of them?
I’m a sucker for White Christmas – IMO there’s nothing like a Croon at Christmas!