Ellipsis Christmas Movie Countdown #16

"It occurs to me that the best way you can hurt rich people,

 is by turning them into poor people." 

~Denholm Elliot (Coleman)

Trading Places

Ellipsis Movie Countdown #11

 

"Can I refill your eggnog for you?

 Get you something to eat?

 Drive you out in the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?

~Clark W. Griswold (Chevy Chase)

National Lampoons Christmas Vacation

The Griswold's do Christmas... but this time... it's a staycation. On Christmas. What can go wrong? I loved the vacation movies, and this one was brilliant and heartwarming, and very relatable! Who hasn't either hosted or attended a crazy Christmas get together? I know I have attended my share. After my sister got married, she insisted on hosting the holidays. She was right that she had more room, and she tried really hard, but no matter what, you can't wave a wand and change the personalities of those who come for the festivities! Well, that's what the Griswold's learn about their holiday. But in the end, love wins out over anything. That's what Christmas is all about!

Ellipsis Christmas Movie Countdown #7

 

"If I hear you let your stripper girlfriend, put my children on her motorcycle one more time,

  I will gone girl you so hard!"

~Jennifer Aniston

(Carol)

Office Christmas Party

If you've ever felt a rivalry with a sibling. if you have ever had to work so hard at Christmas, that Christmas didn't even seem to exist. If you've ever been faced with making some really bad decisions, ones that will change other peoples lives, in a negative way, forever. If you've ever had to maintain a hardnosed persona, just to keep from being hurt. If you've ever thought of your office Christmas party as a frenemy, then this movie is for you! I think you probably know where I'm going with this... I love the movie for so many reasons, I mean not only is it is just funny, but the chemistry between Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston is amazing. They remind me of William Powell and Myrna Loy! It's a lot of twists and turns, but the last 15 minutes, or so, will have you laughing until you cry!

Ellipsis Christmas Movie Countdown #3

 

Howard: "This can't happen, it's just a doll, a stupid plastic doll."

Myron: "It's an action figure." 

~Jingle All The Way

Holiday shopping has certainly changed since the 1990's, especially toy shopping, I can remember folks standing in line at toy shops, and big box stores, just waiting for that one special deeply discounted Beanie Baby, or Xbox opportunity to open up. One woman, from southern California, was so desperate for an XBOX that she brought pepper spray with her to the sale at Walmart, and used it on other folks waiting in line. The ridiculous became the dangerous! Too many scary scenarios began to happen, as Black Friday morphed into something very dark. Hubby and I used to get up at 5 a.m. to hit the mall, just to watch folks go insane with greed, but that was when it was kind of cool to see the sudden mad dashes, and the creative way folks carried their purchases. It could be fun, but things just got to be too much.

Jingle All The Way, is about those mad dashes, and the lengths of which folks will go to buy their children the perfect gift. It's a fun movie, and it's lovely to see Phil Hartman, but while it definitely made fun of rabid shoppers, but it also brought a little heart to the matter. Looking back to the whole thing, it does make me sad to know it was fun for so many, but ruined so easily, by so few, and all it took was a bit of smashing to ruin the toy. I like this movie for it's message, the charm of Christmas, and getting our true priorities straight. And once again, the message of the film is brought together at the very end of the movie, by a little boy showing some much needed love for someone other than himself.

Just watch. You'll be glad you did!

Ellipsis Christmas Countdown Movie #2

"This is Christmas. The season of perpetual hope. I don't care that I have to get out on your runway and hitchhike, it costs me everything I own, I have to sell my soul to the devil himself. I am going to get home to my son!"

~Kate, Kevin's mother,

Home Alone

I haven't always been a fan of holiday movies, with the exception of anything Peanuts related, but Home Alone changed my mind about the whole genre. But I must confess, how does a film go wrong with with a story written by John Hughes, and Chris Columbus as it's director? It can't! I enjoyed Home Alone2 however due to Trump's 29 second seen, I can't deal with watching it. This year, however, I plan to watch, I'll just fix myself a Pepto-bismo martini first. I imagine I am not completely alone in my aversion to Trump in films, be it his brand, or the man himself, but that's what happens when a film gets too gimmicky for it's own good!