Films You've Seen in 2020
Dec 26, 2020 23:16:31 GMT -8
Post by Incandescence 112 on Dec 26, 2020 23:16:31 GMT -8
So every December I watch a few Christmas films that I neglected in my Christmas-free childhood. Here are a few I saw this year:
A Christmas Story: I don't know why it took me so long to watch this film, but it is glorious. Sweet, heartfelt, and hilarious. It has an edge to the humor that is perfectly woven into the holiday charm (particularly through the narration from adult Ralphie) and features plenty of quotable lines and memorable setpieces. The only real downside is that the film has become so mainstream that all its motifs (the leg lamp, the bunny suit) have become clichés in themselves. But that doesn't dim the movie's emotional strength, nor its capacity to make me laugh out loud at several points during its running time.
The Santa Clause: Sweet, if a bit soft. I was hoping for something with a little more bite to it, since the idea of a guy accidentally killing and replacing Santa Clause seems ripe for cynical black comedy. But Tim Allen is very good, and there are enough jokes and heart to keep the film chugging along nicely. Good entertainment overall.
Scrooged: I love Bill Murray, and I love imaginative retelling of A Christmas Carol, but this film struggles to modernize the Dickens tale in a convincing fashion. Part of the problem may be that Murray is just too likable to be a convincing Scrooge, but the larger issue is that the film's tone is frustratingly inconsistent - it's unclear if we're supposed to agree with the sentimental message or laugh at it. The humor is also pretty raucous in spots, which drowns out whatever good intentions the film might otherwise have. The cast and production values are commendable, though, and at 97 minutes, the story doesn't feel too draggy.