Christmas time, mistletoe and wine… As we sit here, with tinsel and fairy lights draped across our shops and offices, we had the brilliant idea of getting ourselves in the festive spirit by discussing our favourite Christmas films. We each chose one festive film (well, three of us did) and shared why we think our choice is the ultimate Christmas film. We start with absolutely the correct choice…
Kieran – Online team
Home Alone
Home Alone… We all know the story – little boy gets left behind when his family head off to Paris for Christmas. Burglars attempt to steal the family valuables. Hilarity and chaos ensue across the neighbourhood. But if you look deeper, this really is the perfect Christmas film – no matter what Dan, Jamie or Jemma (Edward Scissorhands is *NOT* a Christmas film) would have you believe!
For people of my generation (late 30s), this may have been one of the first films they saw in the cinema and it will have stuck with them for good reason. Despite all the obvious slapstick with Harry and Marv, this is a film with incredibly touching moments; from Macaulay Culkin’s Kevin helping to encourage a heart-warming reconciliation between Old Man Marley and his family, to the moment on Christmas morning when Kevin realises he truly misses his family – just before they get home.
Add in to the mix plenty of snow, Christmas decorations, a sleighbell drenched soundtrack, a clean storyline safe for all ages and a happy ending all combine to make Home Alone the ideal feel-good film that the whole family can enjoy together. And what could be more Christmassy (which is an actual word, by the way) than grandparents, parents and children all sitting down in a post-Christmas dinner coma to enjoy one of the most all-round entertaining films of all time?
And if you doubt Home Alone’s magnificence, I’ll leave you with 3 unassailable facts:
- It’s probably my son’s favourite festive film. And no one knows the real feeling of Christmas better than a 6-year-old
- It’s the 2nd highest grossing Christmas film of all time and was only overtaken by the 2018 CGI version of The Grinch
- 30 years after its release, it’s still the 5th highest grossing comedy film of all time.
Jamie – Wadebridge Store
Die Hard
Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman and – if pop culture is to be believed – Brian Griffin. We get to watch John McClane (Bruce Willis) fight his way in bare feet through the many floors of the Nakatomi Plaza, all whilst uttering eminently quotable one liners, including; “Welcome to the party, pal!” and “Yippee ki-yay…” So quotable, in fact, that you can even find “Ho-ho-ho, now I have a machine gun” Christmas jumpers – how many of the other films on this list have that as a Christmas film claim to fame?!
This festive epic brings joy to every household at this time of year. Who can forget the moment the Christmas party really starts, as the terrorists storm the works Christmas do, interrupting the frivolities? John hides away and takes it upon himself to try and feed information to the authorities from inside a locked down building by setting off the fire alarm. When that doesn’t work, he goes to the rooftop and tries again. Eventually he gets the attention of Sergeant Al Powell by throwing an undisclosed item out of a very high window.
Of course, with the authorities alerted, John then becomes the new target for Hans Gruber, who chases him through the building and loses henchmen by the minute until it comes to the final showdown by the vault.
In my opinion, it truly isn’t Christmas until Alan Rickman falls from the Nakatomi Plaza. “I hope that wasn’t a hostage.”
Jemma – Head Office
Edward Scissorhands
Yep, I said it. A massively controversial option, I’m fully aware. But, before you strike it off as being anything but a Christmas film, just hear me out and then you can make your own decision (which, of course, is that it most definitely is)!
I have always had a soft spot for this film and it’s a perfect one to watch during the festive season whilst being curled up on the sofa under a blanket.
Christmas lights? Check. Snow? Check. Elderly lady telling a story on a cold winter’s night whilst sitting next to a roaring fire? Check.
Edward is discovered unfinished and living alone in a derelict gothic mansion by the local Avon rep and pillar of the community, Peg, after his inventor suddenly passed away. She takes him to the family home where he struggles to settle in but soon becomes besotted with Peg’s daughter, Kim and, throughout the film, we see him falling in love with her.
Christmas arrives later in the film and Edward is seen creating ice sculptures in the garden using his scissors as tools creating snowflakes which fill the sky. This turns into one of the most magical scenes in the whole film – Kim enters the Christmas light covered garden looking for Edward and starts dancing in the snow. I, personally, think the festive feeling in this scene is only emphasised by the magical music used, too! That’s Christmas magic, right there,
If you’ve seen the film yourself, you’ll know that the twist at the end only adds to the magic! Whilst not a “Christmas classic”, this film reminds me of many childhood Christmases and definitely qualifies as a festive favourite in my books.
Dan – Wadebridge Store
The Muppet Christmas Carol
The ultimate feel-good Christmas film. Who doesn’t love a humorous way of experiencing Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”? As a child, it was far less frightening than any other version. Gonzo the “Whatever” plays the part of the narrator and guides you through the story with his trusty friend, Rizzo the Rat. Rizzo’s snack-related incidents keep you laughing throughout the film. Rat dancing on a roasting goose, anyone? Michael Caine’s Scrooge (arguably his best role ever?) is led through his past, present and possible future Christmases – learning the true spirit of Christmas. The cast also features everyone’s favourite Muppet characters, including Kermit as Bob Cratchit and Miss Piggy as his wife Emily.
This will always be my favourite childhood Christmas film and I can’t wait to watch it again this year for millionth time.
