It’s true — the holidays are finally here. Let’s assume you’ve lit the logs in your figurative fireplace, poured marshmallows into your hot chocolate and curled up in front of the TV. Now what? They say the season is only as good as the films you revisit (perhaps they don’t say that, but they should definitely start), whether they’re rom-coms, family-friendlies or absolute classics. As you get ready to kick back and relax, tabloid! rounds up six films that can keep you company this winter.
1. HOME ALONE (1990)
Nearly 25 years later, Home Alone is still a staple of the holidays. It’s irresistible with its feel-good absurdity that makes adults feel like kids and kids feel invincible. The 1990 film has seen many a generation falling for Macaulay Culkin’s character, Kevin, a cheeky and crafty kid who’s met with every child’s dream when his family travels without him — a house all to himself. After the novelty wears off and Kevin comes face-to-face with two incompetent burglars, Harry and Marv (played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern), he has to get creative to keep the two inept try-hards at bay.
2. THE PREACHER’S WIFE (1996)
The fact that The Preacher’s Wife stars both Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston as its leads should be enough of a selling point, but its charming story is a keeper on its own, too. Washington, who is more likely to be found in migraine-inducing action films rather than a light-hearted rom com, shines as Dudley, an angel who descends to Earth to help a struggling pastor. It’s all fine and dandy until Dudley starts falling for the pastor’s wife, Julie (Houston). An undeniably sweet film, The Preacher’s Wife is a fitting choice for the whole family.
3. LOVE ACTUALLY (2003)
What’s a seasonal movie list without a Hugh Grant film? And more to the point — what’s a holiday movie list without Love Actually? It’s hard to believe it’s been more than a decade since the romantic comedy was released. Though some dub it overrated, it has become a favourite candidate for re-watching for many. The film highlights eight couples — all wildly dissimilar from one another, yet limply connected — who struggle through their love lives in different ways. It’s set against the backdrop of Christmas in London, featuring an impressive cast, from Grant and Liam Neeson to Colin Firth and Keira Knightly.
4. ELF (2003)
Holiday comedies are a tricky genre to tackle — so many cliched storylines, so little time — but Will Ferrell’s Elf left its mark on the season with its wildly successful release in 2003. The film follows Ferrell’s journey as one of Santa’s elves, Buddy, who grows up in the North Pole after sneaking into Santa’s bag as an orphaned baby. Growing into a man, Buddy is naive to his humanness even though he’s comically large compared to all the other elves and ends up causing chaos because of his bulky size. He’s eventually sent to America to seek out his is biological father in New York City.
5. THE FAMILY STONE (2005)
It’s hard to resist Dermot Mulroney in any role, but The Family Stone is an especially delightful seasonal film. The story follows Mulroney’s character, Everett Stone, as he takes his edgy and proper girlfriend, Meredith (Sarah Jessica Parker), home for the holidays to meet his family. It’s nothing short of disastrous once she’s introduced to his loud, boisterous and oft inappropriate family members, including but not limited to his mother (Diane Keaton), his sister (Rachel McAdams) and his brother (Luke Wilson). The film swings between the sentimental and the downright hilarious, offering a perfect holiday mix of cheerfulness and poignancy.
6. RISE OF THE GUARDIANS (2012)
Some will be quick to dismiss Rise of the Guardians as just another animation, but they’ll be missing out on one of the most visually striking, clever and heart-wrenching stories to come out of 2012. The film, based partially on William Joyce’s The Guardians of Childhood book series, chronicles the tale of four guardians — Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, and the Sandman — as they take young Jack Frost under their wing to help them stop Pitch Black from ruining the holidays. It’s voiced by an all-star cast of Jude Law, Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman, Isla Fisher, and Chris Pine. If that’s not enough, the DreamWorks Animation production was even nominated for a Golden Globe.
