HOLIDAY Film CHEER – Naples Florida Weekly

THERE MAY BE AS MANY HOLIDAY movies out there as there are snowflakes that fall from the sky at the North Pole. Many of these films, like snowflakes, seem similar. The themes, plot lines and characters often resemble greats from the past. But look more closely and they are unique.

This year’s “Falling for Christmas” starring Lindsay Lohann (screening now on Netflix) is a Christmas rom-com with an amnesiac flare that reminds us that sometimes it is best to borrow from the greats. Sure, it may feel a little like “Overboard” or “While You Were Sleeping,” but it is Christmas, so you can just forget about complaining about it.

“A Christmas Story Christmas” stars the original, now grown but still adorable Peter Billingsley as an adult Ralphie, who reconnects with older friends and tries to live up to the joy his father brought him. The cuteness continues from the 1983 story — one we are quite familiar with. Others like “The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special” bring us the familiar characters Star-Lord, Drax, Rocket, Mantis and Groot (sorry no Gamora), but go a totally different direction and bring in veteran Kevin Bacon, who plays himself, with a twist you might not expect. (Spoiler: he gets abducted.) Here are just a few of the freshest holiday selections gracing us this year, as well as a few of the classics, certain to get you in the mood. Happy Screening!

New this year

¦ “Falling for Christmas” (2022) TV- PG (Netflix) If you like the thought of folks with amnesia falling in love, you will love this story about an engaged heiress finding herself in the care of a lodge owner after a skiing accident. Think “Overboard” or “While You Were Sleeping,” but with a Christmas twist.

Starring Lindsay Lohan, Chord Overstreet, George Young ¦

“A Christmas Story Christmas” (2022) PG (HBO Max) How in the hell can Peter Billingsley still look as cute as he did when he played a young Ralphie in the 1983 classic “A Christmas Story”? In this film he returns to his older home, trying to awaken a magical Christmas in his children, one like he remembered growing up. He still manages to look cute!

Starring Peter Billingsley, Erinn Hayes, River Drosche

¦ “The Santa Clauses”

(2022) TV- PG (Disney+) When Scott Calvin decides to retire, he looks to find a replacement Santa Claus. As he plans to spend his first Christmas with his actual family and a retirement south of the pole, craziness ensues.

Starring Tim Allen, Rupali Redd and Elizabeth Mitchell ¦

Santa Camp

(2022) TV- MA (HBO Max) The documentary, which had its world premiere at DOC NYC, follows aspiring Santas who descend on a campsite every summer in New Hampshire. This year three non-traditional recruits join, looking for acceptance.

Directed by Nick Sweeney

¦ “Spirited” (2022) PG- 13 (Apple TV+) Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell sing and dance their way through a magical journey, brightening Dicken’s classic story in a uniquely musical, heartfelt and hilarious way.

Starring Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds and Octavia Spencer

¦ “The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special” (2022) TV- 14 (Disney+) Kevin Bacon, playing himself, gets kidnapped by the Guardians in this original holiday special with Star-Lord, Drax, Rocket, Mantis, and Groot.

Starring Chris Pratt, Dave Bautista, Pom Klementieff, Bradley Cooper (voice), Luke Klein (voice), Sean Gunn and Michael Rooker (voice). ¦

“Something From Tiffany’s” (2022) PG (Amazon Prime Video) With a confusion of gifts, a woman who wasn’t supposed to get an engagement ring is left feeling her boyfriend is trying to propose to her. The mishap leads her to finding love.

Starring Zoey Deutch, Kendrick Sampson and Ray Nicholson

¦ “Love Actually: 20 Years Later” (2022) (Hulu) Twenty years later, Diane Sawyer sits down with a cast and crew who spill the tea about the making of one of the best Christmas films of all time.

Starring Diane Sawyer with cast and crew of the 2003 film. ¦

“Scrooge: A Christmas Carol” (2022) TV- Y7 (NETFLIX animated) An animated Scrooge reappears in this classic Dicken’s cult Christmas story, but with a twist. Add a supernatural time- traveling element and you won’t be saying Bah Humbug.

Starring Jessie Buckley (voice), Olivia Colman (voice) and James Cosmo (voice)

Classics you can count on

While some of the newer flicks will try and die, there are a handful that have stood the test of time. Here is a countdown of my curated Top 10. Start watching one every night beginning Dec. 16 to get a full fix of festive film bliss.

10) “Scrooged” (1988) PG-13
A cranky TV exec, Frank Cross, played by Bill Murray, is visited by three ghosts providing lessons about the season on Christmas Eve. It was Murray’s return to the silver screen after a four-year absence following the overwhelming success of “Ghostbusters.”

9) “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (1965) G
Charles Schultz’s classic animated characters look for the true meaning of Christmas amidst ever-present commercialism. The show was given a reported $76,000 to produce by CBS.

8) “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” (1964) G
This stop motion animated television classic originally aired in December of 1964. Based on the Johnny Marks song from 1949 which itself was based on a poem of the same name written by his brother-in-law, the story includes Rudolph experiencing setbacks from being ostracized .

7) “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (1989) PG-13
If you love the Griswolds, Chevy Chase and John Hughes humor, you will enjoy the disastrous comedy about family Christmas plans. The movie is based on a John Hughes short story “Christmas ’59,” which was originally published in the December 1980 issue of National Lampoon.

6) “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000) PG
Jim Carrey serves up funny like only he can in this twist on a classic Dr. Seuss tale of a revenge-seeking Grinch who plans on ruining Christmas for everyone. This is a must watch.

5) “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) PG

A Frank Capra film with heart starring James Stewart and Donna Reed about an angel sent from heaven to show businessman George Bailey what life would have been if he never existed. The movie is based on the original story “The Greatest Gift” by Philip Van Doren Stern. Reportedly, after being unsuccessful in getting it published, he mailed 200 copies to family and friends in 1943.

4) “Love Actually” (2003) R
The star-studded cast plays the lives of eight couples dealing with their love lives in loosely related tales set a month before Christmas in London. The brilliant and hilarious film might make you laugh and cry all within two hours.

3) “Home Alone” (1990) PG
Macaulay Culkin stars as an 8-year-old left behind at home by his vacationing family. You might not have known that John Hughes is reported to have written the script in just nine days.

2) “A Christmas Story” (1983) P.G
You probably grew up on this one, so bring the nostalgia on the quest for Ralphie’s official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time.

1) “Eleven” (2003) PG In what is now arguably the funniest and most popular Christmas cult classic of all time, Will Ferrell plays Buddy the elf, who was raised at the North Pole, reunites with his real-life father, played by James Caan, who is on the naughty list. Interestingly, Chris Farley was originally eyed to play the lead. ¦

— Eric Raddatz is editor of the Fort Myers Florida Weekly, and the director and founder of the Fort Myers Film Festival. Email him at eraddatz@floridaweekly.com if he left out your favorite, so he can consider it for next year.

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