(Some of) My Modern Favorites: Holiday Edition – Part 1

So, I have already written 2 posts about (Some of) My Classic Favorites: Holiday Edition, Part 1 and Part 2, but now it is time to tackle (Some of) My Modern Favorites: Holiday Edition. The list is quite long and doesn’t even include some of my favorites but, whaddya say we will start here and build on to it in the future.

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To refresh your memory, reader, as to how I am compiling this list:

1. This post covers part 1 of my modern holiday films list.
2. Some of these, you might not consider a holiday film. Some of these, you might not care for while others you might not have even heard of. I just hope that you might find something new or different in these posts to help you enjoy your holiday season.
3. Although I may have some absolute favorites, there was no possible way that I could arrange them in any particular order. So, I’ve tried to be a bit creative in how I am choosing to unveil these two catalogs.

Here we go….

Now, I’m sure that you have heard of the theory regarding six degrees of separation or even the game based on that theory, The Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. I formulated my own version of that game which I like to play but my version is all about movies. I randomly select two actors/actresses from any era and figure out how many movies it takes to connect them.

For example, let’s take Katherine Hepburn and Tom Hanks. This is all solely on my movie knowledge and memory since I often play it at night when I’m having a hard time getting to sleep. It would go something like this:

• Katherine Hepburn was in On Golden Pond with Jane Fonda…
• Jane Fonda was in Nine to Five with Dabney Coleman…
• Dabney Coleman was in You’ve Got Mail with Tom Hanks

Got the idea?

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So, the next 4 classic films I have listed here in (Some of) My Modern Favorites: Holiday Edition – Part I, are all connected to each other through the method shown above.

Why this choice? Let me make this clear, I love Christmas movies and there is nothing I love more than to put one on while I’m doing my holiday baking, decorating, and gift wrapping BUT, of every Christmas movie I have ever seen, this is my absolute favorite. In fact, in our house, we don’t put up a Christmas tree in our front window, we put up a full size, replica of the legendary Leg Lamp. Last year, when we moved, our neighbors all came by to tell us how much they would miss seeing the leg lamp in the window during the holidays. We also had many people walk or drive-by during the holidays to take pictures of it. It was and is still the best Christmas decoration EVER!

It is an absolute no brainer for me to put this on my list. I cannot even tell you how many times I have watched this movie, how often I quote lines from this movie, and how it still makes me laugh every single time I see it. It is, in my opinion, the perfect Christmas movie. Not a big hit when it was released in 1984, it has gone on to become a beloved Christmas film, a hit Broadway musical, and spawned 2 additional films, A Christmas Story 2 (2012), a direct to video release, and A Christmas Story Christmas (2022), which stars and was produced by Peter Billingsley.

A few fun facts about this film:

• Director Bob Clark had achieved huge box office success in 1981 with the movie Porky’s which was the fifth, highest grossing movie that year. 20^th Century Fox really wanted Clark to direct the sequel and he agreed to do so only if they would allow him to make the movie her really wanted to direct, A Christmas Story. Both Porky’s II and A Christmas Story were released in 1983 – neither received good reviews or saw much box office success; however, it is clear now that Clark’s passion project became one of his greatest and most enduring films.
• Director Bob Clark also makes a brief appearance in A Christmas Story, as the neighbor Swede who comes by to admire the leg lamp after the Old Man has put it up in the window.
  

• Oklahoma University Visual Arts Professor, Noland James, is considered to be the creator of the original leg lamp that inspired the one that appeared in A Christmas Story. Early in his teaching career at the school, James made a leg lamp using an old mannequin that had been lying around in the art school and displayed in from his fourth-floor office window. Eventually, a man who was looking for work at the school became fascinated by the lamp and stopped by several times to ask about it and how it had been made. A few years later, that same man found a job on the production team of A Christmas Story and the Old Man’s legendary “major award” was born.
• Each year, since 1992, in Chickasaw, Oklahoma, they hold a Festival of Light and to honor hometown boy, Noland James, and his indelible mark on popular culture they display a 40-foot tall, inflatable leg lamp.

CONNECTION: 20 years after Peter Billingsley’s iconic appearance in A Christmas Story he brought his magic touch to a small role in another beloved holiday movie, Elf.

Elf (2003)

The supporting cast in this film is packed with talent including Oscar winner for Best Supporting Actress, Mary Steenburgen as Walter’s wife, Emily, Emmy nominated Zooey Deschanel as Jovie, Buddy’s love interest, Emmy nominated Amy Sedaris as Deb, Walter’s enthusiastic but beleaguered secretary, and Peter Dinklage as Miles Finch, a demanding, high-maintenance author. There are so many more cast members to mention but I’m trying to keep this somewhat brief.

Buddy’s child-like wonder, positivity, absolute devotion and love of all things Christmas is something I think we should all aspire too; however, many of us are more like his father, Walter (Caan), a bit more pessimistic, contemptuous and annoyed with the holiday season. As with many of the best holiday films, in the end, this movie is about opening ourselves to what the world can be if we focus on what is important, like family, friends, savoring the blessing that we have, and the true meaning of the season, rather than the things we think are most important, like career, money and the negativity that surrounds us.

Some interesting things about the film include:

• Director Jon Favreau not only directed in the film but also appeared as Dr. Ben Leonardo in a scene with Buddy (Farrell) and Walter (Caan) AND did the voice for Mr. Narwhal who says goodbye to Buddy as he leaves the North Pole for New York City.
• Jon Favreau’s son, Max Favreau, plays the role of Young Buddy in the film. He also had roles in two more films directed by his dad, Iron Man 2 (2010) and The Jungle Book (2016).

• Will Farrell’s brother, Patrick Farrell, appears in the film as one of the security guards who throw Buddy out of the Empire State Building.

• Will Farrell suffered from sugar-induced headaches during filming as a result of Buddy’s preferred sugar-filled diet. In an interview, Farrell admitted, “That was tough. I ingested a lot of sugar in this movie and I didn’t get a lot of sleep. I constantly stayed up. But anything for the movie, I’m there. If it takes eating a lot of maple syrup, then I will—if that’s what the job calls for.”
• Twin boys were originally hired to play the Baby Buddy; however, they were unable to perform and cried endlessly rather than smiling and crawling around. Brunette, triplet girls were brought in as a replacement who were much happier, spirited, and good-natured.

CONNECTION: This time around, we have a double connection from this film to the next. Jon Favreau both directed and had a small role in Elf while and Mary Steenburgen appeared as Emily and, in the next film on the list, Four Christmases (2008), they both appear on-screen again.

Four Christmases (2008)

Why this choice? No matter who you are or what holiday you may celebrate, everyone can identify with something in this film whether it is playing board games with family, awkward and uncomfortable conversations, sibling rivalry, or dealing with poorly behaved children of other family members.  It is all in this film and with every relatable, or unrelatable, situation, this film, through laughter, reminds us that everyone’s family is a little crazy but it is our own brand of crazy.

Incredibly, this comedy film boasts 5 Academy Award winners, most of whom are known for their dramatic roles:

• Reese Witherspoon as Kate – Best Actress winner for Walk the Line (2006)
• Mary Steenburgen as Marilyn – Best Supporting Actress winner for Melvin and Howard (1981)
• Robert Duvall as Howard – Best Actor winner for Tender Mercies (1984)
• Sissy Spacek as Paula – Best Actress winner for Coal Miner’s Daughter (1981)
• Jon Voight as Creighton – Best Actor winner for Coming Home (1979)

Beyond the astounding collection of Oscar winners in this film, there are also incredibly entertaining performances by other talented performers including Jon Favreau as Denver, Dwight Yoakam as Pastor Phil, Tim McGraw as Dallas, Emmy and Tony Award winner, Kristin Chenoweth as Courtney and Katy Mixon as Susan.

Some intriguing things about the film include:

• Stars Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn, hated each other during the filming. Speculation as to the reasons why include the fact that their personalities clashed as did their different levels of professionalism and preparation during the shoot. While understandable, it is unfortunate as I think they are great foils for each other on-screen and I would have liked to have seen them in more movies together.
• Many of the film’s key scenes were improvised which demonstrates the spontaneous comedic skills of the talented cast.

I have to admit that I didn’t see this movie until about 5 years ago and it has been an absolute must watch film on my Christmas movie list ever since. If you haven’t seen it yet, you have to check it out.

CONNECTION: Before playing a man who learns the importance of love, family, and Christmas in Four Christmases, Vince Vaughn brought his unique character and comedic chops to the next film on the list, Fred Claus.

Fred Claus (2007)

Why this choice?

No one has ever explored, with as much heart and comedy relief, what it must be like for relatives of the most beloved saint and spirit of the Christmas season, Santa Claus. At its core, this movie is about forgiveness and redemption in the modern era and reignites the love and meaning of Christmas in a character who has a completely different reason for not being a fan of the season.

Once again, this cast is stacked with Oscar winners and nominees, including:

Rounding out the fantastic cast are Elizabeth Banks as Charlene, Bobb’e J. Thompson as Slam, and Ludacris as DJ Donnie.

I will admit, the first time I saw this movie, I was disappointed that, in lieu of using LP’s (little people) as the elf leads, the director, David Dobkin, opted to utilize some visual effects, that seem to be lacking refinement, in my opinion, to digitally superimpose the heads of people of average stature on the bodies of a smaller statured individual. Even when I watch this film today, it does continue to bother me and I find it a distraction. I just don’t understand the thinking behind that choice when there are so many, incredibly talented LP actors in Hollywood including Peter Dinklage, a 4-time Emmy winner for his role as Tyrion Lannister on Game of Thrones, Warwick Davis, a highly respected LP actor who has appeared in some of the greatest film franchises in history including Star Wars and Harry Potter, Danny Woodburn, known for his work on Seinfeld, the film Mirror Mirror, and the Disney+ Willow series, and Martin Klebba, known for his work in the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise and Mirror Mirror.

CONNECTION: Miranda Richardson has been twice nominated for an Academy Award, although her role as Santa’s wife in Fred Claus wasn’t one of them. Richardson also brought to life a revered literary character…..to be continued