When you're home for the holidays and get to the point where you can't possibly stand your relatives any longer, turn to the entity that truly shaped your childhood: TV.
These holiday-themed movies will help you enjoy the season, but unlike your younger siblings, they can be turned off when you've had enough. Who knows, maybe watching these favorites will put you in a less Ebenezer-y spirit.
"A Christmas Story"
If TBS is any indicator, this movie's a classic. (However, whether it should actually be watched for 24 hours straight is debatable.) Somehow it's still funny to watch the unwrapping of the "Italian" garter-clad leg lamp, to feel intense embarrassment at the sight of the pink footy pajamas, and to chant along with everyone as they tell Ralphie he'll shoot his eye out.
"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"
If horrible relatives are invading your house, your holiday-crazed dad is stringing 250,000 lights on your roof and there's a squirrel in your Christmas tree, watch this movie. Juliette Lewis sympathizes with you.
"Home Alone" or "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" (but never the third one, which, as far as I'm concerned, doesn't exist)
I still can't figure out why the hands-on-the-sides-of-the-face-and-screaming thing became so iconic, but it launched Macaulay's career, so who's to argue? Both these movies stand up to the test of time, but they're especially great during this season. I recommend the second, as it contains Tim Curry.
"How the Grinch Stole Christmas" or "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!"
That exclamation point makes a difference: Whether you go for the classic cartoon or the new version with a creepy-looking Jim Carrey, this sweet Dr. Seuss story gets you in the holiday spirit. The Whos of Whoville are cute, that "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" song has awesome lyrics, and apparently the movie also teaches some kind of lesson or something.
"The Nightmare Before Christmas"
Tim Burton wisely created a movie that could be marketed during two major holidays, but "Christmas" is in the title, so I think that wins out. This movie looks like it might be for kids, but it's scary and cool enough for us, too. The songs are catchy, and it's great to see what Burton can do with animation.
(Another great Burton movie for the holidays without being so blatant about it is "Edward Scissorhands." That scene where Edward carves the ice sculpture serves as yet another reminder that Danny Elfman is god.)
"Scrooged"
Bill Murray, Carol Kane and that woman who was Indiana Jones' love interest in "Raiders of the Lost Ark" star in the adaptation of Dickens' classic Christmas tale. It's modern (or at least it was in 1988) and funny, and it has Robert Goulet!
And for all our Hanukkah celebrators, may I recommend "8 Crazy Nights." Somehow, Adam Sandler is less annoying when he's animated.
