Here we are again and tonight we have the last Christmas movie before the big day. There will be no Tuesday Night is Film Night on Christmas Day, as on Christmas Day we will be watching The Sound of Music, or The Great Escape or whatever classic film they will be showing for the 1,000th time!
The more perceptive amongst you may note that tonight (17th of December 2012) is actually a Monday, well we need to be a bit flexible with our days, as our busy social calendar is overflowing this time of year, with various concerts, parties and evenings out to attend.
So, Tuesday Night is (a Christmas) Film Night (on Monday Night, as we're off to a Carol service tomorrow) presents;
Elf
Apparently Elf is a bit of a modern day classic, but I've never seen it. Well, I've seen clips of it and to be honest, I didn't like what I saw. It looked childish and a tad silly. So it was with some reservations that we sat down to watch the whole film.
Luckily, I was pleasantly surprised at the movie as a whole. The story follows Buddy the Elf (Will Ferrell) who was adopted at birth and found his way to the North Pole, via Santa's sack.
There he grew up, (literally up) and became the biggest of Santa's elves.
After some time, it was obvious that Buddy was different, this is where he discovers his origins and heads back to New York, to find his father.
So that is the scene set, the standard formulaic Christmas story now kicks in. Buddy's dad turns out to be an workaholic, uncaring person, (he is on the 'Naughty List') and has no time for his own son, let alone a son he knew nothing about, who appears from nowhere, in the shape of Buddy.
Buddy also comes into contact with Jovie, played by the lovely Zooey Deschanel. Jovie is employed in the toy department of large store. So here is our love interest.
Buddy attempts to integrate back into his father's life, but as always it ends up badly and we see them part and it takes a visit from Santa and a whole load of Christmas spirit to get them all back together.
So yes, it is your bog standard Christmas story, good versus bad, happy against sad etc. etc. but it is really funny in places. Ferrell is a very convincing, hapless and gormless elf. James Cann, plays Walter Hobbs, Buddy's sour faced dad. The omnipresent (or so it seems from our recent films) Mary Steenburgen (and that's no bad thing, as she is delightful) plays Walter's wife Emily.
The cast is adequate, the story is mediocre, but the laughs are high. It has all the ingredients for a classic Christmas film and would stand the test of time, to be seen year in, year out.
Not as good as some, but better than others. And as the movie's tagline goes; "This holiday, discover your inner elf".
OK then. Enjoy.
Monday, 17 December 2012
Tuesday, 11 December 2012
Four Christmases - 11th December 2012
And so onto the penultimate Christmas movie before the big day. This week we (hopefully) play it safe with a Christmas film released in 2008. Apparently, according to the tagline; "for them the holidays are a real nightmare.....". Is this true? Let us find out about their;
Four Christmases
As we've said, Four Christmases was a 2008 Christmas release, starring Reece Witherspoon, Vince Vaughn, Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, John Voight, Mary Steenburgen, Kristen Chenoweth, the list goes on.
In fact you will probably have to sit there with IMDB, to answer that ever present question;
"I know him/her from somewhere, what were they in?"
So all in all a pretty decent cast.
Reece Witherspoon is absolutely gorgeous as ever, playing Kate. Kate is in a relationship with Brad, (Vince Vaughn). Who between them have managed to avoid any Christmas holidays with their respective parents, who are all seperated or divorced, (hence the title. Four parents, Four Christmases).
Each year Brad and Kate spin out a tale of them doing charity work overseas, when in fact they are living it up in Fiji, for the festive period.
Except this year. This year, a fog bound San Francisco airport puts pay to their travel plans and an inoppurtune appearance on the local news, means that their secret is out.
There is only one thing for it, they will have to visit each parent and their families in turn.
There's the synopsis. The rest of the film follows Brad and Kate and their unravelling relationship, as they descend on each parent in turn. The laughs are plentiful and hearty. The feelgood nature of the film is kept fairly low key, but inevitably with this style of Christmas movie, you have a happy start, a falling apart, followed by a triumphant ending, where it is all good again. It's no different with Four Christmases, but the storyline is really quitegood. The layered approach with the multiple supporting characters enhancing the absurd arrangments and behaviours of the families, brings a fresh approach to the festive feelgood film.
Notable performances for me are Reece Witherspoon, (totally gorgeous). Along with Vince Vaughn, they seem to bounce off each other, which is required in this film. Jon Voight and Robert Duvall as the fathers are fantastic and so natural. However, my favourite has to be Mary Steenburgen, who looks to be getting younger, as she gets older. She puts in a sterling performance as the cougar style mother of Kate. Mary Steenburgen also starred in another of our favourite Christmas movies; One Magic Christmas and is as lovely now as she was then.
Overall Four Christmases is a good family, funny, festive film. Running in at just 88 minutes, it is not too long, so can be enjoyed when you have an hour or so to spare. There are some great laughs in it too, with a soupçon of romance and a mere hint of sadness. So it is not too heavy at all. In fact it is most enjoyable.
I really wished we had started doing a scoring system for films, but 139 films into this blog, I'm not sure I want to go back through them now, however just say that we did, Four Christmases would certainly get a good 7 out of 10.
Four Christmases
As we've said, Four Christmases was a 2008 Christmas release, starring Reece Witherspoon, Vince Vaughn, Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, John Voight, Mary Steenburgen, Kristen Chenoweth, the list goes on.
In fact you will probably have to sit there with IMDB, to answer that ever present question;
"I know him/her from somewhere, what were they in?"
So all in all a pretty decent cast.
Reece Witherspoon is absolutely gorgeous as ever, playing Kate. Kate is in a relationship with Brad, (Vince Vaughn). Who between them have managed to avoid any Christmas holidays with their respective parents, who are all seperated or divorced, (hence the title. Four parents, Four Christmases).
Each year Brad and Kate spin out a tale of them doing charity work overseas, when in fact they are living it up in Fiji, for the festive period.
Except this year. This year, a fog bound San Francisco airport puts pay to their travel plans and an inoppurtune appearance on the local news, means that their secret is out.
There is only one thing for it, they will have to visit each parent and their families in turn.
There's the synopsis. The rest of the film follows Brad and Kate and their unravelling relationship, as they descend on each parent in turn. The laughs are plentiful and hearty. The feelgood nature of the film is kept fairly low key, but inevitably with this style of Christmas movie, you have a happy start, a falling apart, followed by a triumphant ending, where it is all good again. It's no different with Four Christmases, but the storyline is really quitegood. The layered approach with the multiple supporting characters enhancing the absurd arrangments and behaviours of the families, brings a fresh approach to the festive feelgood film.
Notable performances for me are Reece Witherspoon, (totally gorgeous). Along with Vince Vaughn, they seem to bounce off each other, which is required in this film. Jon Voight and Robert Duvall as the fathers are fantastic and so natural. However, my favourite has to be Mary Steenburgen, who looks to be getting younger, as she gets older. She puts in a sterling performance as the cougar style mother of Kate. Mary Steenburgen also starred in another of our favourite Christmas movies; One Magic Christmas and is as lovely now as she was then.
Overall Four Christmases is a good family, funny, festive film. Running in at just 88 minutes, it is not too long, so can be enjoyed when you have an hour or so to spare. There are some great laughs in it too, with a soupçon of romance and a mere hint of sadness. So it is not too heavy at all. In fact it is most enjoyable.
I really wished we had started doing a scoring system for films, but 139 films into this blog, I'm not sure I want to go back through them now, however just say that we did, Four Christmases would certainly get a good 7 out of 10.
Tuesday, 4 December 2012
The Muppet Christmas Carol - 4th December 2012
Let's cut to chase this week, no beating around the bush, the story is a classic and the film is a perrenial Christmas favourite, but what did we think of;
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Right then, it may not be a case of where to start with this review, it may be where to finish.
The Muppets take the Charles Dickens Christmas classic and convert it to the big screen, but do they make a good job of it?
The story has been copied a thousand times, it is and always will be, the definitive feelgood Christmas story. The story of greed, avarice and scorn, making way for repentance, forgiving and kindness. The ultimate turnaround story, delightfully, thoughtfully and masterly written by Dickens, but have the Muppets ruined it?
No.
The best thing about The Muppet Christmas Carol, is their faithfulness to the original story. As I said A Christmas Carol, is the definitive Christmas story, altering it, more often than not detracts from the story. Dickens got it right first time, there's no need to amend it.
The Muppets stick very close to the original, including in most places the original prose as written by Dickens. Obviously there are some amendments to fit the characters, to the available Muppet cast. A degree of poetic licence is exerted for instance, by having Waldorf and Statler play Jacob and Robert Marley, doubling up on the Scrooge and Marley partnership in the original.
I think, that they have got the characterisation right, Kermit plays Bob Cratchitt, Miss Piggy; his wife Emily. A natural partnership.
Fozzie Bear is old Fezziwig, or rather Fozziewig. Perfect.
Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker are magnificently cast as the charitable gentlemen asking Scrooge for a donation for the poor.
As well as the characters, we have the luxury of Gonzo as the narrator (Charles Dickens) providing a perfect platform for plot embellishment, as he can describe the action and fill in the background. Rizzo the Rat is the voice of the audience, questioning Gonzo on the story on our behalf.
The only real casting doubt I have about The Muppet Christmas Carol is Ebeneezer Scrooge himself. Michael Caine would not have been my choice as the squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner, that is Scrooge. However, it seems to work, although I always think he is going to say; "Muppets, bloody thousands of them!"
It is also a musical film and Michael Caine proves he is no singer, but he makes a good effort. And I won't dismiss the film purely because of Mr. Caine minor failings.
The only other negative point I will make is, on certain releases of the DVD, there is one song cut from the original film, which is a real shame as the song; "When Love is Gone" is a wonderfully sad love lament, sung by Belle to the young Ebeneezer. A real poor piece of editing.
However, all in all, The Muppet Christmas Carol is a classic, very true to the original story, funny, poignant and sad, but ultimately extremely rewarding.
It should be in everbodys top 10 Christmas movies of all time.
The Muppet Christmas Carol
Right then, it may not be a case of where to start with this review, it may be where to finish.
The Muppets take the Charles Dickens Christmas classic and convert it to the big screen, but do they make a good job of it?
The story has been copied a thousand times, it is and always will be, the definitive feelgood Christmas story. The story of greed, avarice and scorn, making way for repentance, forgiving and kindness. The ultimate turnaround story, delightfully, thoughtfully and masterly written by Dickens, but have the Muppets ruined it?
No.
The best thing about The Muppet Christmas Carol, is their faithfulness to the original story. As I said A Christmas Carol, is the definitive Christmas story, altering it, more often than not detracts from the story. Dickens got it right first time, there's no need to amend it.
The Muppets stick very close to the original, including in most places the original prose as written by Dickens. Obviously there are some amendments to fit the characters, to the available Muppet cast. A degree of poetic licence is exerted for instance, by having Waldorf and Statler play Jacob and Robert Marley, doubling up on the Scrooge and Marley partnership in the original.
I think, that they have got the characterisation right, Kermit plays Bob Cratchitt, Miss Piggy; his wife Emily. A natural partnership.
Fozzie Bear is old Fezziwig, or rather Fozziewig. Perfect.
Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker are magnificently cast as the charitable gentlemen asking Scrooge for a donation for the poor.
As well as the characters, we have the luxury of Gonzo as the narrator (Charles Dickens) providing a perfect platform for plot embellishment, as he can describe the action and fill in the background. Rizzo the Rat is the voice of the audience, questioning Gonzo on the story on our behalf.
The only real casting doubt I have about The Muppet Christmas Carol is Ebeneezer Scrooge himself. Michael Caine would not have been my choice as the squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner, that is Scrooge. However, it seems to work, although I always think he is going to say; "Muppets, bloody thousands of them!"
It is also a musical film and Michael Caine proves he is no singer, but he makes a good effort. And I won't dismiss the film purely because of Mr. Caine minor failings.
The only other negative point I will make is, on certain releases of the DVD, there is one song cut from the original film, which is a real shame as the song; "When Love is Gone" is a wonderfully sad love lament, sung by Belle to the young Ebeneezer. A real poor piece of editing.
However, all in all, The Muppet Christmas Carol is a classic, very true to the original story, funny, poignant and sad, but ultimately extremely rewarding.
It should be in everbodys top 10 Christmas movies of all time.
Tuesday, 27 November 2012
Deck The Halls - 27th November 2012
It's hard to believe that tonight is our 4th Christmas movie for 2012! And we're not in Advent yet. Tonight, we move away from the 'made for TV' offerings of recent weeks and attempt to watch a 'proper' festive film. This week we look to;
Deck The Halls
It sometimes gets really hard to write originally and enthusiastically about films, especially festive feelgood movies. You know that it will be the same format regardless of storyline. Set the scene. Establish the plot. Is it good versus evil. Or miserly versus giving? Build the rivalry, build the tension. Hit the point where they cannot go on and then repent and live happily ever after.
It's no different with Deck The Halls.
Danny de Vito stars as Buddy Hall, who moves into the neighbourhood, alongside Steve Finch (Matthew Broderick). After some initial banter, the rivalry between the two begins, with Buddy intent on stealing Christmas, with a huge display of lights on his house.
Finch is your more traditionalist, when it come to the festive season and was always the one who admired Christmas the most, enjoyed it the most and made the most effort. However, Buddy seems to be moving in on the act and starts the process of decorating his house with more lights than everyone else.
So we have the Christmas rivalry, the somewhat evil Buddy Hall against the hapless Steve Finch. You all know that it will go the full course, with bigger, better, brighter lights. More antagonistic behaviour etc. etc.
However, it is a funny film. There are quite a lot of laughs on the way. De Vito and Broderick make an ideal partnership in their feuding and are ably supported by their wives played by Kristin Davis (Kelly Finch) and Kristin Chenoweth (Tia Hall).
The story is reminiscent of a TV series called Christmas Lights, starring Robson Green and Mark Benton. I would say the TV series is slightly better than the film, but that doesn't take away the fact that Deck The Halls is a worthy Christmas movie and one to watch should it be on.
Enjoy and Merry Christmas.
Deck The Halls
It sometimes gets really hard to write originally and enthusiastically about films, especially festive feelgood movies. You know that it will be the same format regardless of storyline. Set the scene. Establish the plot. Is it good versus evil. Or miserly versus giving? Build the rivalry, build the tension. Hit the point where they cannot go on and then repent and live happily ever after.
It's no different with Deck The Halls.
Danny de Vito stars as Buddy Hall, who moves into the neighbourhood, alongside Steve Finch (Matthew Broderick). After some initial banter, the rivalry between the two begins, with Buddy intent on stealing Christmas, with a huge display of lights on his house.
Finch is your more traditionalist, when it come to the festive season and was always the one who admired Christmas the most, enjoyed it the most and made the most effort. However, Buddy seems to be moving in on the act and starts the process of decorating his house with more lights than everyone else.
So we have the Christmas rivalry, the somewhat evil Buddy Hall against the hapless Steve Finch. You all know that it will go the full course, with bigger, better, brighter lights. More antagonistic behaviour etc. etc.
However, it is a funny film. There are quite a lot of laughs on the way. De Vito and Broderick make an ideal partnership in their feuding and are ably supported by their wives played by Kristin Davis (Kelly Finch) and Kristin Chenoweth (Tia Hall).
The story is reminiscent of a TV series called Christmas Lights, starring Robson Green and Mark Benton. I would say the TV series is slightly better than the film, but that doesn't take away the fact that Deck The Halls is a worthy Christmas movie and one to watch should it be on.
Enjoy and Merry Christmas.
Tuesday, 20 November 2012
A Christmas Kiss - 20th November 2012
The Tuesday Night is Film Night countdown to Christmas continues with another made for TV classic...... *ahem* .... well maybe not. Here is what we thought of;
A Christmas Kiss
So, let us just get the cast and the synopsis out of the way. Laura Breckenridge plays Wendy Walton, a put upon assistant to Priscilla Hall (Elisabeth Röhm), who is a major designer in Boston.
Priscilla is in love with Adam Hughes (played by Brendan Fehr), however a chance encounter in a lift between Adam and Wendy sparks an affair of the heart between the two of them.
In between this point and the inevitable happy ending, is about an hour of padding, where we discover what a bitch Priscilla is. What a fool Adam is. And how very lovely Wendy is.
It kept us entertained, and the supporting cast were actually quite good, but whether you'd want to spend any money on this film, well, maybe not.
As Christmas films go, it was OK, but we really need to watch some decent Christmas films soon!
Enjoy. (Or not as the case maybe).
A Christmas Kiss
So, let us just get the cast and the synopsis out of the way. Laura Breckenridge plays Wendy Walton, a put upon assistant to Priscilla Hall (Elisabeth Röhm), who is a major designer in Boston.
Priscilla is in love with Adam Hughes (played by Brendan Fehr), however a chance encounter in a lift between Adam and Wendy sparks an affair of the heart between the two of them.
In between this point and the inevitable happy ending, is about an hour of padding, where we discover what a bitch Priscilla is. What a fool Adam is. And how very lovely Wendy is.
It kept us entertained, and the supporting cast were actually quite good, but whether you'd want to spend any money on this film, well, maybe not.
As Christmas films go, it was OK, but we really need to watch some decent Christmas films soon!
Enjoy. (Or not as the case maybe).
Tuesday, 13 November 2012
Christmas in Boston - 12th November 2012
Doesn't time fly? We are already at week 2 in our festive film fiesta. This week we delve into the somewhat "hit & miss" area of the "made for TV" movie.
So, will it be a Christmas cracker or a tinsel covered turkey? Let's find out, as we discover all about;
Christmas in Boston
As titles go, it's a bit of a non-starter, it certainly doesn't grip you does it? The film was only marginally better. Let us take a look at the storyline, then elaborate on the finer points.
Christmas in Boston follows the story of pen-pals Seth and Gina. They have been pen-pals since school, some 13 years ago. Now they are both grown up, both with jobs. Gina is a lowly journalist, Seth works for a major toy company.
They are still writing to each other, only now via email, rather than letter. They have never met. They have never spoken to each other on the telephone and they have never seen each other.
The only thing they have done is exchanged photographs over the years.
Enter plot twist number one. Actually they both thought themselves to be too awkward and ugly to send photo's of themselves, so they both sent photo's of their best friends; Ellen and Matt. Luckily they have remained best friends, although Ellen and Matt are unaware of the subterfuge they are embroiled in.
Plot twist number two. Seth has to attend a major toy conference in Boston (at Christmas, come on, it is a festive film!) And Gina, who lives in Boston, has to cover it for her newspaper. Which makes a change from the obituaries she normally writes.
So, the pen-pals of 13 years will finally get to meet. But hold on! Gina thinks Seth looks like Matt. And Seth thinks that Gina looks like Ellen!
Confused? It's OK, you will work it out.
So is the film any good? Well, yes it's alright. It is certainly your archetypal feelgood Christmas holiday romance. The storyline is fairly unique. The four main characters are likeable, funny and realistic. The actors playing the parts do a pretty good job too.
I think if you paid full price at the cinema to see this film, you would want some kind of discount. However, at the end of the day it is, what it is, which is a sometime bittersweet romance, with some funny moments, a good plotline, a happy ending and all set against a fine festive backdrop.
Enjoy.
So, will it be a Christmas cracker or a tinsel covered turkey? Let's find out, as we discover all about;
Christmas in Boston
As titles go, it's a bit of a non-starter, it certainly doesn't grip you does it? The film was only marginally better. Let us take a look at the storyline, then elaborate on the finer points.
Christmas in Boston follows the story of pen-pals Seth and Gina. They have been pen-pals since school, some 13 years ago. Now they are both grown up, both with jobs. Gina is a lowly journalist, Seth works for a major toy company.
They are still writing to each other, only now via email, rather than letter. They have never met. They have never spoken to each other on the telephone and they have never seen each other.
The only thing they have done is exchanged photographs over the years.
Enter plot twist number one. Actually they both thought themselves to be too awkward and ugly to send photo's of themselves, so they both sent photo's of their best friends; Ellen and Matt. Luckily they have remained best friends, although Ellen and Matt are unaware of the subterfuge they are embroiled in.
Plot twist number two. Seth has to attend a major toy conference in Boston (at Christmas, come on, it is a festive film!) And Gina, who lives in Boston, has to cover it for her newspaper. Which makes a change from the obituaries she normally writes.
So, the pen-pals of 13 years will finally get to meet. But hold on! Gina thinks Seth looks like Matt. And Seth thinks that Gina looks like Ellen!
Confused? It's OK, you will work it out.
So is the film any good? Well, yes it's alright. It is certainly your archetypal feelgood Christmas holiday romance. The storyline is fairly unique. The four main characters are likeable, funny and realistic. The actors playing the parts do a pretty good job too.
I think if you paid full price at the cinema to see this film, you would want some kind of discount. However, at the end of the day it is, what it is, which is a sometime bittersweet romance, with some funny moments, a good plotline, a happy ending and all set against a fine festive backdrop.
Enjoy.
Tuesday, 6 November 2012
Christmas Every Day - 6th November 2012
Tuesday Night is Film Night reaches into November and like it or not, there are only 8 weeks to Christmas Day. So, the advent calendar is out early and from now until the big day, Tuesday Night is Christmas Film Night!
This will not please some of you I'm sure, but there are others who wish that it could be;
Christmas Every Day
Did you see what I did there? Did you? I segued straight from the preamble into the title of the film. What? Oh please yourself!
We kick off our season of seasonal movie cheer, with a "made for TV" classic. Which is such a shame, as this one could really do well if it were out on DVD or BluRay for you youngsters.
Christmas Every Day is a feelgood movie, in the same style of Groundhog Day. Released in 1996 it's stars Erik von Detten as Billy Jackson. Billy is not having a good Christmas. Everything appears to be against him. His basketball skills, his Uncle David, the bully at school.
So, when he upsets his sister, telling her there is no Santa, she makes him wish for it to be Christmas every day.
And guess what? It is.
If you're familiar with the Groundhog Day story, you know what happens next. Billy needs to explore all the tangible ways to get time back on track. This means trying different scenarios to make people happy and he finds out quickly that you can't please all of the people, all of the time.
Yes, there is a message in this movie. And it is a saccharin sweet feelgood film, but it's a great one. It encapsulates that magical Christmas spirit, that you find in really good seasonal films. And the unique twist in this film, is that you see the story through a child's eyes.
It's not an adult trying to put things right, or making amends after several ghostly visitations, it's a teenager, trying to pull together family values, so that the people around him can enjoy Christmas.
If you love Christmas movies and you love to have a good cry, then you'll love Christmas Every Day. As I say, it's not out on DVD, so look out for it in the Christmas film schedules.
This will not please some of you I'm sure, but there are others who wish that it could be;
Christmas Every Day
Did you see what I did there? Did you? I segued straight from the preamble into the title of the film. What? Oh please yourself!
We kick off our season of seasonal movie cheer, with a "made for TV" classic. Which is such a shame, as this one could really do well if it were out on DVD or BluRay for you youngsters.
Christmas Every Day is a feelgood movie, in the same style of Groundhog Day. Released in 1996 it's stars Erik von Detten as Billy Jackson. Billy is not having a good Christmas. Everything appears to be against him. His basketball skills, his Uncle David, the bully at school.
So, when he upsets his sister, telling her there is no Santa, she makes him wish for it to be Christmas every day.
And guess what? It is.
If you're familiar with the Groundhog Day story, you know what happens next. Billy needs to explore all the tangible ways to get time back on track. This means trying different scenarios to make people happy and he finds out quickly that you can't please all of the people, all of the time.
Yes, there is a message in this movie. And it is a saccharin sweet feelgood film, but it's a great one. It encapsulates that magical Christmas spirit, that you find in really good seasonal films. And the unique twist in this film, is that you see the story through a child's eyes.
It's not an adult trying to put things right, or making amends after several ghostly visitations, it's a teenager, trying to pull together family values, so that the people around him can enjoy Christmas.
If you love Christmas movies and you love to have a good cry, then you'll love Christmas Every Day. As I say, it's not out on DVD, so look out for it in the Christmas film schedules.
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