Overrated or Underrated: Christmas Edition
My takes on some popular holiday media
OVERRATED
Elf
I know I am alone on this take, but this movie has never hit for me. There are some funny moments, but something about a grown man acting like a child for most of the movie has always rubbed me the wrong way. I’m not here to kill anyone’s holiday fun, but there are funnier Christmas movies that I would much rather watch.
The Polar Express
The dead eyes of the animated children alone are enough to make this a no-go for me. While I admire Robert Zemeckis’ creativity and ambition, the motion capture animation makes this movie too hard to watch. The North Pole always felt scary to me, and Tom Hanks’ several characters creeped me out.
A Christmas Story
I must say in advance that I have only seen this movie once. However, once was enough. I think my gripes with this movie are mostly generational. It is a very Boomer/Gen X movie that is hard for younger generations to relate to. Something about a little annoying boy dreaming about getting an air rifle just doesn’t hit anymore. It might be your dad’s favorite movie— and we love that for him— but that does not mean you need to feel bad for not liking it.
APPROPRIATELY RATED
Home Alone
This movie is a classic for a reason. It is incredibly relatable and fun as a child, and takes on new meaning as you grow older. Last time I watched this movie I found myself reflecting on how it felt to be that age, and I was moved by the Marley subplot more than I remember. With so many characters of different ages, this is a movie that you never age out of enjoying. Joe Pesci falling a thousand times is funny forever.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
I read this book for the first time a few years ago, and I was pleasantly surprised. Charles Dickens has never been a favorite author of mine, but this story was just as entertaining and beautiful as the reimaginings I had grown up with. If you like reading and don’t mind some Victorian era English, this might be a good book to curl up with in December. However, if you aren’t interested, I think it’s easily passable.
Pentatonix Christmas Albums
These albums have been in my house for years around the holiday season, and yet, I never get tired of them. Pentatonix can feel like they’re everywhere around the holidays… but have you heard “Mary Did You Know?” “White Winter Hymnal” or “Carol of the Bells"? The praise is totally deserved. I could listen to them sing for hours, and I do not apologize for that.
UNDERRATED
Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas & Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas
These are both LOVELY little story collections that are not just for kids. I love these for sentimental reasons, but I also think they’re just cute cartoons. My favorite Christmas media is wholesome and a little cheeky, which describes these Mickey cartoons perfectly. The animation style in the second one is slightly off-putting, but once you see Minnie and Daisy ice skating together, all is forgiven.
The Holiday
This movie is definitely pretty stupid, and I totally understand if it’s not your cup of tea. However, ever since I saw it, it has been my personal duty to tell people about this movie. It is so cute and perfectly ridiculous. It combines the plot of a Hallmark movie with A list actors and a seasoned director to create the perfect version of a cozy, nonsensical holiday romance.
Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel
So, obviously this is not a Christmas book. However, Hanukkah starts on December 25th this year, so it is still the season. This book was a very important part of my childhood, despite the fact that I am not Jewish at all. After remembering the book recently, I worried that it might be antisemitic. But I researched and confirmed it is not considered antisemitic, so I can safely recommend this fun story. It’s based on a Jewish folk tale, and it helped me learn about other religions and holidays as a child. It ignited my curiosity and still holds a very special place in my heart.