Favorite Christmas Scenes in Non-Christmas Movies

We all have our favorite holiday films this time of year. You have your classics, your Miracle on 34th Street, your Scrooged, even your Die Hard and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. There are a few films, however, that I like to watch that aren't set entirely at Christmas or have nothing to do with the holiday, but have a heartwarming scene or two set at this jolly time. Here are a few favorites!

Fritz and Ernst come home, Swiss Family Robinson (1960)

The two oldest Robinson boys go off exploring the island, and the family back home tries to celebrate Christmas without them. Mother Robinson fears the worst and misses the boys, and they come back with a couple guests...

Thanksgiving Movies

Anyone who knows me knows how much I enjoy my seasonal movie watching. There's just something so nice about revisiting the same movies during certain times of year. While there may not be a ton of Thanksgiving themed movies , here are a few I enjoy and recommend.

The Ice Storm

Okay, this one is actually kind of depressing. Worth a watch for Christina Ricci's Thanksgiving prayer, though!

Best in Show

Everything Thanksgiving the National Dog Show airs after the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. I used to start watching the dog show, then realized I'd rather be watching Best in Show, so there you go. This movie is gold.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

I secretly want to host Thanksgiving one year and serve toast, popcorn, jellybeans, and pretzels. My family might kill me.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

John Candy is wonderful in this. Funny, moving, and seasonally perfect!

Hannah and Her Sisters

A story of a dysfunctional family sandwiched between two Thanksgivings. Woody Allen? Yes please!

Addams Family Values

Two words: Thanksgiving play. It's PERFECT. I have to watch this every year; it's hilarious!

Do you have any favorites?

10 Reasons to Watch Elf

Who doesn't love Elf? Starring Will Ferrell as the lovable Buddy, a man who was raised in the North Pole believing he's an elf, the film warmed hearts and put everybody in the Christmas spirit. Plus it's pretty damn funny! Here are 10 reasons to finally watch (or rewatch) this holiday classic.

10. The elf who assures Buddy that he's not a "cotton-headed ninnymuggins"? None other than Peter Billingsley, AKA Ralphie from The Christmas Story! If that doesn't give a film Christmas cred, I don't know what would.

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Disclaimer: I wrote this a few years ago on my other blog, but I'm sharing it here because it's a holiday weekend and I don't want to do any real writing, haha!

This is probably my favorite and most beloved Christmas movie from my childhood. If you've seen it, I think you'll agree that this movie is pretty special.

When the Macy's Santa gets good and soused before the big Thanksgiving Day Parade, Mrs. Walker (Maureen O'Hara), the no-nonsense chick in charge, grabs the next best thing: Santa Claus himself! Or so he claims...

The new Santa is a huge hit, and he's offered a spot as the in-store Santa during the holidays. But when his mental health is questioned, he has to prove to everyone, Mr. Macy, the psycho shrink, Mrs. Walker and her daughter Susan and everyone else, that he really is Santa Claus and that it's important to believe in other people.

Whoever was in charge of casting this film got it spot-on...Edmund Gwenn IS Kris Kringle. I can't imagine a more perfect Santa! He looks the part, he's sweet, he's just absolutely perfect! A young Natalie Wood plays Mrs. Walker's skeptical daughter Susan, who never believes in fairy tales or Santa Claus or fantasies of any kind. John Payne plays Fred Gailey, Mrs. Walker's neighbor and friend, who ends up being Kris Kringle's lawyer and hero in trying to legally prove that Kris Kringle is the one and ONLY Santa Claus!

Miracle on 34th Street is a very special movie with a lot of special moments...Kris Kringle picking bubblegum out of his beard, Kringle singing in Dutch with a little girl who can't speak English, the pile of letters to Santa on the judge's desk, little Susan finding her dream house...oh, and keep an eye out for Thelma Ritter in a small role as a cranky mom trying to do some Christmas shopping!

Happy Holidays! They're upon us!

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

While on the run from the law, petty crook Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.) stumbles into a film audition - and get's the part! In order to prepare for the role, Harry must follow around Detective Gay Pary (Val Kilmer) and soon the two find themselves caught up in a real Hollywood murder mystery.

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In the late 80's Shane Black was the fucking MAN. After the success of his first script (Lethal Weapon), the money was rolling in. But after the colossal flop of The Long Kiss Goodnight, Hollywood moved on to the next flavor of the month. To some this might be devastating. For some this might be suicide time. But for Black, it became insanely freeing.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a glorious poison pen letter to Los Angeles and Hollywood. Through writing and directing this film, Black was able to let loose all of his built up venom for the town he calls home. Although he takes shots at the chic clubs, the stupid parties, the executives, the wannabes, etc. his main focus is on the emotionally damaged women of Los Angeles and more importantly the men who damaged them and the men who take advantage of that damage. Through his characters, Shane Black gets to right wrongs.

Though the comparisons to The Big Lebowski are understandable (what with the abundance of crazy characters, the overly intricate/inconsequential plot, clever dialogue and Los Angeles setting) it  is not entirely apt. As fun as both films are, Lebowski carries very little emotional resonance. Like most Coen Brothers films, it boils down to 'much ado about nothing'. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang on the other hand, has a lot on its' mind. And over the course of the film, it ALL gets out. But...ya know...with laughter.