There are some films that have escaped my viewing until now. You won’t believe the first film that I have not seen until last weekend! Actually, you won’t believe the second film I have not seen until last year Christmas. So let’s start…
1. CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT-1945
Yes, this classic film is one that has escaped my viewing until last weekend. To be honest, I found this film in the bin in Walmart for under $6. Bucks! This is such a funny film and one I a. So happy to say I have finally seen and own. It starts off with 2 sailers who have survived the sinking of their ship by a German Submarine and were finally saved after adrift for many days. In the meantime, the head of a major corporation, wants his star of the magazine, to invite this sailer to her home in Connecticut for a splendid Christmas meal. Barbara Stanwyck plays this early version of a Martha Stewart who cooks up a storm of great meals while living at her cozy home in Connecticut, that she has decorated in her own style that people love to copy. The problem is that she has no home in Connecticut and has no idea how to cook! Now, she must entertain a soldier there for Christmas as well as her boss, played so well by Sydney Greenstreet and she is at a loss as well as her publisher. In comes a very rich man who wants Barbara as his wife who lets her use his home provided she finally accepts his marriage proposal. They all travel to that nice home, with an great fireplace, I might add, bringing along her fatherly friend, S. Z. “Cuddles” Sakall, who is the real chef behind her famous recipes. When the soldier, played by Dennis Morgan, arrives, sparks fly between him and Barbara but the ruse must continue which contains many funny moments. It’s a great movie and one I will watch every Christmas.
2. HOME ALONE-1990
Yes, I never saw this film until I, reluctantly, saw this with my hubby and the end of Christmas last year and really enjoyed it. I remember when it came out and became this mega hit with so many interviews with MacCauley Caulkin, that browned me off wanting to see this movie especially because of this smarmy kid. I did my very best to avoid any movies starring this brat, as you can tell, I am not a lover of children who are smart asses, but, over the years I have seen a few like “ Uncle Buck” and “Home Alone 2”. Now, after all these years, I watched this movie and got a kick out of the antics the 2 dumb ass robbers get into when they try to rob the home that the kid is living in. It starts off when the family are travelling to Paris for Christmas, but when the kid takes a hissy fit, mom, played by the golden Catherine O’Hara, sends him to the attic to sleep overnight. In all the chaos, the family take off for Paris forgetting about the brat. Kevin, the brat’s name, is happy being on his own, at first, but soon misses his family especially his mom. He notices the 2 bozos who want to rob the place and sets up booby traps all over the house. The 2 robbers, played so well by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, have one mishap after another evoking the old Warner Bros. Cartoons that Wile E. Coyote got into. It is funny and strangely endearing even though the family are truly bad…who forgets their son!? Mom realizes she has left Kevin at home, while on the plane to Paris and does everything she can to get home. It is a fun movie, not a great one, but a fun one.
3. LAST CHRISTMAS-2019
Emilia Clarke is one big fuck-up..sorry for the swear word but it really deserves to be used here. She drinks too much, sleeps around, has no care for other peoples’ stuff and is always late at work which she wishes she could be anywhere else. She works, in downtown London at a year round Christmas store run by the evocative Michelle Yeoh, who keeps giving this gal 2nd and 3rd chances. After burning her last friend, she must endure living back home with her overly dramatic mom, played so well by Emma Thompson who wrote the script and produced the film. Her dad drives a cab who would rather work all the time than be home with his wife who centers on the negative a bit too much. Her sister is fed up with her ..um..fucked-up sister, believing people cater too much to Emilia. While at work, Emilia sees a young guy on his bike and goes out to speak with him. They are drawn to each other and start spending a lot of time together where he starts showing her that her life is precious and should not be burned nor the people around her. You find out that this girl, who has the gift of a beautiful voice, suffered a severe illness which affected her heart resulting in a heart transplant. Over time, she starts to realize that this young guy really believes in her and they fall for each other. This is a witty movie and I love Michelle Yeoh’s quips as well as her budding romance with a Dane. Emma Thompson rules her scenes as the a former Yugoslavian who her and her family had to escape the war in her country, and focuses on the negative. There is also real chemistry between Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding as her love interest. What’s very strange is that Emilia Clarke, when on “Game of Thrones” suffered 2 brain aneurysms, in 2011 & 2013, and almost died. This is a good movie and worth seeing.
Which Christmas movie is still on your radar to see or have you just seen it?
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