Holiday movies at home

If leaving the house to see “Ralph Breaks the Internet” is too much trouble, try renting some of these films, watching them on-demand or pulling them out of your DVD collection:

“Planes, Trains and Automobiles” (1987) — This laugh-out-loud comedy follows uptight businessman Steve Martin and goofy John Candy, forced together on a cross-country odyssey at Thanksgiving. This is the rare road movie that works. Rated R for profanity.

“Arthur Christmas” (2011) — In this fast-paced and family-friendly film, Santa’s son, Arthur, must save Christmas by taking a long journey to deliver that last gift. Rated PG.

“Disney’s A Christmas Carol” (2009) — Jim Carrey plays Scrooge in this animated version of the story. He also plays the three ghosts who haunt Scrooge. Be warned, however, that this 3-D film was produced through the process of performance capture, a technique director Robert Zemeckis previously used in his film “The Polar Express” (2004). Some folks love this effect; we find it creepy. Rated PG.

“Fred Claus” (2007) — Vince Vaughn stars as Fred, the bitter older brother of Santa Claus (Paul Giamatti). Fred shows up at Christmas and causes more trouble for Santa in this sour take on sibling rivalry and the holidays. Rated PG for mild violence.

“Elf” (2003) — Will Ferrell is perfect here as an oversized Santa’s helper. This holiday hit is a winner, with a sweet story about Buddy the Elf leaving the North Pole in search of his real father, the grumpy James Caan. The story is silly, but Ferrell is hilarious and the film’s amiable charm (and the presence of Bob Newhart as Papa Elf) will win over even die-hard cynics. Rated PG.

“A Muppet Christmas Carol” (2003) — Michael Cain does some of his best work ever, playing it straight while acting with puppets as Scrooge in this classic Muppet movie. Kermit, as Bob Crachit, is as lovable as they come, and Miss Piggy as Mrs. Crachit is … well, Miss Piggy. Rated G.

“Miracle on 34th Street.” (1947) — Fine. You’ve seen it. But if it’s been awhile, see it again. This movie — about what happens when an unhappy woman and her cynical daughter meet the real Santa Claus — is as relevant today as it was when it was made. (We know there’s a remake, but we prefer the original version.)

“It’s A Wonderful Life” (1946) — We know. You’ve seen this one, too. But who can resist Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, the man who gets to see what the world would be like if he had never been born?

“A Christmas Story” (1946) — This very funny film — humorist Jean Shepherd’s recollections about being a kid in the 1940s and wanting a Red Ryder air rifle for Christmas — is a gem. Peter Billingsley stars as the kid, with Melinda Dillon and Darren McGavin as his parents in this heartwarming film. Rated G.

Finally, fans of musicals can sing and dance along with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire in 1942’s “Holiday Inn.” Irving Berlin wrote songs for all the holidays — including Thanksgiving and even Abraham Lincoln’s birthday — for this film about an inn that is open only on holidays. It’s also the film debut of that Berlin classic, “White Christmas.”

Of course, you can always just turn on the Hallmark Channel, too. The cable channel is showing holiday-themed films around the clock. Enjoy!

Source: http://www.kenoshanews.com/get_out/movies/holiday-movies-at-home/article_a319f0a8-e663-5a11-aa4e-6506c8e0251b.html