Real Movie Review-Movie Reviews, Movie Quotes, Movie Trivia

Director: Jeremiah Chechik

Starring: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’ Angelo, Juliette Lewis, John Galecki, John Randolph, Diane Ladd, Randy Quaid

Chevy Chase leads the way in this, the third chapter of his legacy Vacation film series. The movie moves pretty fast, relying on lots of physical pratfall comedy in the what-else-can-go-wrong style. Series staples, Beverly D’Angelo and Dennis Quaid are back and the film sticks pretty close to the same formula as its predecessors. It works, though and the result is a warm, funny, good-hearted comedy that is sure to give you a little Christmas spirit on top of a few chuckles.

Chevy Chase is, once again, the well-meaning, but obsessive and oblivious Clark Griswold. In this installment, Clark is determined to have an old-fashioned family Christmas in his home, but, predictably, things go wrong from the start and soon Clark is wrangling a Christmas tree, playing electrical engineer to enough lights to guide the space shuttle back to Earth, among other things, all the while dealing with the stress of having relatives visiting and a missing Christmas bonus. The interplay between Chase and Quaid is always great and look for Julia Lewis-Dreyfus in a supporting pre-Seinfeld role.

I enjoy the Vacation series, well except for that sorry European sequel, and this a good one. It is clichéd, and there isn’t too much here that you don’t see in the usual seasonal comedy, but Chase does it well and it should give you a little boost in Christmas spirit as it entertains.

Director: Bob Clark

Starring: Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin, Ian Petrella, Scott Schwartz

Director Bob Clark, whose career both before and after this film, consisted of forgettable TV work and movies that we try to forget, somehow put it all together, like a Christmas miracle of his own, when he took this Jean Shepard semi-autobiographical screenplay (Shepard also wrote the novel and provided the film‘s narration) and turned it into a Christmas classic. The wonderful story, brimming with gentle authentic, humor and a mood that is sure to remind viewers of their own Christmas memories, combines with excellent acting and appealing Wonder Years/Stand By Me narration to make this one of the best Christmas movies of all time.

The year is 1940, and Peter Billingsley is Ralphie Parker, a nine year old with a desperate Christmas wish for a Red Rider 200 Shot Range Model Air Rifle. His mother (Melinda Dillon) quickly dismisses her son’s request to begin weapon training with the curt response of mothers everywhere; “You’ll put your eye out”. Ralphie doesn’t give up, though and tries to come up with a plan that will result in his cherished dream appearing under the Christmas tree. What follows is some amusing writing, a ballet of bullying, a long-legged lamp and the most elaborate winter scene of a tongue-metal meeting that i have ever seen. The whole thing is pretty entertaining.

This film is all over television every December, so if you have managed to miss it all these years, it won’t be hard to find it. All of your channel surfing efforts will be rewarded with a charming seasonal flick that will guarantee that you have something to discuss at your next boring Christmas party.

Director: Joe Roth

Starring: Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Aykroyd, M. Emmet Walsh

Now, here is something I’ll bet you didn’t know. The writer of this film, which represents much of the very worst of the Christmas movie genre, is none other than the Ernest Hemmingway of courtroom literature, John Grisham. All I can say about this one, however, Mr. Grisham, is I object. I usually like Tim Allen, but his guy-next-door humor couldn’t save this one. Jamie Lee Curtis overacts and the story is all over the place and largely unconvincing.

Empty nesters, Luther and Nora Krank decide they will save the money and work involved in celebrating Christmas, and head off on a cruise, instead. It seems like a good idea, until they find themselves facing resistance from their neighbors, lead by Vic Frohmeyer (Dan Akkroyd), who find this anti-social behavior unacceptable. Militant tree-selling Boy Scouts, commando carolers, and persistent Frosty fans all make life tricky for the non-conformist couple.

The strong experienced cast here is wasted by a meandering script, that can’t decide if it wants to be edgy or sweet. The idea of suburban characters resisting the status quo is a good one and could have made for a comical, Chocolate War, kind of battle of wills feature, but for dark humor to work, it needs more courage, and a sharper edge, than we have here. The result is a bland, messed up attempt at a formula film.

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Starring: Tom Hanks, Eddie Deezen, Nona Gaye

Robert Zemeckis has a new toy and its called Enhanced Motion Capture. This film is completely digitized and is an impressive achievement, but the end result is just slightly creepy looking. That is not the big problem here, however. The story is flat and try as they might to spice it up with lots of fast-moving, out-of-control wild race scenes, but it doesn’t change the fact that little happens here and that the characters are poorly developed. Tom Hanks is a talented actor, but lacks the high-energy, chameleon ability to pull off the challenge of multiple characters.

An unnamed boy is faltering with his belief in Santa one Christmas Eve and finds himself being invited onto a magical train for a trip to The North Pole. Along the way, he meets a stern, but kind, conductor (Tom Hanks reads both roles) and a clever girl (Nona Gaye). There is not much of a story, here and the whole film lacks impact.

Many people were impressed with this technologically advanced feature, but the accomplishment in that area is not enough. The boring, undeveloped story ultimately results in a disappointing end result.

Director: Ted Demme

Starring: Denis Leary, Judy Davis, Kevin Spacey, Robert J. Steinmiller Jr., Glynis Johns, Raymond Barry, Christine Baranski.

Ted Demme does a good job with this comedy/drama about the kidnapping of a bickering family at Christmas, but he had plenty of help to do it. The story is simple and unconvincing, but is buoyed by strong dialog, expertly delivered by the three principals, backed up with a strong supporting cast. The film is set at Christmas, but don’t expect any, “Gee, Dad, what about the other kids? Does Santa help them, too?” kind of moments.

Judy Davis and Kevin Spacey are Caroline and Lloyd Chasseur, an unhappily married couple whose fights are like pro wrestling cage matches. One of these fights, on Christmas Eve, no less, is interrupted when a fleeing burglar, Gus (Denis Leary), on the run from the police, kidnaps them. Soon, our desperate criminal is even more desperate to get away from these serial bickerers. Things only get worse, when the extended family arrives, which just extends the fighting. Soon, the career criminal is moonlighting as a fledgling, Oprah-quoting, family therapist as he just tries to stop the incessant family brawling.

Sarcastic humor and impressive performances are the strengths of this feature, which has Denis Leary at his wisecracking best. Not your typical Christmas feature but worth watching just the same.

Director: Ron Howard

Starring: Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Bill Irwin, Molly Shannon, Clint Howard.

Ron Howard has done some great work and made some of my favorite films, but this isn’t one of them. Dr. Seuss has a great track record for entertaining ankle biters, but a poor record when his work is used for a film. The story here is weak and the jokes are mostly aimed at adults and mostly miss their mark. Carrey is made up to look like a green cast member from Planet of the Apes and the rest of the cast is just made to look slightly odd. This might work if it were funny, but it just ain’t.

Jim Carrey is the title character who is the town grump in a town, made up of funny looking people called Whos, that loves Christmas more than any other town. They are scurrying about on their business of preparing for the big day, when a little Who, named Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen, who is very good here), decides that its not nice that the poor anti-social Grinch be left out of all the joyous festivities. Including him doesn’t really work that well either, unfortunately. Nice thought, though. Like this movie; Nice thought, but it just didn’t work.

The Grinch seem to get played on TV every year. Why? I think Hollywood really needs to make a few more good Christmas movies so crappy ones like this can be forever shuffled to the back shelves of giant video stores where they can be found by the few that enjoy them and ignored by the rest of us.

Director: Chris Columbus

Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, Catherine O’Hara, John Heard

This John Hughes screenplay, directed by Chris Columbus, was a monster hit, spawned two sequels and turned Macaulay Culkin into a top notch child star. There is a reason for that. It is a very good movie. The story is original and pretty good for a comedy. There are some funny jokes some really good slapstick, as well as standout performances, especially by the young, and animated, Mr. Culkin and by the poor, punished Joe Pesci.

Eight year old Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) McAllister’s family is preparing for a big family trip to Paris, but through a series of events, Kevin is accidentally left behind. While his mother (Catherine O’Hara) desperately tries to fight her way through Christmas travel traffic to get back to him, Kevin learns how to take care of himself and to appreciate his lost family. As if this situation is not bad enough for our intrepid young hero, there are also a couple of inept burglars (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) who are determined to add Kevin’s home to their Christmas wish list. What can Kevin do, but his best to defend his home?

This a pleasing comedy with Culkin doing a great job as a Dennis the Menace type of crime fighter, let loose to do his worse (and his worse is pretty bad, and pretty funny). Add this to some touching Christmas family scenes, a great cameo by John Candy, as Gus the Polka King, and you have an enjoyable comedy for all ages.