You don’t necessarily always have to watch It’s A Wonderful Life or Nothing Like The Holidays just to celebrate Christmas, for instance, there were movies this past year that didn’t have Christmas themes but they capture the spirit of giving and all that is good anyways. They didn’t feature Santa but I’m sure the jolly fat man would approve of this list.
So.. since it’s Christmas eve, let’s take a look back at some of the movies in 2008 that remind us what Christmas is all about. I’m also going to leave a bit of comment underneath each title and not spoil too much for you because it doesn’t matter if you’ve been naughty or nice
1. HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
If Poppy (Sally Hawkins) were any more cheerful, she’d be the one giving gifts to all the kids around the world once a year. Whoever says that a dog-eat-dog world will crush a smile definitely has not met someone like Poppy.
2. ROLE MODELS
This is an unlikely choice, I admit, there’s something Christmas this way comes when it’s about willing to mentor troubled kids when you yourself are pretty messed-up. Those two dudes (Paul Rudd and Sean William Scott) realize that in order to help those boys, they have to get their act together first.
3. IGOR
The humor is a bit dry but I like the idea that heroes come in all shapes and sizes, even when they’re hunchbacks or freaks of nature. Plus, we can choose not to hate even if someone tells us that we were raised that way. You are more than your outside appearance. Ah yes, the message of tis the season. Besides, it wouldn’t be as cool if Santa looked like an Abercrombie&Fitch model, right?
4. PINEAPPLE EXPRESS
My Christmas is about eggnog, mistletoe and more eggnog. But we know what Dale (Seth Rogen) and Saul (James Franco) are going to be doing on Christmas Eve. Yes it’s loaded with lots of silly stuff, but surprisingly, it’s a pretty damn good buddy/friendship movie.
5. KUNG FU PANDA
Trying to fit in the legendary group of masters when you’re a lazy, fat, not-good-at-kung fu Panda stinks. That’s why their accepting Po the Panda and of his destiny has made it very Christmas-like.
6. SEVEN POUNDS
If you’ve watched this movie then you’ll know that the way it’s related to Christmas Spirit is very.. self-explanatory. What better Christmas gift to a blind man than a pair of healthy eyes so he can see again?!
7. THE HAMMER
Christmas isn’t about those who are well-off, it’s about the underdogs who are still bent on finding a purpose and still believing that there might be a prize left for them at the end of this misery. If the movie Rocky was low budget and funny instead of serious, you’ll have THE HAMMER
8. DRILLBIT TAYLOR
Lie after lie after lie after lie, Drillbit Taylor (Owen Wilson) can’t seem to tell the truth about himself or his intentions, he even used the three kids he were supposed to help, to his own advantage, but in the end The Christmas Spirit got to him and bullies be gone!
9. BE KIND REWIND
Mike (Mos Def) and Jerry (Jack Black) try to save a dying rental video store by making it the town’s symbol for freedom of expression and a way to bring the community together. If that’s not Christmas spirit, then I don’t know what is.
10. HENRY POOLE IS HERE
Knowing that you’re dying might result in you moping around like Henry Poole (Luke Wilson) But his neighbors and the miracle on the wall will try to teach him a lesson that there’s still so much to live for in this life. So stop being such a downer, drink some eggnog, party on and have yourself merry little blasting Christmas, for baby Jesus’ sake.
