Welcome, December, time of beautiful decorations, extra generosity, and carols ringingĀ through the air. Holiday movies are a thriving genre where classics stay loved and yearlyĀ traditions give us an excuse to wind down with our loved ones. There is nothing wrong withĀ the popular answers to the festive film question. From the roaring comedy of Buddy theĀ Elf’s mishaps to the heartwarming innocence of āGod bless us, every one,ā the collective nostalgia of the joy we all grew up with draws us to the same old discs time after time. ButĀ if you are eager to try something new with your Advent roster, hereās a small list of worthwhile Christmas movies that you may or may not know about. These will appear inĀ whatever order I happen to think of them, so donāt get in a tizzy about the numbers on theĀ list- just sit back, relax, and meditate on the beauty of this season.Ā
Firstly, The Night Before Christmas by Golden Films, named after the oft-recited Clement Clarke Moore poem, this hand-drawn animation follows the story of Jeffrey, a youngĀ orphan boy desperate to survive the winter and give back when he can. There areĀ certainly some heartstring-tuggers regarding Jefferyās longing for a family, but alsoĀ such comic relief as the stirring mouse and runaway carriage gag, tied up beautifullyĀ with the reminder to trust your fellow humanity and step up for those who need itĀ most.
Following a similar title, we have āTwas the Night Before Christmas by Rankin-Bass.Ā suppose great minds think alike in regards to naming movies! This Night Before Christmas is like two charmingĀ stories in one because it stars both the good-natured people of Junctionville and theĀ anthropomorphic mice that have furnished cracks in their walls. After someone (you might just guess who) sends an offensive, accusatory letter to Santa Claus, he,Ā in mild confusion of the signature, officially revokes gift privileges from the entireĀ small town in the return address. Itās up to wise clockmaker Joshua Trundle to putĀ on a show of appreciation grand enough to change Saint Nickās mind. But he canātĀ do it alone- as the Trundle family cheerfully sings, even a miracle needs a hand!Ā
Next up is Emmet Otterās Jug-Band Christmas by the Jim Henson Company. If you love such Henson classics as Fraggle Rock, Sesame Street, and the multitude of spinoffsĀ originating from The Muppet Show, then it should be no surprise that the man hasĀ done it again in this 1977 made-for-television film, done with original characters butĀ the same emotional complexity and puppeteering style that earned Jim his fame.Ā The title character and his mother work as an inseparable team to keep the familyĀ afloat through the trials of poverty and grief of the late Pa Otter. A talent contestĀ with a lavish cash prize looks like the lucky break that the Otter family needs, butĀ should they really risk everything in the process of reaching for it? Only time will tell as the compositions of Paul Williams (Rainbow Connection, Rainy Days andĀ Mondays, Just an Old-Fashioned Love Song) take us through the little lives ofĀ Frogtown Hollow.Ā
If you loved the last one, youāll love A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa by The Muppets Studio. There is no overemphasizing it, these silly little guys gave us a lot more than everyoneās favoriteĀ Christmas Carol adaptation! Miss Piggy, Gonzo, Pepe, and the rest of Kermit’s gangĀ are back along with their new human friend Claire. After a post office mishap leavesĀ the titular letters in peril, an incredibly dedicated team of Muppets decide to fix theirĀ mistakes by journeying all the way to the North Pole to deliver them personally. ThisĀ is a recent find for me, despite being released in 2008, but nonetheless close to myĀ heart. Join a multitude of interesting characters for typical Muppet absurdity,Ā themes of friendship and extraordinary generosity, and an overall experience ofĀ family-friendly fun.Ā
Lastly, weāve got Itās Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown by Lee Mendelson-Bill Melendez. Often seen as an extra feature on DVDs of the more popular A Charlie Brown Christmas, thisĀ 1992 animated special feature is line after line of digestible hilarity to embraceĀ festivity with your inner child. 23 minutes of interesting subplots lifted from theĀ original Peanuts comics, including Charlieās attempts at romance with Peggy Jean,Ā a Nativity play that goes so wrong itās perfectly right, and a suspiciously beagle-likeĀ street corner Santa, come together for an innocent, low-stimulating experience thatĀ everyone can enjoy together.