White Christmas (1954)

White Christmas (1954)

One thing I love about having taken on this attempt to keep up a blog, is that not only am I doing something I wish I did formally long ago (reviewing movies) but it also forces me to step out of my normal "comfort" zone and watch movies I would normally be dismissive of. Case in point. White Christmas. A 1954 flick starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and one Vera-Ellen (seriously that's her name). This is one of those films I have known about forever, but whether the underwhelming synopsis or my disdain for certain "classics" I was gun-shy about ever giving this film a reasonable chance. I am happy to say that it was a grievous error on my part for ever thinking such ridiculous thoughts.

The premise, while still underwhelming at first glance, is simple. A couple of army mates become famous.... um... variety musical broadway acts after the war, and they meet up with two sisters who also have an act. There is some chemistry and before we know it, we find ourselves in Vermont in a distinctly non-white (no snow) Christmas. Shenanigans ensue, everyone sings about it, and Vera-Ellen dances because she can't do much else. But really who cares about the story, this film is about a bygone era. Though the world itself may not have been as idealistic as it is in films of the time, but there is still a wonderful sense of whimsy and fantasy that escapes even the most visually advanced special effects of today's movies. These kind of films reassured the idea of hope and dreams that cynicism today is prevalent in media and saturates so much of our "escapism".

I will undoubtedly prove myself a hypocrite however, as it is the very same cynicism that made me irritated with such films as Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life." Sacrilege to many who may consider it to be the quintessential holiday film, I personally find it frustrating and.... wait for it.... annoying. Crazy right? I mean you can't get more whimsical or sappy as that flick right? Well except that it is way too neatly wrapped up and way too fantastical. I am all about adding the magic and whimsy that is lost in real life to folks in need of cheer, but films like Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" irritate me because you have a self-involved deadbeat who doesn't think about the atrocity he'd cause to his family by committing suicide, regardless of the divine intervention.

As per usual I digress....as I was saying, I enjoyed White Christmas. I still wasn't sold on the premise as I began watching it, but what actually sold me on it was a co-worker who explained that she was excited to see the stage version which is sort of the regular Christmas event in the city where I live. For her, it was a part of Christmas memories, a tradition. For me and my wife, the closest would probably be the stage version of A Christmas Carol, which has been a long running annual event where we are originally from. Hearing my co-worker talk about it made me want to give the film an honest effort. Still I was cautious given how many people unabashedly love "It's a Wonderful Life."

The good: The whimsy. The dance numbers. The song numbers. Unlike usual musicals where people just burst into song and dance in mid-conversation, that only happens once or twice here. The rest of it is explained away and justified by the variety show they are trying to put on to save the Vermont lodge their old retired general is running. Bing Crosby was surprisingly good. I say surprisingly because he started off a little wooden and I worried he was just going to be a crooner "acting" in this. But he was very enjoyable as the strongest singer of the cast. Danny Kaye who I can only describe as a mix between a member of the Weasely family from the Harry Potter books and Kramer from Seinfeld, is the all around singer/dancer combo. Romemary Clooney was fantastic. She portrays her character with mannerisms and nuance way ahead of her time compared to her peers. She's also pulls off the whole attractive but not in a classical sense form of beauty. You might describe it as an unconventional beauty that is beyond mere cosmetic appearances. Vera-Ellen is undoubtedly the weakest member of the cast. She's attractive in the standard Barbie-esque sense, but forgettable when she is not dancing. Like Brittney (the ditsy cheerleader in Glee), her personality only really comes out when she is dancing, in which she is obviously way more comfortable than acting or singing. Honourable mention goes out to Dean Jagger who plays the "General" for which the entire film revolves plot-wise. Watching this flick in HD and seeing the scene when everyone surprises him with the event to honour him (watch the movie, you'll understand what I am talking about), you can see him tear up and having witnessed him be such a strong confident male figure, getting misty at the show of affection, you'd be hard to not get a little misty yourself.

The bad: The little plot "contrivances" in which oh-so-many narratives revolve around. I mean I get it. I know why stories have to revolve around little miscommunication routines, but it is always rather tedious seeing drama for the sake of drama. Knowing that a simple pointed question can clear up all the confusion and yet we must bear witness to characters acting irrationally. Disregard my concern though, I think it stems from having watched one too many "Gossip Girl" episodes (my wife loves that show) which basically only has that one premise as a plot device.

Final Thoughts: To reiterate, I am very happy I had the opportunity to watch this show. I learned a valuable lesson of not treating all classics the same as any Frank Capra film. There is a lot to enjoy here, and only a few parts that aren't as fun. Definitely give it a go if you are looking for expanding your repertoire of classic film knowledge or you want another flick to enjoy with the family. Not a lot for kidlings to appreciate but still a good tale.

Add to the Vault? At this time, I don't think it needs to be added to the vault. It definitely has repeat merit but I am not to the point (like my coworker) where this is an essential Christmas tradition just yet. I definitely appreciate the film and will undoubtedly give it another gander in the future, but with it's "classic" status solidified long before I ever reviewed it, I highly doubt I will be under any pressure to add it to the vault before it disappears.


Look for it in your channel listings this holiday season, and brew up a nice cup of hot cocoa to enjoy while you watch. Without waiting for next Christmas, here is the trailer for Irving Berlin's White Christmas. 

 

Nothing Like the Holidays (2008)

Nothing Like the Holidays (2008)

Finally, a previously unseen holiday flick that was actually somewhat enjoyable unlike the drivel that was the last film. Kristin Chenoweth, I am disappoint!

Carrying on then, Nothing Like the Holidays enjoys a large ensemble cast of latino actors among whom audiences would recognize Alfred Molina, Luiz Guzman, Debra Messing, and an actor I personally feel is very underrated, John Leguizamo, though I am sure film lovers would recognize more of the cast.

The story revolves around a Puerto Rican family getting together for the holidays in Chicago at their childhood home. You have by all accounts the appearances of what could be a predictable family drama with the "prodigal son" who just arrived back from Iraq scarred and possibly traumatized, the successful son who harbors latent resent, the liberal actress daughter looking to make her break in Hollywood, the possibly cheating father, the frustrated and exhausted mother, and the rest of the ensemble.

I feel I must admit that I was in a bid of a mood before setting in to watch this flick, and really wasn't up for giving my attention to another holiday flick that could have been as stupid as the last one. But I feel I need to be diligent to keep this blog alive and for good or for bad I must endure. It didn't really help that I wasn't really sold on the synopsis which kind of sounded like the set up to another Lifetime movie. Boy was I pleasantly surprised. I was cynical thinking I knew how everything was going to play out, and lo and behold, I was wrong. It is the mark of a clever director that sets up the premise to make it feel like old and comfortable territory, only to throw it away at the last second while still staying in the realm of plausible and truthfully logical conclusions. It was a welcome change. No I am not Puerto Rican but being part of this family for 90 some odd minutes, felt familiar. The nuances and idiosyncrasies of each family member immediately makes it feel like they are a real family. Even Debra Messing's character who is the outsider of sorts being a caucasian wife to John Leguizamo, has her familiar habits that suggest a long history with this family and is not really an outsider at all.


Of course there is the necessary drama and latent frustrations that boil to the surface as the story transpires, but it is only further testament to the cast, in that they make you care for this family. As each secret is revealed, you shudder at the possibility of it tearing this family apart and yet they all bounce back, almost stronger. That kind of attention, that kind of devotion is rarely seen on screen anymore (unless overly sappy ala Lifetime) and instead the drama that typically unfolds destroys families, all in the name of being shocking and unique. 


The good: The entire cast. Very much an ensemble piece, I always credit the writing team and director when they are able to showcase all the talent equally and not feel like one person's story is overriding the others. Debra Messing gets special mention as she wasn't an annoying brat (e.g. every other acting role she's had). Here she was a complex character who at first glance definitely could have been a stereotype, but she played it real and made me believe she was as much a part of the family as the actual children. Luis Guzman was also tolerable here which is appreciated because when he's good he is good, and when he is just playing Luis Guzman, he can be bad. Does that make sense?


The Bad: Being such a large ensemble piece, some characters do drift to the background. Not a huge detriment but again it may have been a choice playing against expectations. 


Final Thoughts: I very much appreciated this film. It took me out of my slump somewhat by playing against my expectations. It was a comfortable film that I feel is what holiday films (at least contemporary ones) fail to encapsulate anymore. And given that the family was so unabashedly Puerto Rican and yet it could make some pasty white guy from Canada feel welcome like I have known this family all along is another testament to the writing, acting and directing. Kudos.


Add to the Vault? You are probably expecting me to say yes, but I am not going to. It was a good film, comfortable, but I don't feel it has the necessary repeat value to be added to the vault. I am definitely appreciative that I got to watch it and experience it, but I doubt I will need to re-visit it anytime soon. It was simply a good show and I recommend you give it a go if you are looking for a nice family holiday tale.




Enough of my yammering, here's the trailer for 2008's Nothing Like the Holidays!

Twelve Men of Christmas (2009)

Twelve Men of Christmas (2009)

Well, fresh off my sojourn to a Bavarian Christmas village in North Eastern Washington, I figured what better way to dive back into things than another holiday flick. 

Here we have a Lifetime movie with one of my secretly cherished actresses of late, Kristen Chenoweth. Actually two I guess with Anna Chlumsky (who was recently in The Good Guy) as well. Anyways, Chenoweth who I have loved since Pushing Daisies (underrated show that ended before it's time) stars as a New York commercial advertising big wig who finds her boyfriend or fiance or something fornicating with her boss at the office Xmas party. Jilted and subsequently fired, she goes all "woe is me" before swallowing her pride and moves to the midwest for some ridiculous reason and is hired to re-shape the towns postcard image.

Anyhow, despite being a hot shot advertising exec, the best idea she has is to make a nudie calendar with the men from the local search and rescue unit who could use the proceeds of the calendar to buy a helicopter or something. Except that given that this is a Lifetime movie the men aren't really nude (despite their reservations about their.... shortcomings) every dude is clothed. In fact it is more PG than the covers of most men's health magazines.

But really who cares. If you stayed awake through the explanation you just saved yourself 90 minutes you may have remotely (very remotely) wasted on watching this film. You know how it is going to end. Everybody finds love and the tough shell of the heroine is melted by the doting leading man who at first frustrates her before falling for her. It is like a visual Harlequin romance novel with much less sex.... not that I would know of course..... *cough*... anyhow....

The Good: Hmm. Not much. Kristen Chenoweth is enjoyable in most everything, but here she is supremely wasted as a walking New York archetype. Anna Chlumksy I guess is decent as Kristen's somewhat real assistant in the small town.

The Bad: Everything else. The story is bland, the town is pulled from a series of perfect postcard shots, undoubtedly meant to dazzle and amaze us with small town life, but for a community of 19000 (so sayeth the mayor) it looks to hold maybe 1500 people tops. There must be a lot of people in dem dar hillz.

Final Thoughts: I feel like I have been swindled. I watched this for the notion that it may be a holiday flick with the adorable Kristen Chenoweth, and instead I got this crapfest that wasn only tenuously a holiday flick. This may be the first film I watched where AFTER the character arc transpires the lead is even more vapid and empty than when they started.

Add to the vault? Good gravy no. There are better holiday movies, there are better romance movies. There are better holiday romance movies. Hell even if you are looking for a crap holiday romance movie there are still better ones than this. I think Matthew McConaughey has made a few no doubt.


If you are still here and INSIST on seeing the trailer for this flick, then by all means... .enjoy: