Christmas Film Friday

Day 197

We’re getting closer to Christmas and the Christmas Movie Countdown is still going strong. Here are some more favorite movies:

The Gathering (1977)

* This is an Emmy award-winning Made-For-TV movie starring Edward Asner as a man separated from his wife and children who learns he is dying and decides to try and make peace with his loved ones at Christmas. This is a great holiday tear-jerker!

Elf (2003)

* Speaking of Edward Asner, he pops up in this charming comedy as Santa Claus. Will Ferrell is a man who has been raised at the North Pole and then learns he is not an elf (ya think?!) and makes a trip to New York City to find his real father. Very funny and also a little bit touching.

It’s A Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002)

* You gotta love the Muppets! And this is a hilarious Made-For-TV movie that would have made Jim Henson proud. A delightful comedy with the Muppets spoofing many movies (Christmas movies in particular) and helped by an array of celebrities like Joan Cusack, David Arquette and Whoopi Goldberg.

Jingle All The Way (1996)

* I have to admit that I wasn’t a huge fan of this movie when I first saw it; but after repeated viewings I really like it now! Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as a harried, workaholic father who must try and get the elusive (and consequently sold out everywhere) Turbo Man action figure toy for his son on Christmas Eve.

One Magic Christmas (1985)

* I remember seeing this Disney movie with my family when we lived in Orem, Utah. It stars Mary Steenburgen as a grumpy, worn out mother who dislikes Christmas. Her daughter meets a Christmas Angel (played by Harry Dean Stanton) who devises a plan for how to help the mother have the Christmas spirit again.

Borrowed Hearts (1997)

* Another Made-For-TV movie - this one is a favorite of my mom’s. Eric McCormack (pre-Will & Grace days) is a single businessman in need of a family in order to close an important deal with a family-friendly client. He “rents” one of his factory workers (Roma Downey) and her daughter for the Christmas holiday and of course romance soon develops between the “husband” and “wife.”