One topic of discussion that’s sure to get family and friends to debate, bicker, and argue is the “best Christmas movie of all time. Like most GOAT (greatest of all time) debates, this one’s almost entirely pointless. I think of these debates like my experience judging a ribs competition at a well-known competition. The four entries were simply phenomenal. One of them was slightly less awesome than the other three, but if I were able to turn out such ribs, I’d be a happy individual. Excellence isn’t something to be overly quantified, it’s something to be enjoyed, savored, and appreciated. Excellence can come in many forms and where one movie may be very strong, the other may be less so, but excels in another. Unless you’re looking to make a spreadsheet and have the Russian judges deduct a half point here and there, I wouldn’t worry all that much over winning the argument. All that said of course, I’m going to say A Christmas Story is my pick: hands down.
If you look at many of the Christmas movies that I hear people cite as the best, many of them are either straightforwardly comedies, or they have heavy doses of comedy and humor in them. Elf, A Christmas Story, The Polar Express, to name only a few, are largely for laughs. Sure there are serious elements and parts to each of these, but they are tilted more towards humor and lightheartedness, than serious. Serious Christmas movies have largely gone the way of the dodo. Of course there are the Hallmark movies, but those are their own little cottage industries of saccharine tepidity.
There are a number of reasons these movies spark such controversy; create such strong help opinions. I think one of the most influential factors is when someone sees them for the first time. I expect that most of the movies people hold dear are ones they saw as children. When the holidays didn’t bring with them the stress that they often bring to adults. Imagine that you’re out of school, your main source of stress gone, you get to wake up whenever you want, go to sleep whenever you want, and during this idyllic period there are going to be a bunch of presents that miraculously appear one morning. Your parents aren’t on you about homework and you’re not getting shuffled to all those different activities like normal. It’s a great moment of peace, fun, expectation, and joy. I am getting envious of my kids just writing about this. During this time along comes a movie that’s entertaining, about Christmas, and funny. Of course you’re going to love it. It’s a touchstone that helps anchor in your memory the holidays and all that fun.
When you experience holiday movies later on in life, when your situation has changed, there isn’t that reservoir of good feeling associated. Maybe you’re in your 20’s and going through the “jaded” anti-whatever/everything phase. Maybe you’ve your own family and you’re trying to get everything ready so your kids could have a great experience—a laudable goal. Maybe you’re an empty-nester and missing the chaos, but enjoying the silence. Whatever your stage in life, those different circumstances will affect how you experience the next Christmas movie. I know I often watched A Christmas Story because it provided a break from things and reminded me of when I first saw it when I was younger. The break is nice because it reminds me of the less stressed times. I even watched it at a theater with my family recently. But no other movie could do that for me. Nor would I want it to. That movie, and all its associations are special for me and I want to keep it that way. Watching it with my family just adds to the richness of associations that I have with this movie. This isn’t to knock the other great movies out there, but I don’t feel the need or desire to supplant my favorite one.
So go out and enjoy your favorite Christmas movie. Debate and argue over the finer points of what makes it better than any other movie you’ve experienced. I mean what 10 year old debates the finer points of plot development, lighting, and cinematography? Yes, those are important factors that help make a movie better or worse, but much of what we love about holiday and holiday movies is dependent more on our circumstance than on the movie. Cherish your movie but don’t begrudge anyone theirs. Debate, argue, chide, and tease in a merry way, a way befitting the holidays. I think you’ll find them all the richer for the sharing.