equinoxx.info: A Diet Of Christmas Films X-SEVEN

I cannot believe that I have been doing these annual Christmas Day posts for seventeen straight Christmases!

For those of you visiting these posts for the first time, here's what I do: In the days, weeks and months leading into Christmas Day, I keep note of all of the festive movies I have watched and then list them sharing some thoughts on each flick.

Then, on Christmas morning, the post with the entire list of films goes live.

Here is The Diet of Christmas Films X-SEVEN. It's written in the way WWE promoted the seventeenth WrestleMania, which turned out to be one of the most critically acclaimed Manias. Will this turn out to be one of the most popular Diet of Christmas Films posts? Let's find out...

A Christmas Dream (1984)

Summary:

Mr. T plays a street Santa Claus who meets a young boy, played by Emmanuel Lewis of TV's Webster, who doesn't share the spirit of Christmas. T's character sets out to change Billy's mind taking the lad around the city to meet many of his friends in order to learn about the spirit of the holiday.

Thoughts:

Even though nearly everyone associated with this project was acting, this was more like a TV special than a movie.

This would have been created at a time when Mr. T was a huge deal because of The A-Team. I guess Rocky III would have also been released by then. It would have a few months before T's association with the World Wrestling Federation and, most importantly, the first WrestleMania which was a success with some of the credit going to Mr T's mainstream name being associated with the event.

As you've probably gathered now, I was a huge Mr T fan back in the day, so - as soon as I found out about A Christmas Dream - I had to watch it.

I wasn't disappointed. It's a decent feature that has some nice appearances by stars from that period, music and a Christmas message that would have satisfied little old me back in '84.

A Christmas Story (1983)

You know this one doesn't need a 'summary' or 'thoughts'.

The reason why A Christmas Story appears in the early part of this year's 'marathon' is because I chose to watch it on Wednesday 16 October. It's a significant day because it was the 25th anniversary of Jean Shepherd's passing. Shep, is of course, the person who created this story.

I was also fighting a cold on that day, so it was something nice to have on the TV as I lay there with a fever!

Hanukkah on Rye (2022)

Summary:

Can a Hanukkah miracle keep fresh couple Molly and Jacob together after they realise that they are actually competing delicatessen owners?

Thoughts:

This was a really nice film with a brilliant conclusion.

The 'Summary' part doesn't really say enough and - if I am being straight up - it kind of incorrect slightly.

Both of the main characters live in the same apartment complex. Both of their families own Jewish delicatessens that could eventually become rival businesses in New York City. The families have signed the two mains up to a blind dating programme where the pair must keep in contact through letters. Anyway, for most of the film, we see the real couple getting to know each other while their alter-egos are also getting along through their letter writing.

As I wrote above, this one has a brilliant conclusion where a subplot comes together at the same time to resolve the potential competition between the two delis.

It was cool to see Peter DeLuise's name pop up in the opening credits as the director. As I have written many times over the years, 21 Jump Street was one of my favourite TV programmes as a child. Peter played Doug Penhall in it. Actually, I believe he directed a few o the episodes as well.

Anyway, Hanukkah on Rye - despite not technically being a 'Christmas' film - was good and it gets a pass because it aired on Christmas 24.

Christmas Oranges (2012)

Summary:

Experience the journey of Rose, an orphan who teaches the meaning of hope to all those around her. Share a slice of Christmas sweetened with friendship in this poignant story based on a classic holiday tale

Thoughts:

I loved this. I stumbled upon it on Halloween night because I had just watched The Lost Boys with my nephew and wondered whether Edward Hermann - who played Max - was still with us. Unfortunately, he isn't, but - on his IMDB page - I saw the poster for Christmas Oranges, so made a mental note to check it out if ever I came across it. Well, luckily for me, I found it on YouTube a few days after.

It's a really lovely Christmas film. I am so glad I came across it.

A Christmas Wish (2011)

Summary:

Abandoned by her husband a few days before Christmas, Martha Evans travels cross-country with the children in search of somewhere to live and work

Thoughts:

This was a heart-warming movie which shows how a community welcomes a down on their luck one-parent family.

I purposely chose to watch this film after Christmas Oranges because I noticed Edward Hermann starred in it. I loved Hermann's character in this film. I suppose the best way to describe Les McCallum is as a curmudgeon with a hidden heart of gold.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (1983)

Summary:

A stand-in director puts on a Christmas pageant and places the worst children in the church as the stars

Thoughts:

This was a nice US TV movie which came out in the early eighties. It's based on a book about six rough children who end up getting key parts in a nativity play at the local church.

I sometimes wish I came across these kind of movies when I was a child in the 1980s. A new version of the film was released this year. I'll keep an eye out for it.

By the way, Fairuza Balk played the daughter of the main character in this. Balk would have been a couple of years away from playing Dorothy in Return to Oz when this came out.

Holiday in Handcuffs (2006)

Summary:

A struggling artist working as a waitress kidnaps one of her customers to take home to meet her parents for Christmas

Thoughts:

I loved this! I laughed out loud a lot of times during it. Melissa Joan Hart (Clarissa, Sabrina etc) and Mario Lopez (Saved by the Bell) played the leads. A combo of two stars from some of the programmes I watched back in the day helped me enjoy this more, I suppose. With that said, the comedy would have made me think highly of Holiday in Handcuffs even if it starred actors I didn't know before.

This is the second year in a row I found a Melissa Joan Hart Christmas movie to be really good. Last year it was A Very Nutty Christmas and now it's Holiday in Handcuffs.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)

Thoughts: Another year watching Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Yep - not a Christmas film because it's set during Thanksgiving, but it's close enough to Christmas in my book. I love this movie a lot.

The Man in the Santa Claus Suit (1979)

Summary:

The mysterious owner of a costume shop rents a Father Christmas suit to three very different men: a maths teacher trying to get the nerve to propose, a homeless restaurateur trying to hide from some crooks and a harried political speech writer visiting with his estranged wife and son. Their lives are inexorably changed by their experience of playing Father Christmas

Thoughts:

The Man in the Santa Claus Suit has the distinction of being the last TV Movie project Fred Astaire worked on. He played the role of the mysterious man who gave the three characters the Santa suits.

I found this film enjoyable. My favourite parts were when the three different endings for the three different men in Santa Claus suits.

Jack in Time for Christmas (2024)

Summary:

Jack Whitehall races against time to get from the US to UK for Christmas. His frantic four-day journey involves various modes of transport and encounters with celebrity friends as he battles holiday chaos to reach home

Thoughts:

As soon as I saw Jack Whitehall was involved with this thing, I said 'nah, that's a pass'. However, I then noticed Dave Bautista on the poster so I gave it a go. I thought it would be a Christmas movie, but it's a Christmas TV special. I've watched things like this in the past, so I think it's fair to add it to this list. However, I detested this special. The humour was crap throughout. I should have switched it off after the Bautista bit.

He-Man & She-Ra: A Christmas Special (1985)

Summary:

He-Man and She-Ra join together to stop Horde Prime from ruining Christmas for some Earth children stranded on Eternia

Thoughts:

I used to love He-Man when I was a child. I remember all the hype about the animated movie which saw He-Man and his sister, She-Ra, on screen together. I believe it was called The Secret of the Sword. I don't actually remember seeing the film at the cinema, but I recall having the toys and a Ladybird book of the movie.

Anyway, this TV Movie must have came out around the same time. If I had seen it then, I've absolutely forgotten about it.

It was okay. My younger self would have obviously enjoyed it more. I found it funny to see the two children had the same names as my friend and his daughter. I also chuckled at the end when Skeletor showed some nice traits because he was filled with the Christmas Spirit. That wound him up a bit.

Thinking about it even more, this Christmas must be the fortieth anniversary of when I had a bunch of Masters of the Universe toys. Considering that, I think it is quite fitting to have found this movie to watch in 2024.

He-Man & She-Ra: A Christmas Special (1985)

Christmas Reservations (2019)

Summary:

When her college sweetheart, now widowed with two children, checks into the same ski resort, a woman discovers she has her own reservations about life and love

Thoughts:

As you can see, Christmas Reservations is another film starring Melissa Joan Hart. It also stared the late Markie Post, who also appeared with MJH in Holiday in Handcuffs above.

Loved this film. I enjoyed the story of the friends reuniting after last seeing each other in 2002 and realising they were in love. But.. I also liked all the other subplot romances that took place at the same resort.

Red One (2024)

Summary:

After Santa Claus is kidnapped, the North Pole's Head of Security must team up with a notorious hacker in a globetrotting, action-packed mission to save Christmas

Thoughts:

When Red One was released in cinemas only a few weeks ago, I thought to myself 'well, that has to be added to the list to watch for next year'. Well - I didn't have to wait. Amazon Prime put up to stream in mid-December so I watched it almost as soon as I saw it available.

I know this film has been criticised, but I actually enjoyed it very much. I'm probably the wrong (right?) target audience to cast critical judgement on this one, though, considering I am a pro wrestling fan.

It's a fun movie.

I've now seen Hulk Hogan, Batista and The Rock in Christmas films. I have to find one with John Cena in to get the grand slam.

No, I'm not planning to watch Daddy's Home 2. The main reason being I haven't seen the first one.

The Family Man (2000)

Summary:

A fast-lane investment broker, offered the opportunity to see how the other half lives, wakes up to find that his sports car and girlfriend have become a minivan and the one that got away.

Thoughts:

As soon as I came across the trailer for this film, a memory flooded back.

I vividly recall listening to a review of The Family Man way back in December 2000. I was on a train platform with my walkman playing TalkSport radio. I believe it was during the Ian Collins show. Back then, I heard all about the plot of this Nicolas Cage film and thought I'd check it out. I evidently forgot all about it until this year, though!

I came across the movie whilst scrolling through lists on my Apple TV. I stopped at The Family Man and watched its trailer. I immediately added it to my list once I realised it was the film which was reviewed on the radio that morning.

The Family Man is kind of like one of those Sliding Doors films where the main character finds himself on a timeline where he stayed with his girlfriend and built a family rather than continue his actual course and end up a successful businessman without a family.

Some might argue it isn't a true Christmas film, but I wouldn't. Cage's character wakes up in his alternative life on Christmas morning. It qualifies!

'Twas The Text Before Christmas (2023)

Summary:

An unexpected text message inspires Addie to take a festive trip to Vermont, where the friendship she finds with Nana will change her life forever

Thoughts:

My friend watched this on Netflix and, seeing as I have made her watch some films over the years, I thought it was only fair to add this to my festive viewing list.

'Twas a nice film. It made me wonder whether its story was loosely inspired, in any way, to a real story that has seen a person visit a family's home each Thanksgiving for many years after initially being invited by an accidental text message. The story always gets coverage over that holiday.

That Christmas (2024)

Summary:

Christmas spirit transforms a small English town in this feel-good animated comedy with the voices of Brian Cox, Fiona Shaw, Jodie Whittaker and more

Thoughts:

This was the big Netflix Christmas movie of 2024. It had a great cast and modern animation. There was a lot going on in it from plot and subplots. All tied up perfectly by the end. A true family Christmas film.

Dear Santa (2024)

Summary:

When a young boy mails his Christmas wish list to Santa with one crucial spelling error, a devilish Jack Black arrives to wreak havoc on the holidays

Thoughts:

Dear Santa is the main Christmas offering from Paramount Plus. I am not keen on Jack Black movies, but did find this film funny in parts. With that said, I remain unkeen on Jack Black movies.

Worzel Gummidge: A Cup 'O Tea and a Slice 'O Cake (1980)

Summary:

A double-length musical holiday special. It's Christmas Eve, a most important day for scarecrows as they must stand in position to guide Father Christmas back to the North Pole. Worzel Gummidge, however, deserts his post to enjoy the delights of the season, jeopardising his chances of attending the Scarecrow Ball

Thoughts:

This episode from the Worzel Gummidge series aired over Christmas in 1980. I recorded it from Talking Pictures TV a few days ago and thought I'd add it to this year's list of things to watch.

Worzel Gummidge was a big deal to me back then. I had a soft toy of him when I was a toddler, so thought it would be cool to watch this episode.

I didn't remember anything from this edition. It was quite funny to see so many stars in this. People like Barbara Windsor, Bill Maynard and Billy Connolly all show up in some form or fashion. There's obviously the two main stars from the series - John Pertwee and Una Stubbs.

A brill trip down Memory Lane!

Next up is a film that I watched last year...

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

My nephew traditionally watches this film every Christmas Eve, so I tagged along again this year. It does bring back fond memories of first watching The Muppet Christmas Carol back when my sister had the VHS of it for Christmas '93.

And that's almost it for this year.

But, not yet...

The usual way I often close out these posts is to write that I'll watch A Christmas Story sometime during the day. And I will do that. However, I have one final film to watch before midnight.

It's...

Gremlins (1984)

With 2024 being the fortieth anniversary of Gremlins hitting cinemas, it's only fitting for it to be the main event of this year's A Diet of Christmas Films.

I have loved this film ever since I first watched it in 1985.