Love Actually is a predominantly British cast, portmanteau Christmas film written and directed by Richard Curtis, a man most famous for his writing credits on Notting Hill and Four Weddings and a Funeral. He has an incredible knack for creating sweet, sentimental films without them being over-bearing or too saccharine. His previous body of work deftly combines uplifting, … [Read more...]
Review: Christmas Vacation (1989)
What your about to see isn't pretty, in fact its rather shambolic. Chevy Chase once again takes to our screens as Clark Griswold in National Lampoons: Christmas Vacation (1989). The Griswold family including a young and fresh Juliette Lewis and Beverly D'Angelo as the mother, attract chaos wherever they go, whatever they do. This time is no exception. Its Christmas time and … [Read more...]
Review: Home Alone (1990)
Home Alone is now considered a Christmas classic, although many don't remember that, at the time, it received a lukewarm (at best) reception from critics. As a Christmas film, there isn't really much in it that is related to Christmas. Sure, they have a bit of Christmas related dialogue and a moral that fits with it, but apart from that, it's an oddly mean-spirited film. With … [Read more...]
Miracle on 34th Street (1994) review by That Film Guy
John Hughes, the master of 1980s kid-orientated films always had a good track record around the holidays. Home Alone, Home Alone 2 and Planes, Trains and Automobiles were all released in the lead-up to Christmas and they stand as some of his most successful works. So it made sense for him to have a go at remaking a 1947 classic and make it more relevant for a modern audience. … [Read more...]
Review: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
In quite frankly the freakiest animated children's Christmas film, Tim Burton and Henry Selick have created the world of Halloweentown. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) is unlike any other Christmas film, especially when it contains Burton's bizarre touch of creativity. Coming from a world of death and obscurity is the character Jack Skellington (Danny Elfman's voice) “ … [Read more...]
Review: Bad Santa (2003)
Bad Santa was very controversial when it was released in 2003. Many parents were shocked and appalled at the level of profanity and sexual references, taking their kids to see a film that they thought would be a fun Christmas flick. Apparently the R rating and the big warning sign on the poster stating the film was explicitly for adults wasn't enough. This didn't seem to affect … [Read more...]
Review: New Year’s Eve (2011)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B0058N2SIG][/pullquote] Portmanteau films are anthologies of short stories tied together with one central theme. In the 1940s and 50s these anthology films would be a useful way for a studio to show off all the stars they had at there disposal. The actual quality of … [Read more...]
Review: A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas (2011)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B005YYCMA8][/pullquote] Harold and Kumar Get the Munchies, released in 2004 proved an unexpected box office success. The idea of two Asian leads in an American mainstream stoner movie was an unusual choice, but one that has lead to two sequels and a healthy following … [Read more...]
Review: Jingle All the Way (1996)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B00DDRP386][/pullquote] Arnold Schwarzenegger was one of the highest grossing actors of the 1980s, with films like The Terminator and Predator rocketing him to superstardom. By the mid-1990s however he had exchanged action-adventure for family-friendly comedy films … [Read more...]
Review: Joyeux Noёl (2005, France)
[pullquote cite="" type="left, right"][amazon text=Amazon&template=carousel&chan=that film guy&asin=B006GP30M8][/pullquote] Christmas Eve, 1914. A group of Scottish soldiers in a trench in Northern France strike up a song to cheer their spirits. A few hundred yards away across no man's land, a German singer picks up the tune, and steps out up out of his trench. A … [Read more...]