REVIEW: Remembering holiday classics
Seeing as it’s the Christmas season, this week I’d like to discuss a few of my favorite guilty holiday movie pleasures.
‘Ernest Saves Christmas’
This is a silly film from the late 1980s. Don’t expect a deep or moving message like you’d get from “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
After Santa flies into Orlando, he gets picked up by taxi cab driver Ernest (Jim Varney), a Christmas fanatic. As their ride progresses, Santa informs Ernest he is on his way to turn a children’s television host into the next Santa.
Confusion occurs when a runaway teenage girl joins Santa and Ernest. Santa accidentally leaves his magic sack with Ernest, leaving him to track Santa down.
Ernest takes on a plethora of disguises in his search, including an employee of the governor, a snake rancher and an old woman.
It’s all ridiculous and hilarious. You can watch it to make fun of it. Know what I mean?
‘All I Want For Christmas’
Cute and adorable Hallie O’Fallon (Thora Birch, “Patriot Games”) steals the show in her quest to reunite her divorced parents. She is a spunky kid willing to go all the way to the top and ask Santa Claus to give her that extra special gift.
Realizing Santa may not be up to the challenge, Hallie’s brother Ethan takes matters into his own hands. Collaborating with his first teenage crush Stephanie, they plan and execute an elaborate scheme to separate the siblings’ mother from her fiancé and bring their parents back together in a single night.
The comedy and chaos that ensue will have you rolling on the floor. The story is familiar, but the actors add a level of silliness that makes this film enjoyable.
‘The Christmas Secret’
If you’ve ever heard of this movie, I’d be shocked.
Inspired by his experience of being saved by a flying reindeer as a child, college professor Jerry McNeil (Richard Thomas, “The Waltons”) devotes his life to researching flying squirrels.
One of the students in his class brings him a book written by a scientist from the 1800s documenting the science of flying reindeer.
Intrigued by this idea, Jerry feverishly studies the book and gathers evidence looking for proof so he can change the world. When he decides to travel to Alaska to gather empirical evidence, his plane crashes and soon after he wakes up at the North Pole.
I like this movie because it attempts to explain the anatomy and engineering of reindeer. It also teaches a touching lesson about family and is full of comedic moments. If you can find it, I’d suggest you watch it.
‘White Christmas’
Finally, “White Christmas” rises to the top of the list as my favorite Christmas movie.
Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye play musically talented military men Bob Wallace and Phil Davis, who join forces after World War II and become a dynamic duo — famous all over the country.
Through a letter supposedly from an old war buddy, the two run into gifted sister act Betty and Judy Haynes, played by Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen, respectively — Yes, Rosemary Clooney is the mother of George Clooney.
“White Christmas” is full of songs from Irving Berlin. The dance numbers showcase talent rarely seen in movies today.
The chemistry between the characters is phenomenal, the comedy is superb and the songs are memorable. If you only see one movie this Christmas season, let this be the one. It’s perfect for solo viewing, a date or for an entire family.
— Spencer Palmer is a graduate student working toward an MBA with a recent bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. Email him at spencer.palmer@aggiemail.usu.edu.