MovieChat Forums > Four Christmases (2008) Discussion > Why can't they make a good Christmas fil...

Why can't they make a good Christmas film anymore?

posted 15 years ago by casey99
16 replies | jump to latest

This was terrible. As was Christmas With the Kranks, Deck the Halls, etc. Hollywood just can't produce a good Christmas film anymore. Nothing has ever come close to touching the genius that is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation or Home Alone. Those films REALLY make me feel all warm inside and remind me of being a kid, plus they're just great films to watch. This movie, although I did laugh a few times, was nothing but a bunch of pratfalls and stupid situations. And all the family's Christmas traditions at the different houses they went to visit were just so ghetto. I don't even think I heard one Christmas song played through the entire movie either.
FAIL.

[–] HotforSayid 15 years ago

Agreed. The only decent movie I've seen in recent years that deals with Christmas is Love Actually and that's not really considered a "christmas movie".

[–] Chelios24 15 years ago

Part of that is that you were probably a kid when you saw Home Alone and Christmas Vacation. I remember they always played those at the school Christmas movie days before vacation started, aside from watching them on TV. It's nostalgia I think.

Christmas sort of loses its magic as you get older, which would also explain why Christmas movies lack that magic that makes you feel like a kid again.

[–] mathmaniac 15 years ago

As Christmas movies go, I think this was a good one, with many funny bits. I laughed aloud several times, in addition to smiling a lot. I think Reese and Vince did a great job playing older, successful people instead of 'kids with jobs'!

[–] vidula-magicalme 15 years ago

Can anybody recommend any watchable recent Christmas movies? Not like old ones ... thanks!

[–] crubyuk 15 years ago

We quite like The Family Stone.

[–] bitca1 15 years ago

Nostalgia makes us view things of the past more fondly than things in the present.

The only way you're going to die is if I kill you.-Jack Bauer

[–] crubyuk 15 years ago

Oh - and Elf is great.

[–] Tunaman09 14 years ago

Personally I think the best Christmas movie in the last 10 years is 'Bad Santa', but I did enjoy 'Four Christmases'.

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[–] JrnlofEddieDeezenStudies 14 years ago

The films aren't worse, you're just older and more jaded.

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[–] adsdarts 14 years ago

4 Christmasses is beyond awful . One of the worst films ive ever seen. Seriously.

" The Holiday " is new-ish christmas film that I really, really liked . Much better than you think its gonna be

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[–] robinowitz1 14 years ago

Elf and The Family Stone were already mentioned...but I also really like The Holiday, as far as modern Christmas movies go.

[–] Maniac-9 14 years ago

There hasn't been a good christmas movie in hollywood since Die Hard.

[–] tigger83138 8 years ago

The films aren't worse, you're just older and more jaded.

It's the other way around, Christmas movies are more jaded.

[–] jnic7594 11 years ago

This was terrible. As was Christmas With the Kranks, Deck the Halls, etc. Hollywood just can't produce a good Christmas film anymore. Nothing has ever come close to touching the genius that is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation or Home Alone. Those films REALLY make me feel all warm inside and remind me of being a kid, plus they're just great films to watch. This movie, although I did laugh a few times, was nothing but a bunch of pratfalls and stupid situations. And all the family's Christmas traditions at the different houses they went to visit were just so ghetto. I don't even think I heard one Christmas song played through the entire movie either.
FAIL.

I know this is an old post, but I will answer anyway. Now, before I say anything, let me just say that National Lampoon's Christmas is one of my favorite Christmas movies. That being said, your post is a HUGE contradiction. You say this movie relies on pratfalls and stupid situations and that the different family members seemed ghetto, but yet, you mention National Lampoon's Christmas as one of the gold standards in Christmas movies. Now think about what you said, and think about National Lampoon's Christmas. Really think about it. As much as I love that movie, it, too, relies on stupid situations and prat falls. The Christmas lights, the Christmas tree, the squirrel in the tree, etc. And ghetto family members? Are you forgetting Clark's brother played by Randy Quaid? lol...enough said.

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[–] movieman-1408 10 years ago

Elf and bad santa which is not for all taste were great but those are over 10 years ago. rise of the guardians is good. and christmas carol with jim carrey but i hated deck the halls home alone 5 etc i is merry friggin christmas funny? four christmases is better than some like the awful santa clause 3.

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[–] Xcalat3 9 years ago

that's a very good question for which i have no answer. 

Libera te tu temet ex inferis.
pro ego sum diabolus, pro ego sum nex.