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...and time for cheer holiday movie classics  by Vanessa Hofstetter | 1 2

I have to admit: I've never seen A Christmas Story. I was somehow denied of this holiday classic in my youth and I could shoot my eye out for it -- a phrase you'll understand if you've seen the movie. (If not, join the club and I'll send my six-year-old nephew over to explain it to you -- that's how I learned the movie's most enduring catchphrase.) Now that we've reached that time of year when A Christmas Story is shown for 24 hours straight on many networks, it's nearly impossible to miss it. Nevertheless, each year thus far I've managed to do just that. While I have promised myself that I will sit down this year and watch it all the way through, there are many other new and old holiday classics worth checking out too. Looking to get into the spirit of the season with a good movie? Try one of these holiday favorites…

Elf (2003) get the DVD | Any movie featuring a grown man sporting tights is usually guaranteed to be at least mildly entertaining. If you make that man Will Ferrell and add a hat with bells on the end, then you're guaranteed sidesplitting laughter and the possibility of wetting your pants. Ferrell stars as Buddy, an oversized "elf" who's been wreaking havoc on Santa's toy shop and has accidentally injured a few of his pointy eared friends along the way. Buddy wonders why he just can't seem to fit in with the other elves -- until his elf father reveals that Buddy accidentally found his way to the North Pole as a baby, and (gasp!) isn't an elf at all. With Santa's permission, Buddy goes to meet the human father he never knew. How does a human who thinks he is an elf act around other humans? How does he react when he finds out his human father is on….dare I say it…the NAUGHTY LIST? How does New York City look at Christmas time to an elf? All these questions are answered in this film, in which one of Saturday Night Live's greatest performers sings, dances and falls in love.

Millions (2004) get the DVD | I stumbled upon this film accidentally in the video store. Now, I don't normally think of holiday family films when I hear Danny Boyle's name. After all, this is the same director who brought us Trainspotting and 28 Days Later. In Millions, however, the director turns his talents to lighter, family-friendly fare. This film focuses on a five-year-old boy who finds a very large bag of British pounds. What he and his family do with the money with only a few days to spend it before the currency change to Euros will warm your heart and bring tears to your eyes. While not a traditional holiday film, Millions perfectly embodies the spirit of the season and is destined to become a holiday classic.

The Night They Saved Christmas (1984) get the DVD | Okay, okay -- so this stars one of Charlie's former angels, but that doesn't mean it's not good. Actually, scratch the good -- this is a great Christmas movie about believing in the big guy in the suit and finding out why he really hates hearing "Jingle Bells". As a kid I remember seeing it and thinking this must really be what the North Pole looks like, and how dare evil oil diggers try to destroy it. To this day, it doesn't seem like Christmas if I don't get to see this film, which still fills me with the wonder of what Santa Claus represents to children all over the world. The Night They Saved Christmas shows that sometimes even Santa needs our help… and all you have to do is believe.

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