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Saturday Evening Movie Thread 12-08-2018 [Hosted By: Moviegique]

Elf



I approach revisiting most of the comedies made in my lifetime with a degree of trepidation. Much like horror movies, comedies tend to lean on surprise and atmosphere (which I'm just realizing now as I type this), both of which are very ephemeral. Additionally, comedians tend to wear out their welcome rather quickly, and just mentioning their names can be eyeroll inducing. Then, when enough time has passed to forget (or at least forgive) the desperate last gasps of a great comedian, the original stuff is rediscovered and enjoyable in all its original genius.

elf 01.jpg
Some induced eyerolls (and worse) from day 1.

It's been fifteen years since Elf came out, and that is well in the comedic danger zone. Will Ferrell sort of won me over in Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back as well as number of his early performances which, if they didn't make me laugh uproariously, at least felt like, man, this guy is really trying his heart out. (It's an exercise for the reader to determine why or whether Ferrell's efforts are more appealing than similar forgotten and truly desperate comics of the day like Tom Green.) And unlike a lot of comedians, Ferrell proved in many of his later roles that he could seem like a real human and not a stumbling pratfall machine.

But that's not relevant here—or is it? Because the great mystery of Jon Favreau's 2003 tale of a human changeling visiting New York City for the first time, is that it worked at all back in the post-9/11-Bushitler days and actually holds up pretty well today. No small part of that must be attributed to Ferrell's earnest performance. A popular film with all the kids, this was the first time they had seen it in the theater and we all walked away in the Christmas spirit—which is what you want in a Christmas movie. (And probably why Die Hard isn't a Christmas movie, since you just want to blow up terrorists afterwards.)

elf 02.jpg
Although, if Buddy started blowing up terrorists, this movie would be ten times better.

Director Favreau has a way of making more out of movies than is actually there on paper. This is not a great reason to rush out to see The Jungle Book or Cowboys and Aliens, but goes a long way to explain Iron Man (and in part the success of the MCU) as well as this movie. (Though The Boy and I both feel like his best and most personal film is Chef.) Elf is a sincere film, clashing up against an insincere culture, and it shows up the insincerity for the worthlessness that it is—thus it wins.

It's a simple, corny film: Due to a Christmas Eve mix-up, a human mis-named Buddy (Will Ferrell) ends up living with the toymaker elves before discovering that he is a human. He journeys down to NYC to meet his real father (James Caan) that Santa (Ed Asnwer) informs him is on the "naughty list". After about an hour-and-a-half of fish-out-of-water jokes, Buddy's father sees the light and helps to save Christmas. Along the way, Buddy brings a little light into the lives of children, felons, his stepmother (Mary Steenburgen, Time After Time) and half-brother, as well as love to a cynical department store sales clerk (Zooey Deschanel, (500) Days of Summer, playing the normal one for a change).

elf 03.jpg
You know this is on a fetish site somewhere.

The cast is nigh perfect, even down to the smallest supporting roles. Bob Newhart as Papa Elf. Faizon Love as the nervous department store manager. Michael Lerner as the Scrooge-ish publisher. Kyle Gass and Andy Richter as Caan's toadying hack writers. Amy Sedaris as Caan's chipper secretary. The great Leon Redbone in the role of the Burl Ives-style snowman (and doing "Baby, It's Cold Outside" with Deschanel in the closing credits). Hell, 83-year-old stop-motion animation legend Ray Harryhausen is the voice of a stop-motion cub. Peter Dinklage—on the heels of his serious, moody breakout role in The Station Agent—is awesome as the hard-bitten primadonna master of kidlit.

The soundtrack really is perfect. It's cool, with Louis Prima, Eartha Kitt and Ray Charles belting out classics over the comic montages ("Pennies from Heaven", "Santa Baby", "Winter Wonderland", respectively). The score—that is the musical itself by frequent Favreau collaborator John Debney (The Stoning of Soraya M, The Passion of the Christ) has a nice theme and is otherwise competent if a little generic.

elf 04.jpg
A very angry elf indeed.

Even so, the film could be disastrous if the jokes were wrong. There's a small amount of scatalogical humor. Most of the jokes that might be sleazy are defused with Buddy's genuine innocence. The Boy and I felt that the really broad physical violence didn't hold up that well. (I've often pointed out that, if you hate Will Ferrell, Elf is a movie where you can watch him get thrashed by Peter Dinklage.) It's not that it's bad, it just jangles a little bit somehow these days.

Most of the humor, though, is based on this Christmas-fantasy-elf clashing with 21st century society. In many ways, sort of amusingly, it's far less cynical than, e.g., Miracle on 34th Street which is powered entirely by a group of self-interested small-minded people, while Buddy's charm is basically to win people over to his point-of-view because it's right. That sort of feels weird to type but it's also sort of obvious: Spirit, Christmas or otherwise, is created by each of us for ourselves and others, so you really better not pout, cry, etc.

On the flip-side, 34th Street is a classic because it makes its argument very well, and Elf is a little weak in this regard. Caan's transformation isn't as supported as you might want, maybe because the actor himself is more convincing in the crustier role. But even here, the movie is saved by Favreau's light touch: It's not trying to be serious or deep, just genuine.

We all came out in a good mood, humming Christmas tunes. (Sort of like Die Hard, come to think of it.) Check it out—again.

elf 05.jpg
Gimbels went out of business in 1987.

Posted by: OregonMuse at 07:58 PM




Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Almost gave up

Posted by: Skip at December 08, 2018 07:56 PM (/rm4P)

2 I really do not like Elf.

Posted by: Diogenes at December 08, 2018 07:58 PM (0tfLf)

3 Movie Sign!!!

Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 07:58 PM (+Tibp)

4 Corgis dutifully called

Not a Will Ferrell fan.

Posted by: Skip at December 08, 2018 07:58 PM (/rm4P)

5 Ditto Skip.
Definitely not a Ferrell fan.

Posted by: Diogenes at December 08, 2018 07:59 PM (0tfLf)

6 Will Ferrell sucks.

That is all.

Posted by: Robert at December 08, 2018 08:00 PM (/cL3k)

7 I like the new Netflix "The Santa Chronicles" movie starring Kurt Russell as Santa. Very recommended even though the elf's speak Swedish.

Posted by: The Great White Scotsman at December 08, 2018 08:00 PM (JUOKG)

8 I liked Elf ok, I don't worship it.

Will Ferrell is fine as a supporting character but he can't carry a film, I've found.

He's a flaming leftist douche but he's also put in some solid, silly performances.

More later after the wife and dog stop pestering me

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards at December 08, 2018 08:01 PM (xJa6I)

9 My wife loved Elf, I did not. Prefer Scrooged and A Christmas Story.

Posted by: Darth Randall at December 08, 2018 08:01 PM (E84sN)

10 Movie sign!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 08, 2018 08:02 PM (kQs4Y)

11 I like the new Netflix "The Santa Chronicles" movie starring Kurt Russell as Santa. Very recommended even though the elf's speak Swedish.
Posted by: The Great White Scotsman

I saw it too and liked it. Is there anything Kurt Russell can't make better?

Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 08:02 PM (+Tibp)

12
Will Ferrell is not funny. Anchorman was painfully stupid and PC

Posted by: TheQuietMan at December 08, 2018 08:02 PM (SiINZ)

13 Also, is that Carrot Top or Yahoo Serious?

Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 08:02 PM (+Tibp)

14 I like A Night at the Roxbury.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at December 08, 2018 08:03 PM (yQpMk)

15 Like most of Will Ferrell's movies, it would have worked better as a 10 minute skit on SNL.

Posted by: JB1000 at December 08, 2018 08:04 PM (aZ9CV)

16 I did like Will Ferrell in that movie, The Good Buys.

The one with Mark Wahlberg.

Actually I mostly liked it because of Wahlberg.

Actually I liked it solely because of Wahlberg.

Will Ferrell is one of the Fuor Horsemen Of the Comedy Apocalypse. It all went downhill after him.

Posted by: Robert at December 08, 2018 08:04 PM (/cL3k)

17 I liked elf the first time I saw it. And even the second. But it has ben overplayed to death. I can't stand it now. And Will Ferrel is a washed up has-been. He turned the Bewitched repop into a POS.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at December 08, 2018 08:04 PM (mpXpK)

18 Is there anything Kurt Russell can't make better?
Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 08:02 PM (+Tibp)

Debbie Does Dallas?

Posted by: Robert at December 08, 2018 08:04 PM (/cL3k)

19 I knew this would be a controversial pick. (Pic?)

Posted by: moviegique at December 08, 2018 08:05 PM (CcUfv)

20 I liked Zooey in this movie, hell I even liked Mary Steenbergen.

Posted by: Eromero at December 08, 2018 08:05 PM (zLDYs)

21 I did like Will Ferrell in that movie, The Good Buys.

The one with Mark Wahlberg.

The Other Guys, I think. Watched it yesterday.

Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 08:05 PM (+Tibp)

22 I haven't seen any movies in the past week, but I did make popcorn in anticipation of the movie thread. Just to get into the spirit of things. Also, I like popcorn.

Posted by: rickl at December 08, 2018 08:05 PM (sdi6R)

23 I haven't seen "Elf" but I am intrigued by the notion of Peter Dinklage beating the crap out of Will Farrell.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 08, 2018 08:05 PM (kQs4Y)

24 Loathe Ferrell and don't care if he never makes another movie, but I do love Elf. Much as I hate to admit it, Ferrell's performance really made the film and asshole Ed Asner was good as Santa. It's one of the few films where I'm willing to overlook the political stance/antics of the actors. Though I always felt that Caan was genuinely annoyed by Ferrell IRL.

Posted by: Hoplite Housewife at December 08, 2018 08:05 PM (XXNQ+)

25 And probably why Die Hard isn't a Christmas movie, since you just want to blow up terrorists afterwards.

I have no emotional investment in whether or not it's a Christmas movie, but after watching Die Hard, more than anything else I want to go for a night out on the town with a lady who wouldn't hesitate to haul off and punch a journalist in the face.

Also I bet Reginald VelJohnson is fun to hang out with.

Posted by: hogmartin at December 08, 2018 08:06 PM (t+qrx)

26 Never seen Elf, mostly because of WF. Also I'm grinchyer than the grinch.

Posted by: freaked at December 08, 2018 08:06 PM (UdKB7)

27 The Other Guys, I think. Watched it yesterday.
Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 08:05 PM (+Tibp)

Yeah, that's the one.

I missed all the shit with...Sam Jackson? Still, I laughed a few times.

Posted by: Robert at December 08, 2018 08:06 PM (/cL3k)

28 I'll give Ferrell credit for some hysterical SNL skits. I found the cheerleader stuff with Cheri Oteri funny as well as the music teachers and some others as well. But 90 minutes of him is too much. Very small doses is key.

Posted by: Bilwis, Devourer of Low Glycemic Souls at December 08, 2018 08:06 PM (jp0Bv)

29 Do not like Ferrell

I still watch "The Ref" with Dennis Leary for a Christmas movie.

Posted by: Ben Had at December 08, 2018 08:07 PM (g/u4p)

30 Eris--it's a pretty glorious scene. Dinklage.

hogmartin--that is a fair point, sir. Would that every woman punched a newswaiter.

Posted by: moviegique at December 08, 2018 08:08 PM (CcUfv)

31 Kurt Russell doing the Elvis Christmas song in that movie is awesome

Posted by: rammajamma at December 08, 2018 08:08 PM (xceTB)

32 And I liked Miracle on 34th street much better than Elf, but only the original.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at December 08, 2018 08:08 PM (mpXpK)

33 I watched Life this week about the International Space Station coming into contact with an alien lifeform. Jake Gyllenhall (sp?) and Ryan Reynolds.

Great special effects and a great twist at the end.

Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 08:08 PM (+Tibp)

34 I knew this would be a controversial pick. (Pic?)
Posted by: moviegique at December 08, 2018 08:05 PM (CcUfv)

You suck?

*Lobs tomato*

I keed, I keed, but your review lines up with nearly everything good I've heard about this movie. I'd be willing to check it out but my hatred of Will Ferrell is a hatred that spans the depth and breadth of the known universe.

Posted by: Robert at December 08, 2018 08:09 PM (/cL3k)

35 Would that every woman punched a newswaiter.
Posted by: moviegique at December 08, 2018 08:08 PM (CcUfv)


I call that a 'keeper'.

Posted by: hogmartin at December 08, 2018 08:09 PM (t+qrx)

36 Went to see Elf live performance in Worcester, MA about six years ago.

They had to interject a gay elf into the performance at the time.

That wasn't in the movie, but hey wouldn't that be a fun addition to the live performance?

/sarc

Posted by: squeakywheel at December 08, 2018 08:10 PM (g/cxV)

37 I missed all the shit with...Sam Jackson? Still, I laughed a few times.
Posted by: Robert

The movie is so goofy I love it. Like with the Captain working at Bed Bath and Beyond.

Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 08:10 PM (+Tibp)

38 My feelings on Will Ferrel are complex.

For example, Danny McBride and Anna Friel were the only reasons that Land of the Lost wasn't an utter hole of suck.

I mean, yes, Ferrel was excellent at playing a self centered, clueless, humorless and ineffectual idiot, and yes he did say "Matt Lauer can Suck It" many times, but I felt something else was called for as well.

Posted by: Kindltot at December 08, 2018 08:11 PM (mUa7G)

39 Robert --

I totally understand hatred of Will Ferrell. I always think of what Michael J. Nelson said about Jim Carrey when he was getting huge. "I feel like if I ran into him I wouldn't be able to stop punching him in the face."

Vic --

No question "34th Street" is a substantially better film. But Elf is a sort of miracle on its own, considering the context.

Posted by: moviegique at December 08, 2018 08:11 PM (CcUfv)

40 Very good take on Elf.

I agree that it holds up, and I also agree that the movie would not work nearly as well had Ferrell not gone 100% into this role. I think other comic actors would have thought the movie was too silly (and it kind of is) which would impact the performance and take the audience out of the willing suspension of disbelief.

Guess I'm trying to say that Ferrell didn't fall into that trap which would have made the movie too self-conscious. Because of that, yeah it still works.

Posted by: WitchDoktor, AKA VA GOP Sucks at December 08, 2018 08:12 PM (IfYaq)

41 Rudolph is on CBS right now, followed by Frosty. I watch them once a year. That is all.

Posted by: Calm Mentor at December 08, 2018 08:12 PM (ffYR/)

42 Kurt Russell doing the Elvis Christmas song in that movie is awesome
Posted by: rammajamma at December 08,


*******

That scene alone puts him on my top five list of guys I'd like to have a beer with.

Posted by: Diogenes at December 08, 2018 08:12 PM (0tfLf)

43 I like my Christmas movies dark and gruesome. So "Rare Exports" and the 2015 (I think) "Krampus" are must-watch films. "Die Hard" and "The Nightmare Before Christmas" also squeak in.
"It's a wonderful life" gets a pass. I saw "Elf" once, years ago. Maybe I should see it again.
Who knows.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at December 08, 2018 08:13 PM (l9m7l)

44 I hate, hate, hate, hate, Will Ferrell. I would rather have my eyes pulled out by lemurs than watch him do anything. To me, he is not funny, just pathetic and a very sad human. He shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a camera. It just shows how low Hollywood has sunk to put him in a "movie".

Posted by: Abby at December 08, 2018 08:13 PM (qeMNc)

45 Rudolph is on CBS right now, followed by Frosty. I watch them once a year. That is all.
Posted by: Calm Mentor

I read that Rudolph is triggering Millennials for some damn reason. I'd watch it if not for the Heisman fiasco show. And Svengoolie.

Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 08:14 PM (+Tibp)

46 That top pic, it looks like the love spawn of Carrot Top and Howdy Doody (or Chelsea C., same difference).

Posted by: GnuBreed at December 08, 2018 08:15 PM (Z4rgH)

47 Currently watching Jim Jarmusch's "Paterson", about a guy named Paterson who's a bus driver -- in Paterson N.J. -- and he's played by Adam Driver (((mind blown)))

Just a nice gentle slice-of-life about a young couple. He writes poetry in his spare time and the wife is an artist.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 08, 2018 08:15 PM (kQs4Y)

48 I could probably count the number of Will Ferrell performances I like on one hand.

He's ok in Jay and Silent Bob. He's a good secondary character in Old School.


And umm. . . I'm sure there's probably another role I think he's ok in.

Posted by: buzzion at December 08, 2018 08:15 PM (cAnNx)

49 Also, Kurt Russell was the first private pilot to alert authorities about the Phoenix Lights.

Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 08:16 PM (+Tibp)

50 I have never seen "Elf" but that description makes me want to.

Posted by: rickl at December 08, 2018 08:16 PM (sdi6R)

51 Buzzion, I think he did well in Anchorman.

It is hit or miss though. That racecar movie, yeah not so much.

Posted by: WitchDoktor, AKA VA GOP Sucks at December 08, 2018 08:17 PM (IfYaq)

52 I read that Rudolph is triggering Millennials for
some damn reason. I'd watch it if not for the Heisman fiasco show. And
Svengoolie.


Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 08:14 PM

---

According to what I have read, it is the bullying thing. For whatever reason millenials are terrified of being bullied and not being allowed to play reindeer games.

Posted by: The Great White Scotsman at December 08, 2018 08:17 PM (JUOKG)

53 People seem to either like or hate Ferrell. Not much middle ground. I can understand both sides.

Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 08:17 PM (+Tibp)

54 Rudolph is on CBS right now, followed by Frosty. I watch them once a year. That is all.
Posted by: Calm Mentor

I read that Rudolph is triggering Millennials for some damn reason. I'd watch it if not for the Heisman fiasco show. And Svengoolie.
Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 08:14 PM (+Tibp)

------------------

Triggering Millenials, if true, is just a side benefit for me. Tradition and all.

Posted by: Calm Mentor at December 08, 2018 08:17 PM (ffYR/)

55 I'm watching a documentary about outlaw bikers in Canada. It's not a movie but I find it interesting.

Posted by: Northernlurker being f'n insufferable at December 08, 2018 08:18 PM (MkcN1)

56 Rudolph is on CBS right now, followed by Frosty. I watch them once a year. That is all.
Posted by: Calm Mentor at December 08, 2018 08:12 PM

Watching.

Mostly because it pisses off the right people.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at December 08, 2018 08:18 PM (GBF0l)

57 I also liked Its A wonderful Life. Two others that are on my Christmas movie list are the George C. Scott Scrooge and Emmett Otter's Jug Ban Christmas.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at December 08, 2018 08:18 PM (mpXpK)

58 41
Rudolph is on CBS right now, followed by Frosty. I watch them once a year. That is all.

Posted by: Calm Mentor at December 08, 2018 08:12 PM (ffYR/)
Two examples of pure hate against all indigenous peoples, everywhere.


Frosty was white, for gawdsakes! And Rudolph, the poor victim, is just another puppet put down by that white evil man with a beard and red outfit. Rudolph's suffering at the hands of the white man is horrible. Dud you see the working conditions they put him in? A blizzard!





Posted by: A. Cortez at December 08, 2018 08:19 PM (UsCnO)

59 Triggering Millenials, if true, is just a side benefit for me. Tradition and all.
Posted by: Calm Mentor

I agree! A feature, not a bug.

Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 08:19 PM (+Tibp)

60 The wife is watching the netflix equivalent of the Hallmark channel.


Movie after movie of single parents and their kids having Christmas issues only to be saved by a member of the opposite sex who comes into their lives and gives them happiness after resolving their issues.

Posted by: The Great White Scotsman at December 08, 2018 08:20 PM (JUOKG)

61 The wife is watching the netflix equivalent of the Hallmark channel.
Posted by: The Great White Scotsman

Hallmark Channel movies are a guilty pleasure of mine this time of year. I've actually DVR'd some movies.

Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 08:22 PM (+Tibp)

62 60 Movie after movie of single parents and their kids
having Christmas issues only to be saved by a member of the opposite sex
who comes into their lives and gives them happiness after resolving
their issues.


Posted by: The Great White Scotsman at December 08, 2018 08:20 PM (JUOKG)

My wife used to watch all those Christmas "Mush Movies". I had to leave the room.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at December 08, 2018 08:22 PM (mpXpK)

63 The first season of "Mork and Mindy" is still funny.

Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 08:22 PM (3HNOQ)

64 Will Ferrell is just one more element of our popular culture from which I am completely alienated.

Don Rickles was funny. Will Ferrell is not funny.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 08, 2018 08:22 PM (EZebt)

65 Someone earlier mentioned that Will Ferrell can be handled in 10 minute segments, tops.


Yep.


Even before his political leanings became obvious, I tried to watch different Ferrell movies. I've tried to watch them sober, and not sober. For the live of me, I don't get his appeal.

Posted by: LeftCoast Dawg at December 08, 2018 08:23 PM (UsCnO)

66 No one ever mentions Lethal Weapon as a Christmas movie -- It's got a couple of Christmas tree scenes, Christmas songs, and they give away a lot of bullets as stocking stuffers.

Posted by: GnuBreed at December 08, 2018 08:24 PM (Z4rgH)

67 Popcorn probably has more carbs than I should be eating, but I do like it.

Posted by: rickl at December 08, 2018 08:24 PM (sdi6R)

68 I'm watching the shootist.

Posted by: Infidel at December 08, 2018 08:24 PM (PF4TZ)

69 I am not at all a Farrell fan but I do like him in Anchorman and I might catch Elf based on Moviegique's post.

Posted by: DR.WTF? at December 08, 2018 08:25 PM (T71PA)

70 *life of me, not live of me.


did I tell everyone how I hate auto cucumber?

Posted by: LeftCoast Dawg at December 08, 2018 08:25 PM (UsCnO)

71 I love "Cowboys and Aliens."

Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 08:25 PM (3HNOQ)

72 I love "Cowboys and Aliens."

Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 08:25 PM (3HNOQ)


Ditto

Posted by: DR.WTF? at December 08, 2018 08:26 PM (T71PA)

73 Even before his political leanings became obvious, I tried to watch different Ferrell movies. I've tried to watch them sober, and not sober. For the live of me, I don't get his appeal.
Posted by: LeftCoast Dawg at December 08, 2018 08:23 PM (UsCnO)

---------------

If you want to get really depressed, look up his net worth. 9 figures.

Posted by: Calm Mentor at December 08, 2018 08:26 PM (ffYR/)

74 I'm watching the shootist.

Posted by: Infidel at December 08, 2018 08:24 PM (PF4TZ)




The Duke should have pistol whipped some sense into Opie Cunningham

Posted by: TheQuietMan at December 08, 2018 08:27 PM (SiINZ)

75 20 I liked Zooey in this movie, hell I even liked Mary Steenbergen.
Posted by: Eromero at December 08, 2018 08:05 PM (zLDYs)


Yes.

Posted by: eleven at December 08, 2018 08:27 PM (NLLmE)

76 Will Ferrell -- Needs moar cowbell.

Posted by: GnuBreed at December 08, 2018 08:28 PM (Z4rgH)

77 I should put on Rudolph, my theory is they know what your watching and ratings are kept from that.

Posted by: Skip at December 08, 2018 08:29 PM (/rm4P)

78 Will Ferrell -- Needs moar cowbell.


Posted by: GnuBreed at December 08, 2018 08:28 PM

---

That was actually one of his better bits on SNL.

Posted by: The Great White Scotsman at December 08, 2018 08:30 PM (JUOKG)

79 Elf. Bah, humbug.

No, it was cutesy, but I think Will Ferrell is one of the most overrated post SNL alumni. It's almost like for the past 3 decades, ever since SNL hasn't been funny, someone that worked on the show has a string of movie hits. Mike Meyers, Adam Sandler, and Will Ferrell come to mind. But, they were never major contributors on SNL, like say, an Aykroyd, or Bill Murray. Meyers was likable, but his characters limited (I did like his female impersonation of a yenta). Adam Sandler....WTF! Opera man? Cajun man? Then he makes millions. And Will Ferrell. The naive, spirited cheerleader, with Cheri Oteri. The cowbell ringer. The guy that wore American Flag underwear that satirized the post 9/11 patriotism. Hmm, what else. Nothing really memorable. But, his childish naivety touched a chord with people. You never know who is going to be the next 15-minuter.

Posted by: Anonymous White Male at December 08, 2018 08:30 PM (3sjI6)

80 Elf really isn't very good. Zoooey seems nice.

But she probably isn't.

Posted by: eleven at December 08, 2018 08:30 PM (NLLmE)

81 It's been a while since I saw Elf but doesn't it have a scene where Ferrell and Zooey Deschanel sing an impromptu duet of Baby It's Cold Outside?

If so, I'm surprised they can still play an uncut version on TV.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at December 08, 2018 08:30 PM (deEx0)

82
If you want to get really depressed, look up his net worth. 9 figures.

Posted by: Calm Mentor at December 08, 2018 08:26 PM (ffYR/)

No depression for me! Because there is a lot of evil in the world with a lot of money (Soros, Kerry, etc), and there are the clowns like Ferrell that entertain them.

I'm aware of this, so I choose to look at the finer things in life, as an example, our wonderful FLOTUS, instead.

and the George C Scott version of Scrooge is absolutely a classic.


Posted by: LeftCoast Dawg at December 08, 2018 08:31 PM (UsCnO)

83 Heard a idea Yukon Cornelius licks his ice pick because he is really looking for a peppermint mine.

Posted by: Skip at December 08, 2018 08:31 PM (/rm4P)

84 I like "Elf" quite a bit, even if the final act suffers from Hyper-Asneritis.

A similar movie with a similar dynamic that I like even better is-

"Blast from the Past" with Brendan Fraser.

Posted by: naturalfake at December 08, 2018 08:31 PM (CRRq9)

85 Put me down as a second vote for George C. Scott's A Christmas Carol. It's the best Christmas movie ever made. (And it was made for TV.)

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at December 08, 2018 08:32 PM (deEx0)

86 Treat yourself and watch Dickensian.

Posted by: Ben Had at December 08, 2018 08:32 PM (g/u4p)

87

The Duke should have pistol whipped some sense into Opie Cunningham

Posted by: TheQuietMan at December 08, 2018 08:27 PM (SiINZ)


Yes Sir.

Posted by: Infidel at December 08, 2018 08:34 PM (PF4TZ)

88 It is hard for me to see people mention Favreau without remembering The Big Empty where he was just an actor.

Posted by: RecklessProcess at December 08, 2018 08:34 PM (Qpvwp)

89 The George C Scott version of Scrooge is the best.

Heard the reasons why millennial hate Rudolph, one is island of misfit toys, Why put all the trans toys on a island?

Posted by: Skip at December 08, 2018 08:35 PM (/rm4P)

90 I'm Will Ferrell impaired, so I didn't properly appreciate "Elf."

Posted by: Emmie at December 08, 2018 08:35 PM (4HMW8)

91 For Christmas movies, Holiday In followed by White Christmas do it for me as the older, traditional movies. A Christmas Story for something more modern.

Posted by: Calm Mentor at December 08, 2018 08:37 PM (ffYR/)

92 I'm Will Ferrell impaired, so I didn't properly appreciate "Elf."

You can get a service animal for that.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at December 08, 2018 08:37 PM (deEx0)

93 Actually, "he was just an actor" works on several levels with that movie

Posted by: RecklessProcess at December 08, 2018 08:37 PM (Qpvwp)

94 Rudolph gets bullied, Donner over rules his wife

Island of misfit toys doesn't take immigrants who are not toys.

Posted by: Skip at December 08, 2018 08:37 PM (/rm4P)

95 saw Goon. GAY PRON HARD.

Posted by: Boulder terlit hobo at December 08, 2018 08:38 PM (XBbmm)

96 It is hard for me to see people mention Favreau without remembering The Big Empty where he was just an actor.

Posted by: RecklessProcess at December 08, 2018 08:34 PM (Qpvwp)



Favreau's first movie, that he wrote I think, was "Swingers". Its surprisingly good, fun and introduced Vince Vaughn as well.

He's an okay director but he really seems to have found his niche as a director and writer.

Posted by: naturalfake at December 08, 2018 08:38 PM (CRRq9)

97 I don't think I've seen the George C. Scott version, but I don't see how it's possible to top the Alastair Sim version of "A Christmas Carol".

Posted by: rickl at December 08, 2018 08:38 PM (sdi6R)

98 the service animal would likely be smarter than Ferrell.

Posted by: Boulder terlit hobo at December 08, 2018 08:39 PM (XBbmm)

99 The George C Scott version of Scrooge is the best.




Especially when he slapped Bob Crachit and told him not stink up this place of honor and then told Jacob Marley, You magnificent bastard, I read your book!

Posted by: TheQuietMan at December 08, 2018 08:39 PM (SiINZ)

100 97
I don't think I've seen the George C. Scott version, but I don't see how
it's possible to top the Alastair Sim version of "A Christmas Carol".

Posted by: rickl at December 08, 2018 08:38 PM (sdi6R)

The George C. Scott version is better. Who can beat Patton as Scrooge?

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at December 08, 2018 08:40 PM (mpXpK)

101 Especially when he slapped Bob Crachit and told him not stink up this place of honor and then told Jacob Marley, You magnificent bastard, I read your book!
Posted by: TheQuietMan

TURN IT OFF!
TURN IT OFF!
- George C. Scott as Scrooge

Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 08:41 PM (+Tibp)

102 Zooey Deschanel is so appealing in "Elf" and "The Yes Man",

that it's hard to understand how she never hit it big.


She must be a real pill in person.

Posted by: naturalfake at December 08, 2018 08:41 PM (CRRq9)

103 The George C Scott version of Scrooge is the best.
-

BAH! HUMBUG!

Posted by: Alastair Cook at December 08, 2018 08:41 PM (2qPhT)

104 saw Goon. GAY PRON HARD.


Posted by: Boulder terlit hobo at December 08, 2018 08:38 PM


LOL... good stuff. It's a truly great movie. For a fantastic but overlooked SW Scott flick, check out "The Promotion" with John C. Reilly.

Posted by: otho at December 08, 2018 08:41 PM (LkFnL)

105 The only thing I ever liked Will Ferrell in was Wedding Crashers.

Posted by: Chi-town Jerry at December 08, 2018 08:41 PM (438dO)

106 The George C Scott version of Scrooge is the best.
-

BAH! HUMBUG!
Posted by: Alastair Cook at December 08, 2018 08:41 PM (2qPhT)


DITTO!!!

Posted by: Alistair Sim at December 08, 2018 08:41 PM (deEx0)

107 Ugh

Okay actor. Not director.

Posted by: naturalfake at December 08, 2018 08:42 PM (CRRq9)

108 Never was a Will Ferrell fan. I agree with Calm Mentor. I love White Christmas. I watch it every year. For modern time.. Christmas Vacation.

Posted by: Jewells45 at December 08, 2018 08:42 PM (dUJdY)

109 BAH! HUMBUG!
Posted by: Alastair Cook
---------

A good sock, wasted. Sad.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at December 08, 2018 08:42 PM (fZcn6)

110 Did they use forced perspective for that "fetish site" shot with Farrell, Newhart, and the girl elf?

Or did Bob Newhart start really shrinking in his old age.

Posted by: Hands at December 08, 2018 08:43 PM (786Ro)

111 95 saw Goon. GAY PRON HARD.
Posted by: Boulder terlit hobo at December 08, 2018 08:38 PM (XBbmm)
---
The inspirational speeches make this a classic.

Marco: Am I the only one here, you Slavic fucking borscht-blooded, cabbage-headed motherfuckers? Why don't you stop the puck in your vagina, you Russian lesbians?

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 08, 2018 08:43 PM (kQs4Y)

112 Franz Liebkind is the best Will Ferrell

Posted by: Hurricane LaFawnduh at December 08, 2018 08:43 PM (k3r4S)

113 Die Hard is not a Christmas movie
Die Hard is not a Christmas movie
Die Hard is not a Christmas movie

Posted by: Hands at December 08, 2018 08:43 PM (786Ro)

114 For modern time.. Christmas Vacation.
Posted by: Jewells45 at December 08, 2018 08:42 PM (dUJdY)



Noooooooooo!!!!!!!

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at December 08, 2018 08:43 PM (deEx0)

115 102 Zooey Deschanel is so appealing in "Elf" and "The Yes Man",

that it's hard to understand how she never hit it big.


She must be a real pill in person.



Posted by: naturalfake at December 08, 2018 08:41 PM (CRRq9)



Quirky girl with the quirky look is going to get you a good role on television, which she has, and a few decent movie roles. It is not going to get you movie stardom. Most likely because there are hotter girls blowing the producers for those parts.

Posted by: buzzion at December 08, 2018 08:44 PM (cAnNx)

116 It's about time to rewatch Hogfather and Blackadder's Christmas Carol.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at December 08, 2018 08:44 PM (GBF0l)

117 Scrooge hears Santa flying overhead and comes outside and starts firing his Colt 45 at him.
It never happened in real life but that never stops a movie director.

Posted by: Skip at December 08, 2018 08:45 PM (/rm4P)

118 Agree about Deschanel being a bit too niche. She totally tanked in Hitchhiker's Guide.

Posted by: WitchDoktor, AKA VA GOP Sucks at December 08, 2018 08:45 PM (IfYaq)

119
Marco: Am I the only one here, you Slavic fucking borscht-blooded, cabbage-headed motherfuckers? Why don't you stop the puck in your vagina, you Russian lesbians?

This is about me, isn't it..

Posted by: Hillary! at December 08, 2018 08:45 PM (LOq4H)

120 Most likely because there are hotter girls blowing the producers for those parts.
Posted by: buzzion at December 08, 2018 08:44 PM (cAnNx)



Yep. In Hollywood there are always too many mouths chasing too few dicks.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at December 08, 2018 08:45 PM (deEx0)

121 I like White Christmas just to hear The Bing do that duet with Rosemary Clooney of Count Your Blessings

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at December 08, 2018 08:46 PM (mpXpK)

122 I van;t watch Chevy Chase in anything. Ugh.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at December 08, 2018 08:47 PM (deEx0)

123 Zooey Deschanel is so appealing in "Elf" and "The Yes Man",

that it's hard to understand how she never hit it big.

She must be a real pill in person.

Posted by: naturalfake at December 08, 2018 08:41 PM



Plenty of manic-pixie-dream-girl types available.

Posted by: Hands at December 08, 2018 08:47 PM (786Ro)

124 Around about 1982, I thought, Damn. I'd love to see George C. Scott play Scrooge.

You can image how I shit myself when it actually happened. Definately my favorite version, but he differs from the book in that Dickens wrote Scrooge as a small, wiry miser, where Scott is obviously not, and played him as a ruthless businessman. But it still works.

Moviegique, I love your definition of what makes a "Christmas Movie," i.e., does it end with you feeling the Christmas spirit.

Posted by: Eustace Haverkamp at December 08, 2018 08:47 PM (C1NyB)

125 Or "can't." Whatevz.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at December 08, 2018 08:47 PM (deEx0)

126 Die Hard is so a Christmas movie, it takes place during Christmas, and lots of reference to it.

Posted by: Skip at December 08, 2018 08:48 PM (/rm4P)

127 Die Hard is so a Christmas movie, it takes place during Christmas, and lots of reference to it.
Posted by: Skip at December 08, 2018 08:48 PM (/rm4P)



Ditto Trading Places.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at December 08, 2018 08:49 PM (deEx0)

128 ''The George C Scott version of Scrooge is the best.
-

BAH! HUMBUG!
Posted by: Alastair Cook at December 08, 2018 08:41 PM (2qPhT)

DITTO!!!''

They're both good. I watch them both every year.

BTW. Holiday Inn(black face segment included)and The Man Who Came to Dinner are on TCM tonight.

Those 2 are my favorite Christmas movies. The Man Who Came to Dinner is still funny after all these long years.

Posted by: Tuna at December 08, 2018 08:49 PM (jm1YL)

129 Moviegique, I love your definition of what makes a "Christmas Movie," i.e., does it end with you feeling the Christmas spirit.
Posted by: Eustace Haverkamp

For some reason, I always think of the Godfather as a Christmas movie. Leave the gun, take the cannoli.

Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 08:49 PM (+Tibp)

130
Haven't watched much this week.....but, I did watch a documentary on John Milius....called "Milius"....on Amazon Prime. Interesting film...about an interesting guy...well worth the time IMHO.

The gun toting madman Milius contributed to/or wrote the scripts to a lot of hit movies....Apocalypse Now, Jaws, Conan, Red Dawn....etc....but is not as nearly famous as his friends/classmates--fellow directors Spielberg and Lucas.

Highly recommended.

Posted by: Some Guy in Wisconsin (thought leader) at December 08, 2018 08:49 PM (u95+k)

131 I saw the George C. Scott version of "A Christmas Carol" in Dec. 1986. It was and still is the only version which brings a tear to my eyes.

Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 08:50 PM (3HNOQ)

132 Die Hard is so a Christmas movie, it takes place during Christmas, and lots of reference to it.
Posted by: Skip at December 08, 2018 08:48 PM (/rm4P){/i]

The Battle of the Bulge happened over Christmas. That doesn't make it a Christmas movie.

Posted by: DR.WTF? at December 08, 2018 08:50 PM (T71PA)

133 /i

Posted by: DR.WTF? at December 08, 2018 08:50 PM (T71PA)

134 I loathe A Christmas Story. There. I said it.

F Ralphie and F Ned Beatty.

Posted by: eleven at December 08, 2018 08:51 PM (NLLmE)

135 Haven't watched much this week.....but, I did watch a documentary on John Milius....called "Milius"....on Amazon Prime. Interesting film...about an interesting guy...well worth the time IMHO.

The gun toting madman Milius contributed to/or wrote the scripts to a lot of hit movies....Apocalypse Now, Jaws, Conan, Red Dawn....etc....but is not as nearly famous as his friends/classmates--fellow directors Spielberg and Lucas.

Highly recommended.


Posted by: Some Guy in Wisconsin (thought leader) at December 08, 2018 08:49 PM


Dillinger. Can't recommend enough.

Posted by: otho at December 08, 2018 08:51 PM (LkFnL)

136 I saw the George C. Scott version of "A Christmas Carol" in Dec. 1986. It was and still is the only version which brings a tear to my eyes.


It's the scene where he takes Palermo, right?

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at December 08, 2018 08:51 PM (deEx0)

137 Its about time for me to wrap it up for today. BBT on this old slow POS.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at December 08, 2018 08:51 PM (mpXpK)

138 Milius was a big fan of Teddy Roosevelt and wrote the t.v. miniseries "Rough Riders" and the classic movie "The Wind and the Lion". And was supposedly the inspiration for The Dude's bilious friend Walter Sobchek.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 08, 2018 08:52 PM (kQs4Y)

139 The FDA has a lot to learn from this movie. Candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup.

Posted by: Steve and Cold Bear at December 08, 2018 08:53 PM (/qEW2)

140 I'm split on the Alastair Sim vs George C. Scott Scrooge wars.

I think George C. Scott does a better pre-ghostly-visitation Scrooge, but Alastair Sim does a better job selling Scrooge's new attitude.

Scott's laugh is too harsh and growling, so he doesn't seem as joyful and giddy as Scrooge is supposed to be. He still gives off a slight air of menace.

Otoh, Sim doesn't seem bitter enough when doing "mean" Scrooge. His face looks nauseated, much of the time when the ghosts are leading him around.

Posted by: Hands at December 08, 2018 08:53 PM (786Ro)

141 No, it's when he hears about Gen. ? who is asked to surrender and replies "Nuts" and says "How can I not rescue such a man?"

Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 08:53 PM (3HNOQ)

142 I'm done. Carry on.

See y'all Monday.

Posted by: eleven at December 08, 2018 08:53 PM (NLLmE)

143 Is there a Christmas movie not about NEW YORK CITY?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 08, 2018 08:53 PM (aKsyK)

144 I loathe A Christmas Story. There. I said it.

F Ralphie and F Ned Beatty.

Posted by: eleven at December 08, 2018 08:51 PM (NLLmE)


Ned Beatty? Christmas Story?

Posted by: TheQuietMan at December 08, 2018 08:53 PM (SiINZ)

145 72 I love "Cowboys and Aliens."

Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 08:25 PM (3HNOQ)

Ditto
Posted by: DR.WTF?



Me too. It was as advertised. "Cowboys and Aliens". I was entertained.

Plus, Olivia Wilde is a sexy, hot, minx. A stinkin', no good, commie but a sultry one.

Posted by: Puddleglum at December 08, 2018 08:54 PM (WNAuL)

146 Over 100, so OT:

Today the Dragon spacecraft was berthed to the International Space Station, and the wayward Falcon 9 first stage was hoisted out of the drink onto the dock at Port Canaveral. It's in pretty damn good condition for a failed landing.

https://preview.tinyurl.com/y8t76fh9

Posted by: rickl at December 08, 2018 08:54 PM (sdi6R)

147 Dickens... you magnificent bastard! I read your book!

Posted by: General Ebenezer S. Patton at December 08, 2018 08:54 PM (786Ro)

148 143 Is there a Christmas movie not about NEW YORK CITY?
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 08, 2018 08:53 PM (aKsyK)
---
Is there a Lifetime Christmas movie NOT set in New York but actually filmed in Toronto?

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 08, 2018 08:55 PM (kQs4Y)

149 White Christmas fans should be aware that it is playing in theaters tomorrow and Wednesday as part of TCM Big Screen Classics.

Posted by: Moviegique at December 08, 2018 08:55 PM (KUptT)

150 The trouble with the old Alistair Sim version is this: Crappy video and audio. Black and white. Old crap.
Is there no depth of feeling?

Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 08:55 PM (3HNOQ)

151 Speaking of Patton, I went to Morocco a couple years ago. There are Roman ruins at Volubilis but what's great about it is that it's the spot in the movie Patton where George C. Scott tells his driver that he had fought there in a prior life at Carthage.

It wasn't actually the site of Carthage but it had really good optics for that scene.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at December 08, 2018 08:55 PM (deEx0)

152 Is there a Christmas movie not about NEW YORK CITY?
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 08, 2018 08:53 PM



Yoohoo!

Posted by: The Hallmark Channel "Countdown To Christmas" starring Candace Cameron at December 08, 2018 08:55 PM (786Ro)

153 I love "Cowboys and Aliens" too. James Bond in assless chaps.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 08, 2018 08:56 PM (kQs4Y)

154 Ned Beatty? Christmas Story?
Posted by: TheQuietMan at December 08, 2018 08:53 PM (SiINZ)



Forget it. He's rolling.

Posted by: Boone at December 08, 2018 08:56 PM (deEx0)

155 With a special extra video of Vera-Ellen eating a cheeseburger.

Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 08:56 PM (3HNOQ)

156 I've never seen this because I can't stand Will Feral. All he does is rip off Steve Martin. He gives a blank, insincere performance that lets you know that he doesn't take his role seriously. And that's the joke.

Posted by: Steve and Cold Bear at December 08, 2018 08:56 PM (/qEW2)

157 Next weekend I'll settle in for my Christmas movie triptych: Lethal Weapon, Die Hard, and On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Gun play always puts me in a festive state of mind. Ho ho ho.

Latest blu ray acquisitions: Creepshow (Shout Factory Collector's Edition), Night of the Demons (Limited Edition steel-book with 4k scan). The Creepshow disc is just perfect. If you can find it, get it. Night of the Demons is an acquired taste. It's the most 80's horror film ever made. Linea Quigley plays the world's oldest teenager, but her crotch has one of cinema's best introductions.

On order: 2001 (4k transfer), Prince of Darkness and Escape From New York (StudioCanal 4k restorations).

Posted by: Rusty Nail at December 08, 2018 08:56 PM (ju9gW)

158 How can you hate "A Christmas Story"?

It's pretty much a perfect movie.

And hilarious comedy.

Posted by: naturalfake at December 08, 2018 08:57 PM (CRRq9)

159 97 I don't think I've seen the George C. Scott version, but I don't see how it's possible to top the Alastair Sim version of "A Christmas Carol".
Posted by: rickl



One of the guy's who worked on Alastair Sim's version of ACC wound up directing the George C. Scott version 30+ years later. So, some similarity's between the two. Both are very good. George C. Scott's version gets the win because I love George C. Scott.

Posted by: Puddleglum at December 08, 2018 08:57 PM (WNAuL)

160 My mom once said that Patton had read some many histories that he put himself into the stories.

Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 08:57 PM (3HNOQ)

161 Ned Beatty? Christmas Story?
Posted by: TheQuietMan at December 08, 2018 08:53 PM


Forget it. He's rolling.
Posted by: Boone at December 08, 2018 08:56 PM



And Brian Dennehy as the Leg Lamp.

Posted by: Hands at December 08, 2018 08:57 PM (786Ro)

162 Hiya

I made it through the first 10 minutes of Elf before I turned it off.

Cannot stand Will Ferrell. He is annoying.

Posted by: ALH at December 08, 2018 08:59 PM (cS3Yq)

163 Albert Finney SCROOGE! is great.

Posted by: Moviegique at December 08, 2018 08:59 PM (KUptT)

164 Best movie for our times "battle of algeirs." When the pentagon was shown the movie prior to our invasion of iraq cheney wouldn't let dubya see the movie so he didn't get scared. Death toll in afganistan now over 2200 with 20 more nov/dec. And nearly 2000 american contractors.

Posted by: ramondo at December 08, 2018 08:59 PM (OlNLi)

165 Gene Shepherd finally had a hit.

Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 09:00 PM (3HNOQ)

166 Albert Finney SCROOGE! is great.
Posted by: Moviegique at December 08, 2018 08:59 PM (KUptT)


Albert Finney in anything is great.

Posted by: DR.WTF? at December 08, 2018 09:00 PM (T71PA)

167 I liked Zooey in this movie, hell I even liked Mary Steenbergen.
Posted by: Eromero at December 08, 2018 08:05 PM (zLDYs)

did she get her boobies out?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 08, 2018 09:01 PM (fDU8w)

168 Kyler Murray is your new Heisman Trophy winner.

Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 09:01 PM (+Tibp)

169 The Alastair Sim version gets a bad rap on quality because it's been public domain for so long. No one wants to put real money into a good transfer because someone else can just rip off the work and slap on their own label.

I hope Criterion tackles it someday. They've done very good things with public domain films (Charade, Night of the Living Dead, His Girl Friday, etc.).

Posted by: Rusty Nail at December 08, 2018 09:01 PM (ju9gW)

170
My brother has turned the movie "Millions" (2004) into an annual Christmas movie for himself and his family.

They watch it every year on Christmas Eve.

It's a cute feel good movie.

Posted by: naturalfake at December 08, 2018 09:02 PM (CRRq9)

171 One of my favorite is Christmas in Connecticut. Of course, I love Barbara Stanwyck.

Posted by: Infidel at December 08, 2018 09:03 PM (PF4TZ)

172 Quirky girl with the quirky look is going to get you a good role on television, which she has, and a few decent movie roles. It is not going to get you movie stardom. Most likely because there are hotter girls blowing the producers for those parts.
Posted by: buzzion at December 08, 2018 08:44 PM (cAnNx)

You hit the nail on the head. Zooey just needed to work on her oral skills and the sky would have been the limit. Ask Meryl Streep.

Posted by: Anonymous White Male at December 08, 2018 09:03 PM (3sjI6)

173 159
One of the guy's who worked on Alastair Sim's version of ACC wound up directing the George C. Scott version 30+ years later. So, some similarity's between the two. Both are very good. George C. Scott's version gets the win because I love George C. Scott.
Posted by: Puddleglum at December 08, 2018 08:57 PM (WNAuL)


That's very cool. I didn't know that.

It's sort of like Joseph Kittinger mentoring Felix Baumgartner in the latter's attempt to break his own record.

Posted by: rickl at December 08, 2018 09:03 PM (sdi6R)

174 Gene Shepherd finally had a hit.

Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 09:00 PM (3HNOQ)


Rock N Roll All Nite?

Posted by: TheQuietMan at December 08, 2018 09:04 PM (SiINZ)

175 My brother has turned the movie "Millions" (2004) into an annual Christmas movie for himself and his family
Posted by: naturalfake

We watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 09:04 PM (+Tibp)

176 I think the only Will Ferrell movie I liked was Megamind, and he was largely "not Will Ferrell" in that.
Die Hard is a Christmas movie. The end.

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at December 08, 2018 09:04 PM (l9m7l)

177 We have a family favorite. "The Burbs." We watch it whenever we get together. But NOBODY would ever call it a Christmas film.

Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 09:04 PM (3HNOQ)

178 How can you hate "A Christmas Story"?


You couldn't get 100% consensus on the Ten Commandments in this place.

Posted by: That irredeemable guy who always says... at December 08, 2018 09:04 PM (Tyii7)

179 Cable networks showing original Xmas movies this year:

Hallmark Channel
Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
Lifetime
UP tv
Ion
TV ONE

Netflix too, if we count non-cable too.

Hallmark rakes in something like $500 million in ad revenues for the Christmas movies it produces every year, at an average cost of about $2 million per movie. Factory-fresh!

Posted by: Hands at December 08, 2018 09:05 PM (786Ro)

180 I don't see how it's possible to top the Alastair Sim version of "A Christmas Carol".

Is that the flickering cartoon one? Really like that. As haunting as it should be. Always enjoyed Elf and Diehard, too.

Posted by: t-bird at December 08, 2018 09:05 PM (Y9zp1)

181 AOP! @ 167--Boobies out?I would remember that and I don't remember that. Maybe I should have said Zooey was kinda cute and Steenbergen won't really annoying as hell?

Posted by: Eromero at December 08, 2018 09:05 PM (zLDYs)

182 The wife in Die Hard is Holly.

Now I have a machine gun. Ho Ho Ho

Posted by: Ignoramus at December 08, 2018 09:06 PM (1UZdv)

183 That top pic, it looks like the love spawn of Carrot Top and Howdy Doody (or Chelsea C., same difference).
Posted by: GnuBreed at December 08, 2018 08:15 PM (Z4rgH)

Gee, that reminds me. For no good reason at all, I had a Wizard of Oz earworm today, and drafted up a mental image of a remake, called "Wizard of ArkansOz", about the Clintoons, of course. When word gets out that Webb Hubbell has successfully impregnated Hillary, the Munchkins of Hot Springs, now spared the threat of that dire duty, dance around, and sing "Ding Dong, the Bitch is Bred."

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 08, 2018 09:08 PM (fDU8w)

184 Cable has been playing "Kick Ass" this week, so I watched it again.

What a great movie that is!

Very fun, great acting, great insane action, surprisingly nuanced script and direction.

The movie functions simultaneously as a criticism of superhero stories as it all the while provides a kickass(!) superhero story.

Too bad the sequel sucked mightily. The nuance was lost as the Hollywood types wanted to make damn sure that you got the point.

Posted by: naturalfake at December 08, 2018 09:08 PM (CRRq9)

185 The Ten Commandments is a Passover story. Not an Easter story. The Joos at ABC know this and broadcast it on Easter anyway.

Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 09:08 PM (3HNOQ)

186 I watched the George C Scott version while guarding prisoners in the Quantico brig in 1984, after taps of course

Posted by: Creek at December 08, 2018 09:08 PM (13BOh)

187 There can never be a consensus here, what we we have then to argue about?

Posted by: Skip at December 08, 2018 09:08 PM (/rm4P)

188 Always a fun thread but can't stay awake any longer.
Good night all.

Posted by: Skip at December 08, 2018 09:09 PM (/rm4P)

189 The Ten Commandments is a Passover story. Not an Easter story. The Joos at ABC know this and broadcast it on Easter anyway.
I guess I was referring to the stuff on the tablets and not so much the movie.

Posted by: That irredeemable guy who always says... at December 08, 2018 09:09 PM (Tyii7)

190

Sobibor is a fine Chrisrmas movie.

Posted by: Ouch at December 08, 2018 09:10 PM (/twvA)

191 Movie mash-up - Gremlins Die Hard

Posted by: Anna Puma at December 08, 2018 09:10 PM (of+54)

192 AOP! Way to spitball baby! I'm seeing box office gold! Keep me in the loop, let's do lunch!

Posted by: some rat in the swamp at December 08, 2018 09:11 PM (LOq4H)

193 Kyler!

Posted by: Gooner at December 08, 2018 09:11 PM (ANeY1)

194 I like the George C. Scott version of CC best.
WhatshisnamewhosinalotofBritstuff playing Bob Cratchit.
Susannah York as Mrs. Cratchit.
ThatotherguywhosinalotofBritstuff as the nephew.
Great cast all around.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at December 08, 2018 09:12 PM (Rxduq)

195 Someone upthread mentioned Yahoo Serious.

Man,he was was a flash in the pan, but-

I wouldn't mind seeing "Young Einstein" again.

At the time, I thought it was a pretty funny flick.

Posted by: naturalfake at December 08, 2018 09:12 PM (CRRq9)

196 WhatshisnamewhosinalotofBritstuff playing Bob Cratchit.

David Warner?

Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 09:13 PM (+Tibp)

197 Agree about Deschanel being a bit too niche. She totally tanked in Hitchhiker's Guide.
Posted by: WitchDoktor, AKA VA GOP Sucks at December 08, 2018 08:45 PM (IfYaq)


She mumbled her lines.

Posted by: Kindltot at December 08, 2018 09:13 PM (mUa7G)

198 How does a 4 like Bob Cratchit marry a 10 like Susanna York?

Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 09:14 PM (3HNOQ)

199 Don Rickles was funny. Will Ferrell is not funny.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 08, 2018 08:22 PM (EZebt)


Absolutely!

Posted by: Grannymimi at December 08, 2018 09:14 PM (u5LFV)

200
The best Christmas movie is Metropolitan. I has a nice conservative message and they verbally slap around a guy who claims he's a socialist.

Posted by: TheQuietMan at December 08, 2018 09:15 PM (SiINZ)

201 190 I still prefer watching "battle of algeirs" for my christmas movie.

Posted by: ramondo at December 08, 2018 09:15 PM (OlNLi)

202 Always liked Milius, because of a story I heard years ago; at the end of filming whatever movie it was, he presented everyone with an engraved commemorative 1911.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at December 08, 2018 09:15 PM (mfOi4)

203

Seka was amazing as the elf in the classic Ghristmas Stuffing.

Posted by: Ouch at December 08, 2018 09:15 PM (/twvA)

204 Movie mash-up - Gremlins Die Hard
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 08, 2018 09:10 PM (of+54)


It's a Wonderful Charlie Brown Nightmare Before Christmas.

Posted by: hogmartin at December 08, 2018 09:15 PM (t+qrx)

205 The Battle of the Bulge happened over Christmas. That doesn't make it a Christmas movie.
Posted by: DR.WTF? at December 08, 2018 08:50 PM (T71PA)

But, don't you remember when the American GI's and the Wehrmacht soldiers went into La Roche-en-Ardenned on Christmas day to the same bordello. They almost shot it out, but then someone said, "Hey, it's Christmas Day. This is the day Christ was born. We should look at each other as our savior would and ignore our hatred for today and just forgive and forget." They all agreed. Then, after they had fornicated and drunk mucho vino, they got in a fight and killed each other. Brings a tear to my eye every time I think about it.

Posted by: Anonymous White Male at December 08, 2018 09:16 PM (3sjI6)

206 No one ever mentions Lethal Weapon as a Christmas
movie -- It's got a couple of Christmas tree scenes, Christmas songs,
and they give away a lot of bullets as stocking stuffers.

Posted by: GnuBreed at December 08, 2018 08:24 PM (Z4rgH)


Sounds good to me.

Posted by: Grannymimi at December 08, 2018 09:16 PM (u5LFV)

207 Oh, yes. Another good thing about Scott's CC:
Edward "the Equalizer" Woodward as the last ghost.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at December 08, 2018 09:16 PM (Rxduq)

208 "We're No Angels" with Basil Rathbone, Humphrey Bogart, Lewis G. Carroll, Peter Ustanov and Aldo Ray is one of my favorite Christmas films.

Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 09:17 PM (3HNOQ)

209 Oh, yes. Another good thing about Scott's CC:
Edward "the Equalizer" Woodward as the last ghost.
Posted by: Margarita DeVille

That's right! I totally forgot that!

Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 09:17 PM (+Tibp)

210 How does a 4 like Bob Cratchit marry a 10 like Susanna York?
Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 09:14 PM (3HNOQ)

He was hung like a Christmas Tree.

Posted by: Anonymous White Male at December 08, 2018 09:17 PM (3sjI6)

211 How does a 4 like Bob Cratchit marry a 10 like Susanna York?

Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 09:14 PM (3HNOQ)



Did she get nekkid?

That was the best thing about seeing young Susanna York in a movie...any movie...the odds were at least 3:1 that she'd be showing off the girls before the movie was over.

Posted by: naturalfake at December 08, 2018 09:18 PM (CRRq9)

212 207 Oh, yes. Another good thing about Scott's CC:
Edward "the Equalizer" Woodward as the last ghost.
Posted by: Margarita DeVille



He was the second ghost.

Posted by: Puddleglum at December 08, 2018 09:18 PM (WNAuL)

213 In WWI, both sides were Christian. In WWII, Germans were not.

Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 09:18 PM (3HNOQ)

214 He was hung like a Christmas Tree.

Posted by: Anonymous White Male at December 08, 2018 09:17 PM

So you're saying he shows up with bells on?

Posted by: Rusty Nail at December 08, 2018 09:18 PM (ju9gW)

215 So you're saying he shows up with bells on?
Posted by: Rusty Nail

Wood. Lots of wood.

Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 09:19 PM (+Tibp)

216 That face was so pretty, there were nice tits too?

Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 09:20 PM (3HNOQ)

217 Greetings:

Two good Chicom Sun Yat Sen movies:

"1911" - Includes Jackie Chan in his best "dramatic" role with only one really Jackie Chan bit. Mostly guns.

"Bodyguards and Assassins" - lots of really good hoppy-choppy slicey-dicey stuff especially the last third.

God, how I love those Chinamen in their "queues".

Posted by: 11B40 at December 08, 2018 09:20 PM (evgyj)

218 In WWI, both sides were Christian. In WWII, Germans were not.
Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 09:18 PM (3HNOQ)

Of course. There were no Christians left in Germany. /rolleyes.

Posted by: Anonymous White Male at December 08, 2018 09:20 PM (3sjI6)

219 213 tell that to pope pius. he thought they were "good" catholics.

Posted by: ramondo at December 08, 2018 09:20 PM (OlNLi)

220 So you're saying he shows up with bells on?
Posted by: Rusty Nail

Wood. Lots of wood.
Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 09:19 PM (+Tibp)


Angel or star?

Posted by: hogmartin at December 08, 2018 09:20 PM (t+qrx)

221
What is that rotten smell? Smells like old troll

Posted by: TheQuietMan at December 08, 2018 09:22 PM (SiINZ)

222 haven't seen elf. & never found ferrell funny.

he won the mark twain humor award. i think they gave it to him for attacking (impersonating) bush. they love tina fey for going after palin. now alec baldwin is teflon forgoing trump.

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at December 08, 2018 09:22 PM (Pg+x7)

223 Dietrich Bonhoeffer was fighting against Hitler.

Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 09:23 PM (3HNOQ)

224 In WWI, both sides were Christian. In WWII, Germans were not.
Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 09:18 PM (3HNOQ)

It wasn't quite that simple. The Nazi Party was officially non-Christian, IRRC, and some of the top Nazis wanted to re-establish pagan religion as a facet of Naziism. But Goebbels was Roman Catholic, and remained so until he offed himself (I guess he figured he was destined for Hell, anyway).

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 08, 2018 09:23 PM (fDU8w)

225 ... mel brooks never got the twain award, but will ferrell? i don't think so.

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at December 08, 2018 09:24 PM (Pg+x7)

226 Ferrel was great when you wanted somebody with no shame to play someone truly awful (but with great comic timing). Peak Ferrel is his "impersonation" of a drunk, racist, belligerent Niel Diamond on SNL. If you can't laugh at that, you'll never find anything he does funny, IMO.

Posted by: Rusty Nail at December 08, 2018 09:24 PM (ju9gW)

227 He was hung like a Christmas Tree.

Wouldn't that irritate her enameled pepper mill?

Posted by: That irredeemable guy who always says... at December 08, 2018 09:24 PM (Tyii7)

228 There is a story of a Christmas truce during WWI. Never heard of one during WWII.

Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 09:24 PM (3HNOQ)

229
Is there a Christmas movie not about NEW YORK CITY?
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 08, 2018 08:53 PM (aKsyK)


Die Hard is set in LA
Gremlins is set in Kingston Falls

just sayin'

Posted by: Kindltot at December 08, 2018 09:25 PM (mUa7G)

230 Hey!

Speaking of Christmas movies, or movies set during Christmas, and Susanna York...

Have any of you seen "The Silent Partner"(197?

What a great tense and nasty little thriller that is?

Elliot Gould is a bankteller who realizes that a guy dressed as Santa, Christopher Plummer, is going to rob the bank.

So, he comes up with a scheme, to cheat the bankrobber out of the money while making everyone think the robber got away with the money.

The bankrobber does not take this well.

And Susanna York gets nekkid.


TSP is one of the best thrillers I've ever seen.

Great all the way around - acting, script, direction.

If you've never seen it, check it out.

Posted by: naturalfake at December 08, 2018 09:25 PM (CRRq9)

231 mel brooks never got the twain award, but will ferrell? i don't think so.

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at December 08, 2018 09:24 PM (Pg+x7)



Barry O: Awards mean a lot. I mean they just don't hand out things like Nobel Prizes.

Posted by: TheQuietMan at December 08, 2018 09:25 PM (SiINZ)

232 My favorite Christmas Carol is actually the Muppets version (though the George C Scott version is right up there too).

And I agree that Chef is Favreau's best. I can watch that movie over and over (though I'm a sucker for movies with food-related themes).

Posted by: No One of Consequence at December 08, 2018 09:26 PM (+F0Wk)

233 I hated Elf. I can't figure out what anyone liked about it.

Now, Cowboys and Aliens turned out to be a surprisingly good movie, but it wasn't a comedy, really. Just a fun movie.

Posted by: ThePrimordialOrderedPair at December 08, 2018 09:26 PM (iOOm2)

234 "miracle on 34th street.

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at December 08, 2018 09:26 PM (Pg+x7)

235 Currently watching Jim Jarmusch's "Paterson", about a guy named Paterson who's a bus driver -- in Paterson N.J. -- and he's played by Adam Driver (((mind blown)))

I grew up in Paterson, N.J.

Posted by: JT at December 08, 2018 09:26 PM (bbnDs)

236 In WWI, both sides were Christian. In WWII, Germans were not.

Whence the CDU? The Germans were still Germans.

Posted by: t-bird at December 08, 2018 09:26 PM (DCYln)

237 198 How does a 4 like Bob Cratchit marry a 10 like Susanna York?
Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 09:14 PM (3HNOQ)
-------------------------------------
It works somehow. It's weird.
There are some beautiful women who can undazzle on film and some who can't.

I'm not talking about uglifying them with make-up, etc. I just mean they they can do plain roles without jarring the audience.

Think of Joan Fontaine in Rebecca or Jane Eyre, where she has to play an average-looking woman. Or Susannah York in Jane Eyre. They can somehow pull this off.

And then they turn around and play the knock-out just as easily!

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at December 08, 2018 09:26 PM (Rxduq)

238 Have any of you seen "The Silent Partner"(197?

What a great tense and nasty little thriller that is?

Elliot Gould is a bankteller who realizes that a guy dressed as Santa, Christopher Plummer, is going to rob the bank.
Posted by: naturalfake

I saw that decades ago and haven't seen it since. I remember it as really good. Surprisingly.

Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 09:27 PM (+Tibp)

239
Miracle on 34th I watched today, but it was colorized. I remember it in B&W.

Posted by: Infidel at December 08, 2018 09:28 PM (PF4TZ)

240 Oh yes, let's talk about all the beautiful women that played Jane Eyre. Shit. Jane is SUPPOSED to be plain and small.

Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 09:29 PM (3HNOQ)

241 Elliot Gould is a bankteller who realizes that a guy dressed as Santa, Christopher Plummer, is going to rob the bank.


There is one guy (Elliot Gould) that I've always wanted to punch in the face just because.

Posted by: DR.WTF? at December 08, 2018 09:29 PM (T71PA)

242 Wouldn't that irritate her enameled pepper mill?
Posted by: That irredeemable guy who always says... at December 08, 2018 09:24 PM (Tyii7)


I simultaneously hate and love the fact that I know what that means.

This f'n place.

Posted by: hogmartin at December 08, 2018 09:29 PM (t+qrx)

243 230: loved "the silent partner". a lot from a little. just a great script and some fine, understated performances.

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at December 08, 2018 09:30 PM (Pg+x7)

244 And I've found Will Ferrell to be kind of hit or miss. Didn't care for Anchorman (except for the big gang fight between the different networks). I did like him in The Lego Movie, not just the voice acting, but as the dad in the live action bits.

Posted by: No One of Consequence at December 08, 2018 09:30 PM (+F0Wk)

245 "Cowboys and Aliens"

Genre crossers don't always work, but when they do they can be great.

Like Alien.

Or Dylan going electric

Posted by: Ignoramus at December 08, 2018 09:30 PM (1UZdv)

246 Elliot Gould did play a good Jay Gatsby, or am I mistaken?

Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 09:30 PM (3HNOQ)

247 ... & it's a christmas movie!

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at December 08, 2018 09:30 PM (Pg+x7)

248 This f'n place.

heh

Posted by: That irredeemable guy who always says... at December 08, 2018 09:30 PM (Tyii7)

249 There is a story of a Christmas truce during WWI. Never heard of one during WWII.
Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 09:24 PM (3HNOQ)

The battlefield situation was far different. Most of WWI was trench warfare, with armies on both sides dug in, and exchanging artillery fire. And there was a brief truce, but not officially; it just happened as a preference cascade amongst the troops on the ground, on both sides.

I will grant you that the WWI German army was more explicitly Christian that that of WWII, but many of the individual soldiers were believers.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 08, 2018 09:31 PM (fDU8w)

250 196
David Warner?
Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 09:13 PM (+Tibp)
----------------------------
That's the guy.
He's really good --- but the name isn't very memorable!


Posted by: Margarita DeVille at December 08, 2018 09:31 PM (Rxduq)

251 Miracle on 34th I watched today, but it was colorized. I remember it in B&W.
Posted by: Infidel at December 08, 2018 09:28 PM (PF4TZ)

--------------------------

I can handle colorization, as long as it's still the original movie. I didn't like the remake (especially how they changed the way the judge reached his verdict).

Posted by: No One of Consequence at December 08, 2018 09:32 PM (+F0Wk)

252 David Warner makes a good Klingon. But then, who doesn't, really? Oh yeah... Christopher Lloyd. That was unfortunate.

Posted by: Rusty Nail at December 08, 2018 09:33 PM (ju9gW)

253 ... but "die hard" a christmas movie? i don't know about that. i've long thought of it as a spiritual biography of beethoven and his struggle to make his 9th symphony.

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at December 08, 2018 09:33 PM (Pg+x7)

254 C. S. Lewis wrote about how it was his duty to kill the German. And the German had the duty to kill him. But that in Heaven they would be the best of friends. That was WWI.

Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 09:33 PM (3HNOQ)

255 No, it's when he hears about Gen. ? who is asked to surrender and replies "Nuts" and says "How can I not rescue such a man?"


Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 08:53 PM (3HNOQ)


General MacAuliffe - one of my father's favorites.

Posted by: Grannymimi at December 08, 2018 09:33 PM (u5LFV)

256 I liked Will Ferrell in Zoolander. And despite being chock full of grating liberals, Stranger than Fiction is an excellent film, and he did well as the lead. A good script will do wonders.

>>> And probably why Die Hard isn't a Christmas movie

*fires up the popcorn machine*

Posted by: LizLem at December 08, 2018 09:34 PM (cdCFg)

257 Will Ferrell has and always shall suck. Elf is an awful movie.

Posted by: Archer at December 08, 2018 09:34 PM (nd5mm)

258 He's really good --- but the name isn't very memorable!
Posted by: Margarita DeVille

The first time I can remember seeing him was in the original Omen. He played the journalist who was decapitated. Since then I've seen him in a thousand things.

Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 09:35 PM (+Tibp)

259 WhatshisnamewhosinalotofBritstuff playing Bob Cratchit.

David Warner?
Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 09:13 PM (+Tibp)

--------

Or, "the mean guy in Titanic."

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at December 08, 2018 09:35 PM (deEx0)

260 Elliot Gould did play a good Jay Gatsby, or am I mistaken?

Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 09:30 PM (3HNOQ)



I don't think he did.

He did play Philip Marlowe in "The Long Goodbye" - that was an odd bit of stunt casting.


He was also good in a very dark comedy titled "Little Murders".

Posted by: naturalfake at December 08, 2018 09:36 PM (CRRq9)

261 240 Oh yes, let's talk about all the beautiful women that played Jane Eyre. Shit. Jane is SUPPOSED to be plain and small.
Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 09:29 PM (3HNOQ)
-----------------------------------
Heh. I've always wished that they would make a version with a genuinely plain star.
But Hollywood.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at December 08, 2018 09:36 PM (Rxduq)

262 Got quiet all of the sudden. Is everyone refreshing the main page, waiting for the ONT?

Posted by: No One of Consequence at December 08, 2018 09:40 PM (+F0Wk)

263 Don Rickles was funny. Will Ferrell is not funny.



Posted by: San Franpsycho at December 08, 2018 08:22 PM (EZebt)


Absolutely!


Posted by: Grannymimi at December 08, 2018 09:14 PM (u5LFV)

What they said!

Posted by: Count de Monet at December 08, 2018 09:40 PM (QLvwG)

264 Elf is a perennial favorite with my family and most of my hometown friends. (Our school was going to state finals in volleyball when it premiered; we all went to the movies and saw it the night before and then were shouting "Elf" catchphrases during the game, so that's probably why it stuck.)

I pretty much agree with all of this review, though I will say, the part where Deschannel and Steenburgen start in on "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" is pretty grating to me.

Posted by: T at December 08, 2018 09:40 PM (2PXwn)

265 Heh. I've always wished that they would make a version with a genuinely plain star.
But Hollywood.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at December 08, 2018 09:36 PM (Rxduq)

What about Sissy Spacek? They don't come much plainer than that.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 08, 2018 09:41 PM (fDU8w)

266 I've always wished that they would make a version with a genuinely plain star.


Your dream has come True!


But, we had to update it t make it better!

Posted by: Lena Dunham, star of "Jane E. From Jersey" at December 08, 2018 09:41 PM (CRRq9)

267 On Prime, I also found an old funny movie called Evil Roy Slade starring John Astin. Funny

Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 09:41 PM (+Tibp)

268 If anyone has to get dragged to a theater with kids during the holidays, the new Grinch is pretty good! It is hard to beat the original cartoon, but they definitely got the spirit behind the classic story, and I laughed multiple times vs an occasional chuckle, which is rare. It cleanses us from the horrible Carrey version. And they sing actual songs about Jesus! I thought that was banned.

Thanks NF for the reminder, now I want to find Young Einstein! I remember enjoying that. And being traumatized slightly at the kitteh pie, hah.

Posted by: LizLem at December 08, 2018 09:41 PM (cdCFg)

269 I was watching Elf when my middle son was hit by a drunk-driver. We were informed when a pizza delivery person who saw the accident came to our house. Haven't been able to watch it since/.

Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at December 08, 2018 09:42 PM (jn7FC)

270 ... and so what's on idc right now? "die hard".

an evergreen.

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at December 08, 2018 09:42 PM (Pg+x7)

271 227 He was hung like a Christmas Tree.

Wouldn't that irritate her enameled pepper mill?
Posted by: That irredeemable guy who always says... at December 08, 2018 09:24 PM (Tyii7)

I still want to know how he got balls deep with that thing in there already.

Posted by: Insomniac at December 08, 2018 09:42 PM (NWiLs)

272 ifc not idc. damn splchk.

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at December 08, 2018 09:43 PM (Pg+x7)

273 On an objective scale of one to ten, what's Amy Schumer?

A three?

Posted by: Ignoramus at December 08, 2018 09:43 PM (1UZdv)

274 Ignoramus, amyshumer is not a three. Her IQ is a three.

Posted by: Eromero at December 08, 2018 09:45 PM (zLDYs)

275
I really like The Silent Partner. Plummer is freaking scary in that one.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at December 08, 2018 09:46 PM (eXA4G)

276 Ignoramus, amyshumer is not a three. Her IQ is a three.
Posted by: Eromero at December 08, 2018 09:45 PM (zLDYs)

She's a One to me.

Posted by: Captain Ahab at December 08, 2018 09:46 PM (fDU8w)

277 On an objective scale of one to ten, what's Amy Schumer?

Posted by: Ignoramus at December 08, 2018 09:43 PM (1UZdv)

Four five bourbons.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at December 08, 2018 09:46 PM (wYseH)

278 227 He was hung like a Christmas Tree.

Wouldn't that irritate her enameled pepper mill?
Posted by: That irredeemable guy who always says... at December 08, 2018 09:24 PM (Tyii7)

I still want to know how he got balls deep with that thing in there already.
Posted by: Insomniac at December 08, 2018 09:42 PM (NWiLs)

-------------------------------

Remember the joke that ends "if we can find my car keys, we can drive out"?

Posted by: No One of Consequence at December 08, 2018 09:46 PM (+F0Wk)

279 265---What about Sissy Spacek? They don't come much plainer than that.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 08, 2018 09:41 PM (fDU8w)
---------------------------------
Yeah, someone like that.
Someone who's definitely not ugly but not pretty either.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at December 08, 2018 09:47 PM (Rxduq)

280 Yeah, someone like that.
Someone who's definitely not ugly but not pretty either.
Posted by: Margarita DeVille

May I present Emily Blunt?

Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 09:47 PM (+Tibp)

281 I still want to know how he got balls deep with that thing in there already.
Posted by: Insomniac at December 08, 2018 09:42 PM (NWiLs)


Air ratchet.

Posted by: hogmartin at December 08, 2018 09:48 PM (t+qrx)

282 Die Hard is clearly a Christmas movie, for a number of reasons, including the clincher: John McClean's wife is named...Holly.

Posted by: Mutnodjmet at December 08, 2018 09:48 PM (sPJyv)

283 Heh. I've always wished that they would make a version with a genuinely plain star.
But Hollywood.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at December 08, 2018 09:36 PM (Rxduq)



She was in the SCTV of Jane Airhead with Andrea Martin as Jane and Eddie "Rochester" Anderson as Mr. Rochester. Oh..I loves ya Jane

Posted by: TheQuietMan at December 08, 2018 09:48 PM (SiINZ)

284
Will Ferrell's best role is as Mustafa in the Austin Powers films.

He really sells the idea of receiving third-degree burns over 90% of his body.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at December 08, 2018 09:50 PM (eXA4G)

285 Mia Wasikowski played a good Jane Eyre. The Rochester dude was too handsome.

Posted by: JAS at December 08, 2018 09:50 PM (3HNOQ)

286 273 On an objective scale of one to ten, what's Amy Schumer?

A three?
Posted by: Ignoramus at December 08, 2018 09:43 PM (1UZdv)


I'd say the's a 6 on the decimal scale, where Sophia Loren in her prime was a 10 and Rosa DeLauro is a 1.

She's a 1 on the binary scale.

Posted by: rickl at December 08, 2018 09:52 PM (sdi6R)

287 ONT

Posted by: hogmartin at December 08, 2018 09:53 PM (t+qrx)

288 ONT is up.

Posted by: Calm Mentor at December 08, 2018 09:54 PM (ffYR/)

289 Just looked up Rosa DeLauro.

AGGGH! AGGGHHH! AGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!

Posted by: Zombie Sam Kinison at December 08, 2018 09:54 PM (1UZdv)

290 Big, meaty ONT for your pleasure.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 08, 2018 09:55 PM (kQs4Y)

291 I'd say the's a 6 on the decimal scale, where Sophia Loren in her prime was a 10 and Rosa DeLauro is a 1.

She's a 1 on the binary scale.
Posted by: rickl at December 08, 2018 09:52 PM (sdi6R)

I think that's a logarithmic scale you are describing, since Sophia Loren, in her prime, is ten billion times hotter than Rosa Delauro.

Posted by: Captain Ahab at December 08, 2018 09:55 PM (fDU8w)

292 280
May I present Emily Blunt?
Posted by: Blutarski at December 08, 2018 09:47 PM (+Tibp)
---------------------
Nah. She's pretty.
Okay, not Joan Fontaine or Susannah York pretty, but.....
I wouldn't call her "plain."

On second thought, with just a little make-up adjustment, she might easily film "plain."
Y'no, she might be just right.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at December 08, 2018 09:56 PM (Rxduq)

293 Sorry Lena and Amy, but I do not recall a scene where Jane Eyre gets nekkid. So i doubt you will be interested.

Crap, I am giving them ideas...

Posted by: LizLem at December 08, 2018 10:02 PM (cdCFg)

294 I just saw Elf for the first time last night. I was underwhelmed. Saw It's a Wonderful Life tonight for the 50th time. Even better than I remember.

Posted by: Kate Winslet's boobs at December 08, 2018 10:19 PM (NHpNR)

295 Die Hard is the best Christmas movie ever.
And I really like Elf too.
Good analysis, too.

Posted by: Nom de Blog at December 08, 2018 10:41 PM (wFDuq)

296 Here is a very informative article on tonight's launch, in case you want to study up beforehand.

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/12/
ula-delta-iv-heavy-set-to-launch-nrol-71/

Posted by: rickl at December 08, 2018 10:42 PM (sdi6R)

297 No one of consequence -- if you like food themed movies, you might like "Little Forest". We saw the Korean version:

http://moviegique.com/index.php/2018/06/30/little-forest/

But I think it was originally Japanese and had many spin-offs. There may have been a Chinese version, too.

Posted by: moviegique at December 08, 2018 11:40 PM (CcUfv)

298 Infidel: Miracle on 34th Street was originally B&W, you remember correctly.

Posted by: moviegique at December 08, 2018 11:47 PM (CcUfv)

299 "And probably why Die Hard isn't a Christmas movie..."


You take that back! You take it back, right now!

Posted by: KSB at December 09, 2018 02:29 AM (QJTm7)

300 Diehard was indeed a Christmas movie. Nobody reads this far.

Posted by: j at December 09, 2018 04:40 AM (7esQ2)

301 Will Ferrell sucks. Seconded, Thirded . . . Umpteenthed . . .

Diehard is indeed a Christmas movie. I skipped the middle comments. Just read the top 10 and the last one.

Posted by: Tim from Nashua at December 09, 2018 05:51 AM (EATOD)

302 OregonMuse,

You post definitely generated a lot of comments though I didn't read them as they are morons after all. (jk/some of these moronic comments are better than 99% of the rest of the internet)

I have never been able to get into Elf. I'm considering giving it another go since you indicate that it has a pay off of sorts. I found all the fish out of water jokes at the beginning too much and switched channels. Miracle on 34th street is another story all together. The characters draw me in. I've watched that one many times and it doesn't seem to get old.

I will give a nod to your comment on Die Hard. In the sense that it doesn't get one thinking much about the spirit of Christmas, It can't be technically considered a Christmas movie, even though it is set during the correct season. But I love every Yippie Kai Yay of that movie.

Posted by: Jeffrey at December 09, 2018 07:58 AM (FsRGZ)

303 Elf should be called stealth.

It's got a subtle pro-life message.

Posted by: Simplemind at December 09, 2018 09:30 AM (ZuGkg)

304 It's wonderful, still, for all the reasons you mentioned. I applaud Ferrell, who is flat out great here, for not doing a sequel even though it would jolt his bank account.

Perhaps it's the movie's innocence and earnestness that allow it to endure. Given our culture today, both are rare, indeed.

Long live Buddy.

Posted by: Christian Toto at December 09, 2018 12:55 PM (JAfNl)

305 Read the 'fetish' caption, immediately thought of Zooey in the shower...

Posted by: socalcon at December 09, 2018 01:13 PM (Roy2Z)

306 Elf should be banned for appropriating Elf culture. The racial casting is out of the bounds of decency, i mean, they didn't even cast a single elf. Everyone involved should be driven from society by twitter scolds.

Posted by: Mr. Feverhead at December 09, 2018 02:22 PM (lq1+w)

307 Jeffrey--I don't know if it's worth it for you. The thing is, you have to buy in. If you've seen 15-20 minutes--say about to where he sees Zooey Deschanel--and can't buy in, you're probably not going to like the rest either.

Posted by: moviegique at December 09, 2018 03:06 PM (CcUfv)

308 Ferrell chews the scenery in almost all his movies. Not interested.

Posted by: Dan at December 09, 2018 03:45 PM (+NG5U)

309 Ferrell's over the top antics can be hard to take but one thing that has always impressed me about him, even in his SNL days, is that he is fully committed to the character. I always get the feeling that he is not playing a part, he IS the character he is portraying. With other actors I always have the sense that they know they are play acting and are winking at the audience, letting them in on the joke. Not so with Farrell.

Posted by: Tired Old Fat Guy at December 09, 2018 04:56 PM (K0xn1)

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