Halloween has just passed, which can only mean one thing: it's time to start selling the holiday season, and hard. Break out the never-ending loop of retail-friendly Top 40-ized Christmas carols and the parade of mall Santas. And don't forget about the heart-warming round of holiday movies.Luckily, there are two Christmas flicks this year that don't look like another crop of nauseatingly sassy feel-good family-friendly rom-coms: 'Coopers' Camera' and 'A Christmas Carol' starring Canada's own Jim Carrey.
A complete list of the Top 25 Christmas Movies
The very promising 'Coopers' Camera' appears to have a lot more in common with the classic Griswold 'Christmas Vacation' than last year's instantly forgettable chick flick 'Four Christmases'. 'Coopers' Camera' stars fake news correspondents and real-life couple Samantha Bee and Jason Jones as the heads of a dysfunctional family trying to get through Christmas in 1980s suburbia. Their plans for a peaceful holiday are thwarted when an estranged uncle shows up and wreaks havoc, a la the Griswold's zany cousin Eddie (played by Randy Quaid, who's now better-known for dodging hotel bills).
'Coopers' Camera' is set to hit theatres this month, and it's about time. It's been generating positive buzz from moviegoers and critics alike since it debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival way back in 2008. And really, how could anything starring Samantha Bee be bad? Her 'Daily Show' exposés of the "homonausic" and willingness to interview Wall Street types while dressed as a teat-displaying Cash Cow always leave me wanting more Bee. It certainly doesn't hurt that it's set in the '80s, a decade ripe for parody. Ah, denim jumpers, giant glasses and teased hair. To date, I'd have to give 'The Wedding Singer' the top nod for best '80s period piece. The hair and wardrobe choices were just ridiculous enough, without going overboard. Hopefully 'Coopers' Camera' will follow in its footsteps and do the decade justice.
At the other end of the spectrum, Disney is reviving 'A Christmas Carol' with 3-D, performance capture effects and Jim Carrey as crusty old Ebenezer Scrooge. Who would have thought Ace Ventura would become a Christmas staple? First the Grinch, now Scrooge. Which holiday villain will he take on next - the Abominable Snowman?
Before seeing the trailer, I would have said there's no way anyone could put a new spin on this old tale. I've seen 'The Muppet Christmas Carol', 'Scrooged' and 'Mickey's Christmas Carol' about a zillion times. Why mess with perfection? But there's something about this new version that's hard to resist. Maybe it's Jim Carrey, maybe it's the special effects. It's certainly not the 3-D, which is a growing trend that I'm not on board with. I'm easily startled at the movies, so the last thing I need is stuff jumping out at me from the screen.
But I digress. Disney is doing its due diligence to make sure its 'Carol' will bring home some serious box office dough. Aside from the typical barrage of ads, the studio sent a train filled with exhibits about the movie on a cross-country tour, hitting 40 cities across the States. Trains with exhibits promoting movies - now that's a trend I could get on board with. Who doesn't love climbing aboard old-timey trains? Choo-choo!
Add your comments