SOUNDBITE: The holiday season calls for classic films

One way to prove yourself as a director, producer or screenwriter, is to make a successful holiday hit, so to kick off the season, here are five of my favorites.

Number Five: Director Bob Clark’s (I’ll Remember April) A Christmas Story. While it’s a cute movie, I’ve never gotten over the nightmares I had that I’d be forced into a giant pink bunny suit or the dad’s (Darren McGavin) leg lamp. You can thank production designer Reuben Freed for that lovely piece of art. Overlooking those minor details, the film is cute and timeless. I respect a film that shows how serious triple dog dares are, even if you may end up with a sore tongue.

Number Four: The only reason Cool Runnings isn’t Number One on my list is because I just don’t think that it would be right; the film has nothing to do with Christmas. The only common denominator I see is the weather. However, to my family, Jon Turteltaub’s twist on the classic tale of the underdog will forever be as Christmasy as the green guy who tried to be Santa. (We’ll get to him later). My brother Cole and I often speak to each other using nothing but quotes from movies we enjoy. Cool Runnings is a family favorite, and anytime I see my brother, we end up watching the movie and laughing as if it’s the first time. Sanka Coffie (Doug E. Doug, aka Bernie in Shark Tale) is one you’ll hear me quote if you stick around for more than five minutes.

Number Three: My mother would have me beheaded if she came to know that I put A Charlie Brown Christmas in fourth place. No one messes with her Peanuts. Just kidding. Love you, mom. A Charlie Brown Christmas, to me, does far more than tell the Christmas story. Growing up, every year we had a Christmas party in Sunday School. One of the deacons–also one of my favorite neighbors–would always tell us the Christmas story in his special way, explaining in kid-friendly English that Christ was wrapped in some dirty spare rags and laid in the “thing the animals eat their food from”. Of course, hyped on the sugar our teachers had just given us, we’d interrupt and ask questions or point silly things out, but he’d just roll with it.

Number Two: How the Grinch Stole Christmas comes next. While the animated one is more Seuss-y, the live-action offers a deeper plot that the adults can enjoy, too. Plus, who doesn’t love Jim Carrey? As one who giggled with glee when she found out her first grade class was doing their own mini-play based on the film, I can certainly say that I do. Anyone who says they didn’t strive to learn The Grinch to sing along with Thurl Ravenscroft (also the voice of Tony the Tiger. You learn something every day.) is a liar, just saying… The same goes for anyone who says they didn’t try and memorize Where Are You Christmas to sing along with Cindy Lou Who (Taylor Momsen, Gossip Girl’s Jenny Humphrey).

Number One: Spoiler alert–it’s a tie. Half of me wants to go with the original Home Alone movies, but the other half weeps at forgetting the Santa Clause trilogy. Both iconic, and both a must-see during the Christmas season, especially in the Barron household. On the one hand, you have adorable and inventive Kevin, Macaulay Culkin (who also appears as Thomas J. Sennett in My Girl). Not to mention Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern as hopeless robbers Harry and Marv, respectively. (Pesci plays Nicky Santoro in Casino and Stern is City Slickers’ Phil Berquist). On the other hand, you’ve got Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor (Tim Allen, Home Improvement) as Santa Claus and Eric Lloyd (young Bruce Wayne, Batman and Robin) as adorable Charlie Calvin in the other. I just don’t know… Both series are funny and remind us that Christmas is more than just gifts.

So, in order to have a Christmas classic on your hands, you need to follow this simple recipe: keep it family-centered and memorable because a little Christmas magic is always welcome.