Friends & strangers,
I recently decided to begin this blog full of my thoughts, dreams, opinions and favourite things. Coincidentally, I made the decision during the most wonderful time of the year… the holidays! I thought it only fitting that my first post has to do with Christmas, my favourite holiday. Christmas also happens to have provided the inspiration for the naming of this blog, Loved Actually.
Without further ado, my five favourite Christmas movies (in reverse, because if you don’t have excitement and suspense, what’s the point?):
5. White Christmas
White Christmas is a Christmas classic. For those of you who don’t know me (which is likely everyone at this point), I adore musicals. Nothing puts a smile on my face quite like people randomly breaking into song to illustrate all of life’s most emotional moments.
You can’t wait to see snow? Sing about it.
Want to help someone fall asleep? Lullabies work best, obviously.
It finally snowed?! You better sing, dammit.
I will admit that Bing Crosby can be a bit of a downer for the majority of this movie, but he comes through in the end – call it a Christmas Miracle. Overall, White Christmas is a really great movie to watch with the family and please, for the love of Christmas, raise your kids with. Pass this movie on to the next generation, there’s more to life than Elf, guys!
4. A Christmas Story
“He looks like a pink nightmare.”
“You’ll shoot your eye out.”
“I triple dog dare ya!”
Probably the single most quotable Christmas movie of all time and one of the most well known, A Christmas Story has always been one of my favourites. I love that some scenes were filmed in my home city, Toronto. I think the best moments of this movie are the ones that every kid and adult can relate to.
- A toy that you lust after like no other. Inevitably your parents caved and bought it (if that never happened for you, I’m deeply apologetic and don’t blame you for closing this blog right now out of bitterness).
- When the bell rings at recess, it’s all over. No exceptions.
- The snowsuit struggle
My absolute #1 love in this movie is the dad. Throughout the whole story you think he’s obsessive, a bit of a wacko and a hard ass but his love for his family and Ralphie always gets me in the end. Spoiler alert… he hooks Ralphie up.
3. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
There is so much wrong with this 1964 claymation film, it’s right. The story of a coupla’ misfits: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Hermie the Elf who wants to be a dentist, Yukon Cornelius, the prospector who can’t find a damn thing and my personal favourite, the Bumble.
A few of the biggest problems with this movie that not-so-secretly make me love it:
- Why are Donner and Santa such jerks about Rudolph’s nose when he’s born? This is a big question mark throughout the movie. Obviously the song says all of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names, but his own father? Really?! Also, I know Santa is a pretty judgemental guy (naughty or nice, anyone?) but the fact that someone who is supposed to be so loving and giving thinks a baby reindeer’s nose is unacceptable seems kinda rude.
- Is Hermie actually a homosexual? Okay, bear with me here…Since the ripe age of seven, I have made the observation that perhaps “dentist” was another way of referencing Hermie’s obvious difference from the other elves. I think being gay makes Hermie way more relatable and approachable. Seriously, re-watch it and tell me I’m wrong.
- Everyone does a pretty quick 180 on Rudolph, Hermie, Cornelius and the Bumble. Oh, your nose can help us? Sweet, we like you again. Hermie, you’re friends with Rudolph? Awesome, you can be a dentist. Bumble, we yanked out your teeth and are making you an official “Star Topper” so you’re in. Cornelius, we still don’t know about you.
I think you begin to love this movie the most when you accept that it’s seriously bizarre and a little messed up, then you can laugh about it every year.
2. It’s a Wonderful Life
The most heartwarming and humbling of Christmas movies. It’s a Wonderful Life will remind you that things are never as bad as you may think and it will bring you joy year after year. The scene where the dance floor opens up into a swimming pool stuck with me from the time I was five years old, before I even knew the significance of the rest of the story.
Settle into a cup of warm cocoa with your loved ones and squeeze them a little tighter while watching It’s a Wonderful Life. Watching a movie in black and white will make you feel all old-fashioned and whimsical, and I promise you’ll discover a new life lesson every time you watch it.
Also, I had a pretty big crush on George Bailey (James Stewart) when I was younger.
1. Love Actually
You probably guessed this one early on based off the title of this blog, and if you didn’t… there’s really nothing I can do to help with your powers of deduction.
Love Actually is not only my favourite Christmas movie, it’s also been called the greatest romantic-comedy ever. They’ve tried to replicate this plot many times (Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve, anyone?) but the multiple storyline’s thing kind of peaked with Love Actually. There’s a ton of great moments but I’ll limit it to my three favourite scenes:
LOVED, ACTUALLY 