Christmas flicks: Sir Michael Caine get the nod

Plus other worthy classics. Yes, I get chills when Linus says, "Lights please"

A year ago, I led a Nativity Lent retreat at our Orthodox parish here in the Southern Highlands focusing (#surprise) on faith and family in the digital-screens era.

I have already written about the first lecture in this Rational Sheep post: “Our Home Is Different — talking tech with the Orthodox.” I didn’t post the second lecture because it directly addressed the season of Christmas from my point of view as an Orthodox parent and grandparent. However, I have decided to post it now (later in this post) because part of it does happen to address a topic that I think is relevant for Christian parents and grandparents — period.

I will state this as a question: Why do I think Christian families should have a “Christmas movie” tradition in which there are a few (very few) wonderful flicks that they watch as part of its “traditional” (small “t”) festivities linked to Christmas?

First, it can be lots of fun. Second, it’s also important to let children and grandchildren know that there are movies worth watching many times, just as there are books that should be read many times.

Ah, but what raises a “Christmas movie” to this status?

That raises another question: What is a “Christmas movie”? Trust me, this has nothing to do with online arguments about “Die Hard” and certainly not “Love Actually.”

First of all, there are movies about the Christmas story itself, even one from VeggieTales (rule No. 1, never portray Jesus Christ as a vegetable). Frankly, I have seen some movies of this kind that I thought were OK or even good, but none I would show to children of all ages over and over.

Then there are movies that include a scene that depicts the biblical Christmas, but are not actually Christmas movies. For example, the big-screen epic “Ben Hur: A tale of the Christ,” begins in Bethlehem, but it is ultimately a Holy Week movie.

Then there are movies that include a few Christmas scenes and may even “take place” during days on the calendar around Christmas. There are hundreds of them, including many that people consider Christmas classics. But stop and think about it: What does “White Christmas” have to do with Christmas, really? I will admit that the technicolor in that flick is really spectacular.

This brings us to movies that are, to some degree, “about” Christmas. In other words, the screenwriters decided to create stories that, in an obvious way, flesh out themes linked to Christmas.

OK, but how many of these films will appeal — multiple times — to an audience that includes little children as well as grandparents? We are talking about movies that are, in some way, both fun and insightful, movies that can inspire laughter, maybe a tear or two, as well as chats about their content.

In my second Nativity Lent lecture last year, I explained why I think Christmas movie traditions are important and then I dared to nominate “The Muppet Christmas Carol” as a perfect flick to fill this role.

Why is this movie worthy? Writing for his Poorly Written Substack, Marcus Pittman dares to make this claim: “The Muppet Christmas Carol is the best movie ever made.”

I wouldn’t go that far, but I do believe that the Muppets take on this classic may include — it would be interesting to analyze this line by line — more direct quotes from Charles Dickens than any other popular version on the big screen. This is certainly true in terms of material about sin, repentance and faith.

At the same time, this version offers Muppet humor for little kids and, for everyone else, Sir Michael Caine offering a totally serious, non-ironic Scrooge. He just goes for it, acting like Kermit the Frog and the gang were talents straight out of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

How in the world does this work? Pittman notes that the Muppets are effective when they play one of two specific roles in a plot. This is long, but worthwhile:

1. They are attempting to accomplish a goal which requires order, and Kermit must organize their chaos. The Muppet Movie, The Muppet Show, etc.

2. They exist as side characters to a human main character in a faithful retelling of classic literature. And this gives us Scrooge.

The thing that makes The Muppet Christmas Carol such a brilliant movie is that somehow, in someway, in the middle of a crazy Muppet universe, in a world where a Frog and a Pig can somehow have Pigs and Frogs for kids, with all the absurdity and nonsense that must be present, The Muppet Christmas Carol was not just a faithful retelling of a very serious Charles Dickens story, it is arguably one of the greatest versions of Charles Dickens ever brought to the screen.

It’s also one of the most Christian films Disney has given us. With Kermit faithfully retelling the words of Dickens, “he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas day who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see.”

And the song “Bless us All,” which essentially has Kermit lead his family through prayer and repentance around the dinner table. Including Ms. Piggy repenting by singing the words “Catch us when we fall,” as she looks down in shame, remembering her sin of wishing ill on Mr. Scrooge just moments earlier.

There is more points to be said and, believe it or not, the Critical Drinker makes many of the ones that I would want to make, while only adding one gratuitous F-bomb (which is way, way less than normal for him). It’s amazing that this version of the Dickens story even managed to soften the hardened heart (he would like you to think) of that over-the-top YouTuber.

Now, I can, gentle readers, hear your minds working. You may be saying, “But, but, what about (insert movie name here)?” What about movies that might appeal to slightly older kids?

Let me nominate this flick, which contains a few things that many will consider slightly inappropriate. But, hey, how often to do you get to enjoy witty, warm British humor in which a young boy has been given the gift of literally seeing visions of biblical saints and other saints from the Western liturgical calendar?

Without giving away too much, Saint Joseph even shows up at a critical moment to save the youngster from an evil one. And there is a bright star to guide the lad’s way, at a crucial moment.

Then there is, obviously, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” in which the more than cultural Catholic faith of Frank Capra meets Jimmy Stewart’s sobering view of life (after witnessing the horrors of World War II while leading waves of Air Force bombers over Europe). The result is a masterpiece that speaks for itself.

It’s important, when introducing this movie to young people, to stress that it was a flop when it was first released. Why? The first three-quarters of the movie were considered too serious and bleak. And then the angel shows up.

OK, one or two more obvious choices.

One such movie, to no one’s surprise, is “Home Alone.” I always thought that this was simply a funny family flick that contains a touching scene or two, one in a glowing church, and a few too many concussions and stab wounds.

Then, just the other day, I saw this video. I have always assumed that the elderly next door neighbor was simply a sad believer who regains his smile. Then I saw this YouTube video and, well, what about that rather symbolic hand wound? What think ye?

Finally, there is the Christmas television special that — even in 1965 — was too religious (and jazzy) for the doubters at CBS. If you want a short movie for the toddlers and the very young before bedtime on Christmas Eve, after you get home from church, this is your obvious choice.

Do I hear any other nominations?

Yes, I love “The Shop Around the Corner” and the Christmas context is important. And contains a young Jimmy Stewart and this clever movie inspired “You’ve Got Mail,” so there is that. But is it a “Christmas movie,” or is it another movie that takes place at Christmas? And will kids enjoy it? I can see both points of view, in this case.

Then there is “The Bishop’s Wife,” which is also quite wonderful, in a old mainline Protestant kind of way. However, I don’t think it will appeal to the kiddos either. And the ice skating scene? A bit too fake.

Suggestions? Please light up the comments pages.

I will post here at least three time times this week and, who knows, maybe more — especially if the grandkids have any ideas.