5 Unconventional Christmas Movies to Watch During the Holidays

Written & Edited by: Lee Fenton

1. Scrooged

Scrooged is a modern day retelling of the beloved holiday classic: Charles Dickens - A Christmas Carol. It stars Bill Murray as a television producer that has a lot in common with the iconic Ebenezer Scrooge. Although critics and fans agree this isn’t Bill Murray’s best work, it still manages some laugh-out-loud funny moments with that hint of sarcastic wit that’s a trademark of Murray’s style. 7/10

2. Bad Santa

Billy Bob Thornton is not your average mall Santa. For one - he’s crass. Secondly, he’s piss-ass drunk and not to mention the guy is just downright rude. Also, he’s constantly ‘casing the place’ because see, that's his real job - to rob the shopping-center blind the night of Christmas Eve. This film is loosely inspired by the Dr. Seuss classic ‘The Grinch That Stole Christmas’. 

Once you look past the shock-comedy and pessimistic overtones…

the similarities are glaringly obvious. 9/10

3. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

Chevy Chase is just one of those comic actors that makes me laugh every time he’s on-screen. There’s no two ways about it, the man is a comedic genius.

This one is considered a classic nowadays - but when it was originally released it was seen as a rather rebellious take on the traditional holiday movie. Released by the same people that brought the world ‘Animal House’ and ‘Caddyshack’ the film stars the hugely funny Chevy Chase a man that most consider a comic genius. He pretty much re-popularized the prat-fall and physical comedy for a new generation, in the tradition of early comedy legends like the Three Stooge’s and Charlie Chaplin.

 Needless to say, this movie is one I love to death. It was already the third in a series of four films, so the fact that the writers still had jokes to tell with these characters - was quite impressive.

If you haven’t seen it yet… watch it this holiday and

spend some quality time with the ‘Griswold’ family.

Just avoid Cousin 'Eddy’ at all cost.

8.5/10

4. Go

Go is a fast paced, high-octane movie detailing an ecstasy deal gone wrong. It takes place during the holidays and features a rave with a 30ft tall green Frankenstein-Santa - hell, what’s more alt-christmas then that? This wacky and weird holiday movie features a still undiscovered Timothy Olyphant as the antagonist, as well as Katie Holmes in a smaller role. The narrative is told in a non linear fashion similar to the films 'Resevoir Dogs' or 'Pulp Fiction'. In a similar vein to Tarantino’s filmmaking, it showcases natural sounding dialogue in between intense scenes of action and drama.

This movie has long been a favorite of mine. 8/10

5. Reindeer Games

I considered putting Die Hard on this list, but then I realized how obvious that was. And yes, it’s a very good film, and it’s a Christmas movie (I’ve always been on the right side of that eternal debate).

But instead, I’ve decided to bring some much needed attention to a more obscure title: Reindeer Games.

This film wasn’t well received upon release and its reception has not improved much over the years.

I’m going to try to change that! 

To me, it’s a wonderfully low-budget crime drama; starring Ben Affleck in the lead and Gary Sinese as the villain. Sinese doesn’t turn in quite the performance he did in ‘Ransom’ (acting opposite Mel Gibson) but all-in-all Reindeer Games is a competently directed film with lots of twists and turns plot wise to make up for it’s un-impressing mise-en-scene and lack of set-pieces.

In other words, yes - a large part of this movie is just heated dialogue and guns being waved around. If the acting was top notch, it might have won some awards, instead I’m here stuck defending it. It’s a mid-tier thriller with a Christmas vibe to it.

What the hell is so wrong with that, people? 

Hell if you're not in a ‘grinchy’ mood - it’s a pretty good watch.

6 / 10 for rating.

Babylon (Critique & Analysis)

Written by: Lee Fenton

NOTE: This is a re-edit of a blog entry that was posted on Aug. 26th / 2023

This article was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the hard work and dedication of the writers and actors, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist. In fact, no films or television would.

We stand in solidarity.

Babylon is a 2022 American film, a dark comedy made to be one part critique of Hollywood, and a another part love-letter to the burgeoning days of the silver screen. Written and directed by Damien Chazelle, it is his attempt at an epic of sorts; after the success of his smaller passion project Whiplash.

Babylon is also a bloated mess.

Like the elephant that defecates on screen, just a few minutes into the film. Full POV shot straight at the camera. The only way to live the experience more fully would be to don a VR headset, for complete immersion. But.. why?

I feel this sequence set the tone for the rest of the movie. The tone Damien Chazelle wanted; I'm unsure, but it come’s off as pent-up creative diarrhea.

I am sure this is not what the filmmaker was going for. This film is supposed to be another Once Upon a Time in Hollywood or something in the vein of Hail Caesar (although under-performing, Hail Caesar is considered by most a successful Coen brothers picture) but to me it is more closely related to the industry pariah: Movie 43.

While some may see a beautifully subversive take on Hollywood's over-abundance and hedonism, conversely I feel this film assaults you with disgusting imagery, intended to shock. Inter-spliced with humour that falls flat; strung together with disjointed editing, adjoined by scenes that come off more as a collection of skits (or shorts) than an actual cohesive screenplay.

Tonal shifts can happen but they should be smooth and serve the overall story. A screenplay that has a strong central theme is rather essential, Babylon attempts this with the thru line of Manny's (main character) ascension through the ranks of Hollywood, and then his rather fast decline. I feel that the focus of the film did not stay on these story beats near-enough.

Linearity was lacking in this film, and I must wonder if it was intended or if it was just a result of a passionate filmmaker creating a not-so-hot mess. If you've missed the similarities between the films Movie 43 and Babylon then perhaps you are dissimilar to me, and in your eyes, this movie is a masterpiece of epic proportions.

In my eyes it came off as a pile of steaming shit, which is after all what they put in front of my face as soon as I attempted to watch the damn thing.

Movie 43 will always be synonymous with making the choice to attach prosthetic balls to Hugh Jackman's chin for a cheap laugh; and Babylon runs the risk of forever being associated with the disgusting smut it attempted to peddle. It's quite sad, because both films have some good stuff in them, but their lasting impression will likely amount to the shock bait that they dangled in front of their viewers.

Hopefully, future filmmakers will learn from Damien Chazelle's experience and allow their movie a moment to breathe. But Damien doesn't allow his art to breathe, instead Damien Chazelle chooses to shove the visual of a young woman, pissing on a older, morbidly obese man - in front of you; mere seconds after the elephant 'accident'.

Yep. He doubled down.

Now some would argue that other films have utilized shocking visuals like this before, and I would have to agree, while adding, execution is everything.

A picture that does manage to succeed in this, is Perfume: 'A Story of a Murderer'. In its opening sequence an impoverished woman; working as a street vendor, gives birth in a pile of fetid, rancid garbage and rotten fish. The movie is set in 1800s - Paris, France and the filmmaker chose to depict this scene as historically accurate. It is wholly disturbing, as intended.

Perfume's execution obviously differs from Babylon, since the event is paramount to the story and informs the protagonist's actions throughout the rest of the film. (I might spoil it a bit for you, but the crux of the character has to do with his sense of smell, hence the title of the movie.) Or perhaps the difference is simply that, Perfume is a great movie - made competently, and the execution worked, while Babylon is a misguided attempt at high art, resulting in a revolting, mismatch of ideas, themes, and visuals.

Despite the few moments of greatness here and there.

*Good performances though. Toby Maguire was splendid and unexpectedly putrid; Margo Robbie brought a level of energy rarely seen, and Brad Pitt was a perfect mix of charming, and handsome, as always.

The fault of the actors, it is not.

Rating 3.5 / 10 (undercooked sirloin)

"The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent": A Hilarious Odyssey of Meta Madness

Written by: Laraib Rajpoot click here to hire this writer

This article was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the hard work and dedication of the writers and actors, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist. In fact, no films or television would.

We stand in solidarity.

Buckle up, folks, because "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent" is not just a movie; it's a cinematic roller coaster where reality and hilarity collide. Directed by the ingenious Tom Gormican, this 2022 action-comedy extravaganza stars none other than Nicolas Cage (AKA Nicolas Coppola) as a larger-than-life version of himself. And let's just say, if you thought Cage's filmography was a wild ride, you haven't seen anything yet.

Now, let's talk reviews. This film isn't just receiving applause; it's getting a standing ovation from both critics and audiences. With an impressive 87% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it's clear that this cinematic concoction is more delightful than finding a french fry at the bottom of your takeout bag. But let's delve into the delicious details, shall we?

Cage, oh glorious Cage, takes on the role of a creatively frustrated version of himself. Facing financial doom, he does what any sensible person would: accept a cool million to attend a fan's birthday bash. But hold onto your cinematic seats, because this isn't just any fan. Pedro Pascal plays the eccentric super-fan, turning the fandom experience into a high-octane adventure that's one part hilarity, one part hijinks.

Now, as the story unfolds, we're treated to the kind of twists and turns that would make even a roller coaster jealous. Cage, the birthday boy for hire, suddenly finds himself swept into the world of espionage. Yes, you read that right. Tiffany Haddish enters the scene as a CIA operative who drafts Cage into a top-secret operation. And you thought Cage's career was already unconventional!

But wait, it gets even better. In a stroke of genius (or perhaps madness), Cage channels his iconic shamanic-nouveau acting method to save himself and his loved ones. It's like a cinematic mashup of Cage's greatest hits, and trust me, the results are nothing short of hilarious. Picture Cage's signature intensity from "Face/Off" coupled with the zaniness of "National Treasure." It's a cinematic buffet that leaves you laughing till your popcorn goes cold.

The critics are raving about this cinematic experiment. Cage? He's in peak "gonzo" form, whatever that means. And Pedro Pascal's performance? Well, let's just say he's snatching scenes faster than a kid grabbing candy at Halloween. The Guardian even calls the film an "enjoyably meta Nicolas Cage buddy movie." It's not just a movie; it's a buddy comedy with the biggest buddy of them all – Nicolas Cage himself.

Speaking of meta, the film's tone is like a love letter to Hollywood, delivered with a wink and a nod. Imagine Cage poking fun at his own eccentricities, while simultaneously delivering affectionate jabs at Tinseltown's grandeur and ego. It's like watching a hilarious roast that's also a heartfelt homage. Can you say "double whammy"?

And let's not forget the director's genius touch. Tom Gormican masterfully blends uproarious physical comedy with clever meta-commentary, creating an experience that's as unique as it is entertaining. It's like enjoying a gourmet meal with a side of witty banter – a cinematic treat that caters to both the funny bone and the brain.

In the end, "The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent" isn't just a movie. It's a sidesplitting adventure that reminds us why we love the magic of cinema. It's a testament to the fact that, yes, films can make us laugh until our sides ache and also provoke contemplation. So, if you're in the mood for a cinematic escapade that's as smart as it is uproarious, look no further. This is Cage unleashed, Pascal on fire, and Gormican's love letter to Hollywood's quirks. In a world of big-budget blockbusters, this film dares to be delightfully different, and that's a weight worth bearing – and laughing about.

Rating 9.5/10

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Flavor, is the name of this eccentric veggie clubhouse sandwich.

it’s served on focaccia bread and consists of pickled red onion, chick pea puree, avocoda puree, beansprouts, sundried tomatoes, and jicama. Topped with a squirt of balsamic, it’s a wild extravaganza for your palette!