10 Man Friendly Christmas Films
You’ve nearly finished work for the year, the decorations are up, the fire is lit and all that’s left for full satisfaction is a Christmas film and a mince pie. Your other half has probably had Love Actually and Bridget Jones on repeat for weeks but now it’s your turn to pick the movie. We have composed a list of man friendly Christmas films that you can enjoy on a quiet night by your self or with the family. Enjoy!
Home Alone
Is there anyone who doesn't love this 90s classic? If you've never watched it then you're in for a treat; Home Alone is the perfect kids fantasy. The parents go on their Christmas holiday and forget their child Kevin - he eats all the ice cream and treats he can find and watches his favourite movies. Things get hairy when burglars attempt to break in, but Kevin's a tough kid and sets traps to try and catch them - hilarity ensues.
The Night Before
A film only released last year featuring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen and Anthony Mackie. The three guys have spent the last 10 years gathering on Christmas Eve to celebrate the holidays with a bang. As one of the gang prepare to become a first time father the friends realise their Christmas tradition is coming to an end, so they go on a search for the Nutcracker Ball, the Holy Grail of Christmas Parties in New York.
Batman Returns
This classic directed by Tim Burton sees the monstrous Penguin (Danny DeVito), who lives in the sewers beneath Gotham City, join up with the wicked shock-headed businessman Max Shreck to topple the Batman (Michael Keaton) once and for all. As snow falls on Gotham City this is the perfect winter action film if you can't stomach reindeers and sleigh bells.
Die Hard
The iconic action film staring Bruce Willis is set on Christmas Eve, so has Christmas in its soul if not always on the mind. New York City policeman John McClane attends a Christmas Eve party with his wife in the headquarters of the Japanese-owned business she works for. But the party is interrupted by a group of terrorists who go on a killing rampage and John McClane soon realises there's no one to save the hostages but him. The famous line from the move “Now I have a machine gun, ho ho ho” is about as festive as it gets.
Scrooged
In this modern take on Charles Sickens ‘A Christmas Carol’ Frank Cross (Bill Marray) is a wildly successful television executive whose cold ambition has driven away the love of his life. After firing a staff member on Christmas Eve, Frank is visited by a series of ghosts who give him the chance to re-evaluate his past and right the wrongs. Bill Murray now has his own variety show on Netflix called ‘A Very Murray Christmas’.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
This is a typical Tim Burton film that puts a dark spin on Christmas but has plenty of laughs too. Jack Skellington in the anti-hero who decides he has had enough of Halloween, so when he stumbles upon Christmas town, promptly decides to make the Yuletide his own. A loveable film for children and adults.
The Grinch
Jim Carey puts on an exuberant display as he plays the grumpy green Grinch of the Dr Seuss books. The Grinch is a hermit who lives in a rubbish dump near Whoville and takes a dim view of the consumerist little town – except for child Cindy-Lou who might just be the one to melt his heart.
About A Boy
Christmas plays a central part in this charming British comedy. Grumpy Will (Hugh Grant) is living off of the proceeds of the Christmas song his father wrote, but hates Christmas. After developing a friendship with isolated kid Marcus, Will is shown the value of family at Christmases. It’s not as soppy as it sounds and it's a multi layered story that bowls along at a good pace.
Elf
It doesn’t get more Christmassy than this. Elf has it all: Santa, the North Pole, flying sleighs and candy canes. Buddy (Will Ferrell) is a naive human raised by elves in the North Pole who ventures to New York in search of his real father. He gets himself into all sorts of chaotic situations whilst he tries to bond with his father who is a cynical businessman and isn’t convinced Buddy could be his son.
It’s A Wonderful Life
Rated Time Out’s No.1 Christmas film, It’s A Wonderful Life follows the life of small-town man George Bailey. This film is a fitting tribute to the power of the individual and it’s as entertaining as it is message driven. Depressed and ready to commit suicide George’s guardian angel appears and makes him see life with fresh eyes. A heart warming and inspiring Christmas movie that feels earned, the complete opposite to all of the clichéd Christmas movies that followed.
