In 1990, John Hughes and Chris Columbus set out to make a live-action roadrunner cartoon based on a boy left behind at home while his family visits France over the Christmas holidays. The result was a smash hit that made Macaulay Culkin a household name. Many people denigrated the film as nothing more than a popcorn film and all I have to say to that is, “You’re darn tooting, Mister.” Pure unadulterated fun.
This little known gem, which features Humphrey Bogart in one of his final roles, centers on three escaped convicts (Peter Ustinov, Aldo Ray and Bogart) who, just before Christmas, end up helping a family from a greedy businessman and his son has always been a favorite in my household so I probably place a little higher than others might, but that doesn’t take away from the fact it’s a wonderful film. who are attempting to steal the business from them.
It was supposedly remade by Neil Jordan in 1989, with Robert De Niro, Sean Penn and Demi Moore, but the script by David Mamet bore little resemblance to the original, completely removing all the charm from the proceedings, and all mention of Christmas as well.
Another wonderful film that was later remade. The original Miracle on 34th Street starred Maureen O’Hara, Natalie Wood and great character actor Edmund Gwenn as the man who would be Santa. This story of Macy’s Santa who claims to be the real thing has been a favorite of millions since it first came out.
It was remade in 1994, with Elizabeth Perkins, Mara Wilson and Richard Attenborough. The result of which was not the abomination that the remake of We’re No Angels was, but it still didn’t match the charm of the original. Some films should just be left alone.
Yet another holiday movie penned by John Hughes, bring back Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) as he takes on Christmas. Co-starring the sublime Beverly D’Angelo as Clark’s long suffering wife and their third set of children in as many flicks — this time Juliette Lewis and Johnny Galecki in his most famous role prior to landing “The Big Bang Theory”. If you ask me Christmas Vacation is worth watching for the house lighting ceremony alone and that Randy Quaid isn’t too bad either…
