With the Christmas season around the corner, it’s the perfect time to cozy up with friends and family and binge your favorite jolly movies. We’ve chosen four Christmas classics, breaking down their highlights, flaws and overall holiday cheer.
‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ (2000)
This movie is a break from the repetitive Hallmark movies flooding your television. Rather than a generic small-town couple, it follows an antihero who begins the film bitter and alienated. The theme doesn’t focus on romance, but on transformation: the Grinch, an angry hermit, seeks to ruin Christmas by stealing all the gifts from Whoville, but he soon realizes that the spirit of Christmas comes from community, not material presents. It teaches fans to cherish time with our loved ones rather than obsessing over objects.
As the story unfolds, it reveals that the Grinch’s bitterness comes from his self-isolation, a defense mechanism protecting him from the bullying and exclusion he faced in society. His mischievous plans make him hilarious to watch, like when he careens down a hill on a makeshift sled or clumsily tiptoes through Whoville, or when his heart literally grows upon getting Christmas gifts.
Jim Carrey’s exaggerated performance and maniacal facial expressions as the Grinch makes the antics genuinely funny, but it also makes viewers root for him to change. When he opens his heart to the people of Whoville, he is finally free of his loneliness. The film emphasizes this contrast between the warm, homely streets of Whoville and the jagged, cold Mount Crumpit, where the Grinch lurks. Cindy Lou Who, played by Taylor Momson, represents innocence, but also the willingness to bravely question her society. She questions the townspeople why Christmas has become so materialistic, and scales Mount Crumpit to find the Grinch, even though she knows it’s dangerous. She is at odds with the Grinch’s bitterness, but sees through his shield to the lonely person he is on the inside, culminating when she nominates him to be the Holiday Cheermeister. It’s a reminder of the importance of compassion and its power to melt a cold heart.
Rating: 4 Viking helmets out of 5
‘Elf’ (2003)
Will Ferrell never disappoints with comedy. From “Anchorman” to “Talladega Nights,” Ferrell has consistently delivered characters defined by their charisma and energetic personalities. “Elf” is the perfect balance between his classic slapstick humor and a lighthearted movie for all ages. In it, Ferrell plays Buddy, an elf raised in the North Pole who travels to the United States to find his biological father. The story is simple, but its quotable lines — such as “I just like to smile. Smiling’s my favorite!” — and humor makes it a worthwhile watch. Ferrell leans into his character Buddy’s overwhelming positivity. His childlike innocence and awkwardness create some of the movie’s funniest moments, such as when he screams “Santa!” at the top of his lungs in a department store. However, over time, we watch his innocence and childlike personality slowly slip away as Buddy learns to connect with his human family.
The movie isn’t just about Buddy though; there’s a greater purpose. He is too “human” for the North Pole and too strange for New York. But his adventures help him save Christmas by restoring belief in the holiday, uniting the elf and human worlds and allowing him to be part of both. The movie takes on the challenge of identity: one that goes against traditional societal values versus one that is expected. Through Buddy, the movie suggests that kindness and joy can coexist with the complexities of the real world, and that embracing both sides of one’s identity can only make one stronger.
As a whole, Ferrell delivers a performance that is both touching and comedic, elevating a straightforward holiday story with meaning. Its blend of humor and universal themes of connection makes it one of the best Christmas movies even after 20 years of its initial release.
Rating: 4 Viking helmets out of 5.
‘The Polar Express’ (2004)
“The Polar Express” follows a boy who boards a mysterious train to the North Pole. On the way, he meets other children, icy bridges, runaway cars and a ghost who tests his courage. The film blends adventure with a sense of childhood wonder from the very beginning, when the train thunders into view from a white blizzard, evoking a sense of awe.
Tom Hanks’ diverse performances add to these moments. He voices the train conductor, Santa, the Hobo and more characters. The use of motion-capture animation brings the action to life by exaggerating the speed and scale of the train, though it doesn’t hold to the capabilities of modern studios, which can depict detailed facial expressions; close-ups in this movie can seem uncanny.
Along his journey to the North Pole, the boy learns to trust himself and his own strength. In the beginning, he is hesitant to step onto the moving train alone, but when met with slippery bridges and freezing cold, he is forced to make quick decisions to keep the train stable and himself alive. Just as the boy is about to give up hope of reaching the North Pole, he hears the ringing of sleigh bells, renewing his determination to see Santa. Other suspenseful moments fill the film. For example, the climax sees the train slide on ice just before the North Pole, threatening to topple over. It’s exciting, but it also captures the nostalgia of Christmas with slower-paced moments, a red and green color scheme and the anticipation of Santa any audience can relate to.
Rating: 4 Viking helmets out of 5
‘Die Hard’ (1988)
The movie “Die Hard” doesn’t follow the traditional Christmas movie formula. Instead, it follows cop John McClane, played by Bruce Willis, as he battles a group of terrorists led by villain Hans Gruber that takes over the fictional Nakatomi Plaza during a Christmas party. It still yields to a familiar arc: McClane is forced into a deadly cat-and-mouse chase through the skyscraper, outsmarting Gruber’s crew until he emerges victorious and saves the hostages.
However, the tension, gripping setting and McClane’s sarcastic personality while bantering with the terrorists keep the story engaging from start to finish, even when the structure feels formulaic. What makes it stand out is the movie’s ability to weave together McClane’s humor and narrow escapes from death with fast-paced gun action.
The most recognizable theme in the movie is reconnection. At the heart, the film is about McClane trying to fix his relationship with his wife Holly, reminding viewers that the holiday season is about reconnecting and mending relationships. While the setting of the movie embraces violence, the emotional part stays consistent with other Christmas movies by emphasizing family.
McClane’s bond with Sergeant Al Powell, a Los Angeles police department officer who supports him from outside the Nakatomi Plaza, also subtly represents the theme of friendship. Their growing connection throughout the movie mirrors the idea that human connection can form in the most unexpected circumstances. Their relationship adds a layer of warmth to a film that would otherwise be pure adrenaline. While it is far from a heartwarming holiday classic, people who enjoy fight scenes and explosions will definitely come to like this movie, as it delivers a different kind of Christmas spirit: entertaining action.
Rating: 4 Viking helmets out of 5
