I was spending time with some of my friends over the weekend, with the intention of watching holiday movies while consuming the occasional libation. After consuming more than intended—prior to watching anything—we inevitably came to the debate of which movie to watch. We all suggested some of our favourites, which were hotly debated, before we eventually settled on putting several ideas in a hat and drawing one at random. After selecting a few that were emphatically vetoed, we drew My Christmas Inn, and agreed to watch it. While this movie was produced by Netflix, it follows the Hallmark formula to the letter. Whether it intended to be or not, we found it hilarious, and I think I’ve found my new favourite Holiday movie genre.
Undoubtedly, the debate over the best holiday movie is rife with heavyweight contenders. Growing up, my mother, sister, and I would watch Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story every Christmas Eve. In fact, we loved the latter so much that we would play TBS (a television channel) all Christmas Eve and Day while they hosted a forty-eight hour marathon of A Christmas Story on repeat…. Suffice to say that I now have some trouble watching that movie and many others, as the jokes have lost their bite, and the stories their novelty.
In recent years, though, my partner and I have been searching for new movies to watch on Christmas without limiting ourselves to the archetypical holiday plot line. My new favourite tradition is watching The Shining on Christmas Eve. Though it is not a holiday movie, the wintery scenes and horror entice me to the warmth of my bed, and induce my childhood fear of a strange man sneaking into my home one night a year.
Beyond the holiday classics I have watched into oblivion, there is another canon of holiday films, typically the butt of many jokes: Hallmark holiday films. These movies are known for their formulaic storytelling. The plot often involves a big-city workaholic, who is reluctantly called to their hometown during some holiday. Without fail, the main character falls in love with a simple-yet-handsome person who coerces them to stay in said town and live out a modest life.
My Christmas Inn is no different (so I will spare you the details), but the movie plays out in such a way that one cannot help but feel that it is a parody. The opening scene involves the main character—a successful advertiser—presenting an ad for hot chocolate that is positively marinated in holiday cliché. I was half expecting her employer to laugh in her face when she was finished presenting, but that is not how these movies go. Instead, her employer smiles warmly and says something to the effect of “I love it!” The gestures of love were bizarre, the emotional development moved at lightning speed, and the Christmas motifs resembled a Marshalls on November first. Overall, it was a hilarious experience, and has me thinking that these movies do have a seat at the table, so long as one can accept them as comedies.
The ridicule Hallmark holiday movies have endured certainly predates this article, and even people who sincerely enjoy these films are more than willing to admit how funny they can be. Indeed, a comedy troupe in Hamilton has even taken this genre of comedy to the stage. It Ends With A Kiss is a fully improvised stage performance of a Hallmark-esque story. I had the pleasure of seeing their show at the Hamilton Fringe Festival in the summer, and it was hilarious, the show is now partly to blame for my inability to watch Hallmark movies without seeing all their glaring commonalities and clichés.
In advance of the winter break (and exams), I want to wish all the students at Osgoode the best of luck, and hope that everyone has a relaxing and enjoyable break. While you are sitting at home a week into the break, worrying about how you recommended punitive damages on Professor Swan’s Contracts exam, throw on My Christmas Inn, and tune out from your stress. At the end of the day, these movies are meant to be comforting, but I hope you may now get a laugh or two from them as well.
