We have entered another year of the Christmas season. It’s a moment to rejoice in the triumph of the human spirit over adversity and to share good cheer with those closest to us. At least, that’s how it seems on the screen.
The Christmas film genre is one of the most prolific and widely consumed film subgenres worldwide because watching other people have more fun than you are fun. As a light dusting of fake snow falls around them, we watch as our protagonist receives a sweet kiss from their sweetheart.
Meanwhile, you’re nearly out of Josh Cabernet Sauvignon and still haven’t received a direct message. Perhaps I am the odd one out here. This is the time of year when Christmas movies flood streaming providers.
Hulu has a whole page devoted to its seasonal offers, all of which have posters that are virtually identical to one another. Unfamiliar actors cuddled up against a blank white wall. Both of them may be donning Santa hats.
Certain smirks can be detected from a nearby source. In other words, don’t try to fix something that isn’t broken. What to pick from this dazzling array of exquisite, mechanically-produced filmic delight? OK, I get it now: Vulture is paying me to write this. Here are a few of the Season’s best shows to watch on TV. Listed here are eight of the most upbeat movies you can see right now:
12 Pups of Christmas
Four or five holiday-themed canine films are available to stream on Hulu. This may be its subgenre, but I can’t help but wonder what it is about the holidays that dogs find so irresistible. The male protagonist (played by Donny Boaz) in this movie runs a business that sells GPS trackers for pets.
Surprisingly, it’s not a dog that he wants your help locating; it’s love. Together with his new helper (Charlotte Sullivan). The video centers on a group of 12 canines that must be adopted quickly before something terrible occurs. Such as a person being forced out of their home by the landlord.
While researching this article, I learned that many of these films were created by MarVista Entertainment. Fox Corporation recently acquired MarVista to produce movies for its Tubi streaming service due to its enormous financial success with its direct-to-cable/VOD films. Friends, please don’t get used to watching these movies on Hulu.
Black Christmas
For your awareness, this is the 2006 remake of the 1974 proto-slasher, not the 2019 version. The stylized title “Black X-Mas” reflects that the letter “X” was hip in 2006. Starring at the top of their game is Michelle Trachtenberg, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and Lacey Chabert in this version of “Black Christmas,” which has been remade for the first time.
Although the film did well at the box office for a low-budget slasher, this particular version of the narrative, which involved sorority girls frightened by a killer on Christmas, has been forgotten. Let’s get rid of that.
Fun fact: This was the second film directed by Glen Morgan, best known for his work on The X-Files with co-writer James Wong. His debut picture, a replica of the classic horror film about a guy and his rat named Willard, was an excellent remake.
A Christmas Switch
A solid, old-fashioned body-switch comedy, not to be confused with The Princess Switch, of which there are now three. You may find them on Netflix. Let’s move on because this is about Hulu and not anything else.
However, neither Vanessa Hudgens nor other princesses appear in A Christmas Switch. Instead, it stars Jackie Seiden and Ashley Wood as a singer and record executive who switch bodies at the mall. Both of their lives, naturally, are a jumbled-up mess.
Folks, the music business is in the wrong place right now. Artists can’t make it off of streaming royalties alone. But I’m getting off-topic. In the tradition of these films, Christmas serves as a deadline for resolving any outstanding issues. You had best have everything figured out by the time the clock strikes midnight on December 24, or you’ll probably revert to a pumpkin.
Happiest Season
Happiest Season made a lot of commotion back in 2020, mainly because we were all confined indoors and there were no movies in theatres. In addition, it was a watershed movie because it was a rare example of a queer romantic comedy.
Director Clea DuVall recruited an all-star cast (Mackenzie Davis, Kristen Stewart, Aubrey Plaza, Dan Levy, and countless more notables) to depict the narrative of coming out to your family during Christmas. This movie is extremely, really fantastic. It’s hilarious and uplifting and just what the world needs right now.
Kirk Franklin’s A Gospel Christmas
He is a recognizable leader in the gospel music industry. This film, starring Chaz Lamar Shepherd as a preacher who falls in love with a new congregation member, was executive produced by Kirk Franklin (Demetria McKinney). She’s never lived in a small town before, so she’s clueless about the cookie hops, nosey neighbors, and endless winter that characterize life there.
If you were wondering, a cookie hop is a party at which residents of a given area all contribute cookies, and attendees take turns eating them. The best cookie baker wins a ribbon and the eternal gratitude of his peers. To my mind. It’s possible I inserted an opinion there.
The March Sisters at Christmas
Ahem. Do you fancy the gentlest Little Women remake ever made? Would the addition of a low-key home-renovation show make it more appealing? The March sisters have evolved into independent, progressive women who renovate their childhood house to prevent their mother from selling it.
One of the men in the trailer calls himself the “kid next door.” My favorite portion is where one of the April sisters states that “love is so stupid.” You don’t have to tell me twice.
A Puppy For Christmas
In my opinion, a film deserves respect if it is honest about what it has to offer. Fortunately, Noelle’s (Cindy Busby) life is picture-perfect. True, I, too, am a typical Christmas movie viewer. Except that she takes in a dog and is subsequently evicted. It’s time for (again) another eviction!
No can do, Tofu! 😆😆😆 #sisfur
What’s something unrealistic you want for Christmas? First 100 people to answer will get a holiday card!! @corgisworld0 #Corgi #CorgiLover #CorgiCrew #Dog #Puppies #pets pic.twitter.com/H21bzYr3Rc
— corgisworld (@corgisworld0) December 3, 2022
Noelle should have researched tenants’ rights, but there wouldn’t be a movie if she did. Instead, Noelle realizes the value of supportive friends and family when things get tough.
The gratitude of this puppy, who knows the worth of the harshest love, is immeasurable. Such as successfully having your owner evicted from her home. Indeed, such is the case at times.
In addition, I feel obligated to mention that Noelle is sporting a stunning red beret in the poster.
Santa Claus: The Movie
What a daring title it is. This film, called “the Movie,” is light years ahead of any other film about Santa Claus. In my youth, I was captivated by this movie. Did the production team think audiences wouldn’t know what to make of this story’s format?
Could there have been any misunderstandings with “The Santa Clause”? Maybe they wanted to recreate the success of 1979’s Superman: The Movie. They (Alexander and Ilya Salkind) are the father-and-son combo responsible for Santa Claus and Superman.
#NowWatching
Santa Claus The Movie (1985)
I'm too old for this now but I'm gonna watch it anyway as it brings the kid out in me. pic.twitter.com/0K3v213l50
— Realamino😇 (@Realamino22) December 3, 2022
It seems like the charm of that superhero flick didn’t make it to the big screen. In any case, it’s an interesting artifact from the days when a wacky, vaguely Christ-like origin story for Santa could drive a rich, pretentious fantasy film.
Santa Claus (David Huddleston) is a friendly Middle Ages woodcutter and toymaker who discovers from a group of elves (headed by a hopelessly miscast and puzzled Dudley Moore) that he is the one who will deliver gifts to all the children of the world.
From there, we have an origin story for Santa’s toys à la “Batman Begins.” Current day Santa is disappointed in the commercialization of Christmas. The fact that his sole purpose is to make kids want stuff is irrelevant.
All the time, effort, and care that went into making those gifts are evident. As soon as possible, please watch this film, and then tweet how bewildered you are that there is a snooty, self-important musical about Santa’s backstory. Fantastic.
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