Episode 82: The Great Christmas Movie Debate – What Makes a Christmas Film?

Good morning and welcome to the Overruled podcast, brought to you by the Scott Vicknair Law Firm. I’m your co-host, David Vicknair, along with my law partner and co-host, Brad Scott. Good morning, Brad, how are you doing?

Good morning, Mr. Vicknair, I’m doing well, how about yourself?

I’m good, I’m ready to kick this show off with a very interesting topic, we’re going straight in, it’s gonna be a lot of fun. Is it, or is it not, a Christmas movie, the great debate, we can go round robin on this and see which ones are. I’ll start with some of my favorites, number one, National Lampoon’s Vacation.

You wanna interrupt me?

All right, well, are we gonna debate them, or are we gonna pick our favorites first? I’ll go with my two favorites, I don’t know how you beat National Lampoon’s Vacation and Home Alone.

All right, make your case, sir, how is that better?

Well, I think I’m a lot like my dad, because I love National Lampoon’s Vacation probably the most, the very idiotic, dry humor amuses me, it’s hard to beat Uncle Eddie, how does he say it, Eddie? Every year I watch it, it gets better, and we got a cameo from Elaine on Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Seinfeld’s my favorite TV show, so it’s got everything going on, she’s like, shut up, Todd, when the ice goes through the window, you just can’t beat it, it’s so good. So I’m huge on National Lampoon’s Vacation, that’s my favorite. And I think Home Alone is certainly a Christmas movie, I’m just nostalgic for it, it’s got that nostalgia but also that same stupid dry humor I tend toward, it’s Looney Tunes with tinsel.

Really? Is it a Christmas movie though?

Of course it’s a Christmas movie, Home Alone happens at Christmas time, they leave him at the house, everything.

Let’s back up, what are the standards here, because we gotta agree on the rules, because the question we’re gonna come back to is, is Die Hard a Christmas movie?

Why’d you even drop that? That was Miles, you know that was very early to drop that.

We knew we were gonna get to a big debate about Die Hard. Does it have to be set during Christmas? Does Christmas matter to the plot? Must it include a theme like redemption, or family, or generosity? And snow does not equal Christmas movie, that’s an important clarification.

So what’s the standard here? You’ve got the Christmas replacement test, can you insert another holiday in place of Christmas and it’s still a movie worth watching. You’ve got the Christmas hall pass test, can you watch it at some other time of year, other than between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and not be considered a lunatic. And then the grandma test, would you watch this movie on Christmas Eve with your grandma. Those are the standards.

Wow, I reject all your tests, I’m very complicated, there were like 73 tests you just rattled off, so I’m gonna start with my test here. National Lampoon’s Vacation, Christmas movie. Home Alone, Christmas movie. Die Hard is not a Christmas movie, period, end of story.

What? Home Alone is a kid survival trap movie at best, it’s set during Christmas, I think this is clickbait on your part.

So your position is Home Alone is not a Christmas movie?

I think it could happen during any other vacation break with a family leaving their kid behind.

But the nostalgia arc of the mom coming back to be with her son during Christmas doesn’t hit as hard during Valentine’s Day.

And hey, granted, yes, that’s a point.

And then how does the whole theme of, she’s meeting, now she’s Moira, back then she was Kevin’s mom, how does she, Moira from Schitt’s Creek, find John Candy and his group traveling? That’s all Christmas-themed, the whole storyline revolves around Christmas, the story doesn’t really make sense unless it’s around Christmas.

I guess it does teach young children that violence solves holiday problems, no debate there.

The debate today is whether or not it’s a Christmas movie, and you have already lost the debate on Home Alone. But Miles, I’m ready for you to make the argument, go ahead.

Well Brad, I’d argue not enough movies teach that violence solves all those problems, so that’s good, that’s a hot take.

That’s my take for sure. Unfortunately, Brad, I don’t agree with you, I gotta go with Dave on this. I think it has to happen during Christmas time, you’re right, snow doesn’t equal Christmas, but Home Alone is a Christmas movie, Die Hard is not. I know we haven’t really gotten there yet, but one of your tests I don’t agree with, it doesn’t have to be about generosity.

No, it just needs to be set during Christmas, that’s the bottom line.

What was the grandmother test?

Yeah, what was the dumbest test?

Would you watch this on Christmas Eve with your grandma, if it’s a Christmas movie you’d watch it with your grandma on Christmas Eve.

So you can only watch Christmas movies with your grandma?

Not a bad argument, no, it’s a test.

Okay, it’s a test, of course, Dave, it’s a test.

But I’m pretty much, now do I say my three right now, and then Brad will say his top three Christmas movies, let’s see which ones you like, so we can see if we disagree. So by far and away, number one, it wasn’t for a while, but the past three years, number one is The Grinch, Jim Carrey, it’s unbelievable, so funny, I get something out of it every time, it’s one of my favorite movies.

Do we have a conception that The Grinch is a Christmas movie?

I think it is, I mean, The Grinch Stole Christmas is in the title, I don’t think there’s any debate it’s not a Christmas movie. I mean, Jim Carrey didn’t play the Grinch, he became the Grinch in the movie, it’s so funny, I’ve already watched it twice by the time we’re taping this. Number two, y’all are not gonna like this one, growing up, Polar Express. Polar Express is so good, it’s so nostalgic, it was the most expensive animated film at the time, I look just like the little boy in it.

That’s why Miles likes it.

It’s a Christmas movie because it’s Christmas night, that’s my only standard, it has to be Christmas, whether it snows or not, generosity or not, it could be a bad Christmas movie, but still a Christmas movie.

So your standard, the only rule, the only test, is it has to be Christmas.

Only one, that’s it, that’s my only test.

So Miles, that’s it, it has to be during Christmas, that’s it, let me test that test, hold on.

Let’s let him get to number three, or are you going after Polar Express?

I’m going after his test, it has to be set on Christmas.

Okay, I’ll hear it, we’ll entertain the argument, Mr. Scott, is Rambo a Christmas movie?

Oh jeez.

Rambo’s set during Christmas, is it actually?

Yes, absolutely.

Oh jeez, yeah, he’s really, you’ve really walked right into that one.

I knew it wasn’t. Then I guess it is, it’s a better action film than a Christmas movie.

Talk about watching, you get to be like the Supreme Court and make a caveat.

Yeah, of course, you’ll see it in my decision, that’s the bright line rule, Brad, the exceptions will be forthcoming shortly.

Are we gonna be strict constructionists or not, we’re gonna lay down the rules, you gotta follow them here.

I consider, usually I am. That’s one of those, talk about watching that during Valentine’s Day. What’s number three for me? Vacation, National Lampoon’s Vacation.

But Grinch, far and away, swear to my favorite movies, Eddie’s RV in the front yard is a highlight for me.

There’s so many highlights in the movie. All right, Brad, what’s your favorite?

I’m dying in the light. Family for me, on National Lampoon’s Vacation. All right, other Christmas movies, maybe Christmas movies, maybe not, I’ll get to my favorite in a minute, but Gremlins, Christmas movie or not a Christmas movie?

What is it? I’ve never heard of this movie.

Oh, great movie, Gremlins.

What is it about?

You don’t feed them after midnight, you haven’t seen that?

No.

What? You must have seen Gremlins as a kid.

I don’t think so.

Don’t feed them after midnight, you can’t get them wet, not hitting the bell, I mean, it’s a Christmas gift, right, takes place during Christmas, there’s Christmas decorations everywhere. Miles, Christmas movie or not?

Christmas movie, I’ve actually watched that on Christmas, my brother-in-law showed me that.

Or a comedy set during Christmas, right?

Yes.

Well, I’m sitting this one out, I don’t even know what a Gremlin is.

Oh, you should watch it tonight, it’s funny.

I don’t think that’s happening. All right, another one, Lethal Weapon, Christmas movie or not Christmas?

Oh jeez.

No.

Set during Christmas.

Okay, that’s a bad test.

That’s a bad test, if we’re gonna have a test, the bright line rule should be Christmas holiday imagery, themes of loneliness, found family.

Isn’t one of the 73 Spider-Man movies set during Christmas? By that standard then Spider-Man would be a Christmas movie. I mean, one of the Harry Potters is set during Christmas, as Miles just pointed out.

Is Harry Potter a Christmas movie?

That one is, some people argue Harry Potter is a Christmas movie, that one is.

Do you think Harry Potter is a Christmas movie, Brad?

No, I don’t think so either, and I love Harry Potter, but I don’t think it’s a Christmas movie, just that one, not the whole series.

Oh, Miles says just the one, not the whole series.

No, of course not, just the one that’s set during Christmas.

He’s really sticking to this bright line rule, Brad, like he said, if it’s set during Christmas it’s a Christmas movie.

I have to, he’s trying to redeem his arc because he walked into Lethal Weapon.

That’s tough, that’s tough. All right, OG Christmas movie of all time, hands down, my personal favorite, and probably everyone’s personal favorite, A Christmas Story.

Yeah, I do love A Christmas Story, quite. To get his Red Ryder BB gun, there’s just so much in that movie that makes it, TBS plays it 24 hours a day during Christmas, that’s how great it is.

So I was gonna save this till the end, I do love it, it’s probably, I didn’t name it, but it’s probably number three for me. And I didn’t want to cut you off, Miles, but I have the actual ornament of the lamp on my Christmas tree, and it turns on, by the way, you can click it on, the ornament itself lights up, like the lamp. This isn’t the first time, Brad, we’ve argued about movies, I remember a couple podcasts ago we argued about the Leonardo DiCaprio movie.

Yes.

Which movie, the one where the world’s ending, what’s it called again, Brad?

Is it Don’t Look Up?

Yes, Don’t Look Up, which is a great movie, and Brad doesn’t like it.

Don’t look up the movie, whatever you do.

So A Christmas Story, we’re just on different wavelengths, I don’t get it, one of my least favorite movies.

You don’t get it?

I don’t like it at all.

You have the lamp, A Christmas Story, you have the tongue sticking to the flagpole, you have your shoot your eye out, the tongue sticking to the pole is funny, the pink bunny costume, there’s so much.

Yep.

Sorry guys, there’s a lot going on in the movie, I love it, I don’t know how you don’t like it, I think the dad cracks me up, the way he talks about his old man cracks me up, I don’t think you can beat A Christmas Story. And in other news, I saw, which I thought was very creative, Kane’s does a pretty decent job with their marketing, I saw a Kane’s commercial, their Christmas commercial this year, they got the guy all grown up, that’s Ralphie in the movie, right, the boy?

Yeah, he’s Ralphie all grown up, but that’s not the guy’s real name, it’s just the character. He’s in a Kane’s commercial now, which is pretty funny, and kind of builds on all the nostalgia of A Christmas Story. So, my second favorite is gonna be Elf.

I love Elf, I love Will Ferrell.

No, Elf’s great, I saw an interview last week or two, there was James Caan, who played the dad, and Will Ferrell, James Caan did not think Will Ferrell was funny, like the disdain he has in the movie was genuine disdain for Will Ferrell.

Really?

Really.

That’s funny, I thought he’s hilarious in the movie.

Let’s say, we gotta go backwards, that’s my wife’s favorite, it seems to me, oh, Elf is Madison’s favorite.

Yeah, Elf is funny, that was good.

It seems to me, the one every year online, if people like getting all revved up about this debate and topic, every year for the last three, four years I’ve paid attention to it, the one that really gets people the most revved up, is it or isn’t it, is Die Hard.

100%.

Why do y’all think that’s the case? Why do you think people get so emboldened on one side or the other, that Die Hard isn’t or is a Christmas movie?

If you think Die Hard is a Christmas movie, then you gotta think It’s a Wonderful Life is a real estate movie. It’s the same thing, it just happens to be happening during Christmas, it’s a hostage movie wearing a Santa Claus hat.

So why do you think people think it is a Christmas movie?

Because they like the movie and it happened during Christmas.

It takes place during a Christmas party.

Yeah, they wanted an excuse to watch it on Christmas, even though it’s an action movie.

Can’t watch it with your grandma, or can you?

Don’t you think there’s some element that a lot of people grew up watching it during Christmas, and so they associated it with being a Christmas movie?

Yeah, I think it’s more of an association, the nostalgia of it.

The hostage crisis could happen any season, it’s basically every Bruce Willis movie.

Basically. And if you compare, I saw something funny, don’t have all the particulars, but Die Hard and Home Alone are basically exactly the same storyline.

Now you’re just trying to be provocative.

A guy by himself fighting the bad guys, there’s so many scenes that overlap, they’re basically the same movie if you put them side by side.

Bruce Willis never really used paint cans to knock out intruders, he never strategically used plastic aircraft carriers to foil somebody’s entry into a window, so there’s a lot of distinctions there.

You still don’t have the tactics to fight the bad guys. Brad, what are some of your favorite Christmas traditions, aside from the movies, that you’ve really still done today and treasured since you were a kid?

I mean, look, we spend a lot of time with family, we have a big family on my mom’s side that we spend time with, the holidays are always time to get together, and the food, there are things we eat during Christmas we look forward to every year, it’s the food and the family for us, that’s our big thing.

Yeah, the food and family, secondary to me, Home Alone is number one, I’m kidding, of course it’s food and family first. So are we gonna close this out by agreeing on what we think are the most hotly debated, is it or isn’t it a Christmas movie? We think Die Hard is number one, right, a lot of people talk about Harry Potter too, but Die Hard’s definitely number one.

Is Harry Potter a big argument too?

Yeah.

Is the argument over that because one of them is during Christmas?

More or less.

And there’s, to Brad’s point, a lot of snow, and a lot of gifts exchanged, and it snows.

Is Frozen a Christmas movie?

Is Frozen a Christmas movie, it’s snow, no, nobody, who would think, who besides a terrorist would think that Frozen is a Christmas movie? That’s my point, snow does not equal a Christmas movie, that’s what I said earlier.

No, I hear you, okay, I get the point.

Yeah, you’d have to really be a sociopath to think Frozen was a Christmas movie, but it snows in March, so why would snow alone be a basis for being a Christmas movie?

It’s not, I agree. So Die Hard, Harry Potter, what are the other big ones, Miles, that people think are Christmas movies, any others?

Gremlins is debated too.

As a Christmas movie?

Yeah.

Okay, so tell me about this movie before we get off, is it a small little Gremlin, that apparently if you feed them after midnight, or put water on them, they grow, is there snow, is it, is somebody left Home Alone?

You must have never seen this movie, it’s a great movie.

Or is it, is it during Christmas, like somebody gets a Gremlin for Christmas morning?

Buys this gift during Christmas, it’s a, what do they call it, Mogwai, what’s the word, Miles, do you remember?

I do not.

They’re cute and fuzzy, but the warning from the guy who sold it to him is, you can’t feed him after midnight and you can’t get him wet.

Well, of course, that’s a prelude to what’s going to happen.

So basically, at midnight they turn into evil Gremlins and start destroying the whole town.

Oh. Well, this doesn’t sound like a Christmas movie to me, do people think it’s a Christmas movie?

Christmas theme, it’s set during Christmas, it’s a Christmas present, it’s got all the hallmarks of a Christmas movie, it’s got more Christmas music than a Hallmark movie.

Are there really Christmas songs in the Gremlins movie?

Yeah, in the background.

It just doesn’t sound like a Christmas movie, and there’s more than one?

More than one Gremlins movie, yeah.

How many of these movies are there?

There’s a ton.

20?

But the first one is great.

First one was great, that’s the thesis, that’s plenty. If you saw it, you’d have to recognize it, it’s just not clicking for you.

I guess I’m gonna look up Gremlins after this because I haven’t heard of these things, but they sound like basically cats that you’ve given a different name to, it doesn’t sound like a Christmas movie. But anyway, okay, so I think we’ve concluded this debate, and that I’ve won, and that Home Alone is the best Christmas movie of all time, along with National Lampoon’s Vacation, everybody in agreement? Okay. This is our last podcast of the year, so if you do want to say, we will release, this will come out last week before the new year. Before we go, I am curious, Brad, what are some of your favorite shows from this year, on the podcast?

TV shows?

No, no, no, we’re talking about the podcast, Miles is getting into this, this is our last show of the year, what do you think are some of your favorite episodes we did this year?

I enjoyed the monkey episode.

Ah, the monkeys, that’s a good one, I liked that one too.

I thought the Elon Musk one was pretty fun.

Oh, that’s right, I almost forgot about that one, that must have been really early in the year.

Middle of the year.

And what’s happened since, they’ve kissed and made up.

Who, him and Donald?

Yeah.

By the time this show is over, they could break apart again, they’re about as erratic as a roller coaster.

That’s true, I really liked, I really liked the episode we just came out with, maybe it’s recency bias, but it was a great discussion with Sunny Lee about Son of a Saint and all the things that organization is doing, and of course the episode with Evan, I mean, it was hard not to laugh.

We have to get y’all three in a room.

He’s still mad at you, Brad.

I take it, I get it. Yeah, there’s been a lot of great episodes this year, and it’s been a lot of fun, y’all, and I hope everybody listening has a great Christmas with your family, watching Home Alone and National Lampoon’s Vacation, not this Gremlins movie, whatever the hell that is. Anything else you want to add, a Christmas memory or a favorite Christmas movie or Christmas debate before we go, guys?

I don’t agree that Home Alone is a Christmas movie, I’m sorry, I’m gonna die on that hill.

I think it’s totally a Christmas movie, so I can’t believe you’re not gonna see this ground, but I respect it. Where’d you vote on Die Hard, no, right?

I think Die Hard’s a Christmas movie.

Okay, okay, I mean, this is the perfect way to end it, if you think Home Alone is not a Christmas movie and Die Hard is.

I think they’re close enough, if you’re gonna call one Christmas, the other one’s a Christmas movie too, I’ll give you that.

Okay, okay, no, we’re just never going to agree on this, and unfortunately for your position, you’ve undermined yourself right at the conclusion of the show. And am I being overruled?

You’re being overruled.

Right now.

Until next year.

Until next year, you being overruled, but our listeners are not being overruled. Thank you all for listening this year, thanks for listening along to us talking a little bit about some fun discussion and debate over what is and is not a Christmas movie. Brad, Miles, it’s been a fun year, I can’t wait for another 40, 50, 60 episodes in 2026. And thank you all for listening to us this year, for our rants, our raves, our guests, our topics, we’re excited to bring you a lot more interesting topics next year. Brad, anything you want to sign off with for 2025?

Hope everyone has a great holiday, enjoy the season, spend some time with your family.

Amazing. Thank you all for listening, this has been another incredible episode of the Overruled podcast, brought to you by the Scott Vicknair Law Firm. We’ll catch you next time. If this didn’t ruin your Christmas, you’re welcome.

Scott Vicknair, injury attorneys, we fight for the win.

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