Trading Places (1983)

Louis Winthorpe III is a successful Philadelphia commodity broker with a mansion, manservant and fiancee. Billy Ray Valentine is a hustling beggar con man. Winthorpe's employers, the elderly Duke brothers, make a bet that by switching the lifestyle of the two, Billy Ray will make good becoming a respectable businessman and their man, Winthorpe, will take to a life of crime. Suddenly Louis finds himself uncomprehendingly with no job after being accused of theft, no home and only a new acquaintance, glamorous hooker Ophelia, prepared to help him. Valentine now has a lovely establishment, a servant and limo, a grand paycheck and a respectable job. However, the two catch wind of the Duke's bet and set out to get their own back. This is an amazing original comedy featuring two of my favourite comedic actors who definitely made it the joyful viewing it is: Dan Aykroyd as Louis Winthorpe III and Eddie Murphy as Billy Ray Valentine. The two are incredibly funny and share their comedic moments equally throughout, having some great ones together too. Not only do these two bring the film to life but also Denholm Elliott, as Coleman the butler and Jamie Lee Curtis, as Ophelia the hooker who helps out Louis. The two have some amazing scenes too and help out in the revenge on the Dukes. This is also another underrated Christmas movie, from the 80s. This is certainly one of my favourites that I watch each festive season. The film takes place during Christmas which can be seen throughout from trees to decorations and snow. One day Winthorpe bumps into Valentine who is apologetic, trying to hand him back his dropped briefcase when Louis accuses him of robbing him, shouting for the police. He is chased through the building where the Dukes see the ordeal and decide to make a bet to switch their places and see if they would adjust to the opposite lifestyles. Here we see Louis accused of theft, humiliated, kicked out of his house, rejected by his fiancee and losing his money and cards. Valentine meanwhile, is given Louis' house, butler, job and is brought into the higher end of society and wealth. At first, he uses his wealth to give out money and have parties before changing into a real businessman, as the Dukes intended. This opening part of the film is a clever comedy showing the greed and misuse of power and wealth. We see Winthorpe resort to a life of crime of stealing and threatening Ray with a gun. Concluding the bet we find out that the Dukes betted a messed up amount to ruin a man's life and now plan to swap them back but, little did they know, they were overheard by Valentine. After telling Winthorpe, the two make their move to ruin them in a typical revenge plot fashion. It is however shown confusingly during the trading floor scene that I had a hard time following since I don't know a great deal about the trade market, but I'm not the only one. As before stated, the actors drive this film but I think my favourite has to be Eddie Murphy as Billy Ray Valentine. Despite being his second film, following 48 Hrs. (1982), this was a huge boost to his fame and career. He is hilarious from the get-go and as he acquires his power, his original ways and humour never leave. The best scene in the film has to be the train sequence, where they try to stop Beeks, who is delivering the Dukes a secret report illegally on the state of the market. The scene where they go in disguised is so funny because of how confused and unamused Beeks is. When he catches onto them swapping his briefcase he tries to stop them which then leads to that infamous Gorilla scene. If you know, then enough said. Overall, this is a fantastically brilliant comedy that is still relevant and stands the test of time. It has a well-rounded cast, crazy antics, a bit of dark humour, some nudity and some festive cheer. Also, who doesn't want some dreadful old millionaires get their just reward in a splendid revenge plot? It is certainly one of a kind and very classic 80s that is great viewing.

Runtime: 1h 56m

Director: John Landis

Genre: Comedy

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Lethal Weapon (1987)

Roger Murtaugh is an ageing family man and a sensible veteran police officer just trying to make it through the day unscathed. Martin Riggs is a suicidal loose cannon cop who doesn't care if he even lives to see the end of the day. Reluctantly thrown together to solve the mysterious murder of a banker's daughter, the unlikely duo uncovers a dangerous ring of drug smugglers employing ex-military mercenaries. After a tragic turn of events, the mission becomes personal and the mismatched investigators must learn to trust one another as they wage a two-man war against a deadly criminal organization. I loved this buddy cop film and this is certainly one that shaped the subgenre going forward. The 80s really seemed to like their non-traditional Christmas films and, it seems, for festive action movies too. If you enjoyed this film then you will also love Die Hard (1988) which is another action-oriented unconventional Christmas flick. We follow two different cops who have very different ways of thinking and lifestyles but are going to need to put them aside to solve this crime. Our heroic duo is Roger Murtaugh (played by Danny Glover) and Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson). Every moment these two are on screen together I know I am in for a treat. Their contrasting ways of working and living lead to so many hilarious, as well as heartfelt, moments that make them such an enjoyable team. Murtaugh is constantly reminded of his age and the danger he's constantly in, which becomes quite frequent with his new suicidal loose cannon maverick cop partner, Riggs. I so enjoy when Riggs would do something so reckless that it sends Murtaugh into a frenzy, causing him to shout a lot and panic. This was certainly the case during the scene where Riggs helps a man about to jump off a building by handcuffing himself to the guy and jumping for him to safety, where he is left laughing and the guy screaming to be cut loose from him. From there Murtaugh goes ballistic shouting at him which always cracks me up. Especially when he brings out his iconic line said in all 4 films, "I'm too old for this shit!" Both actors do a fantastic job and show off their skills throughout. I love how Mel Gibson can switch from a helpful officer to a crazy wide-eyed madman in the next. Danny Glover's frequent breakdowns and worried expressions are so good never failing to make me laugh. This can be said for all their interactions as the comedy element of this film is just as great as the action. My other favourite part has to be the shooting range scene. This displays both of the duo's shooting skills but most especially that of Riggs' who manages to shoot out a smiley face on Murtaugh's headshot target, from the furthest distance. Each shares a huge deal of character development throughout their time together and helps one another out as their mission goes on, even when Murtaugh's family gets involved in the mess. The action sequences in this film are amazing and very extreme. I mean they take matters into their own hands and the way things get done is definitely not how the police do things. Seeing a 1v1 between Riggs and villain Joshua in a full-on fist fight, after throwing down their guns, was very thrilling. Many brutal shootouts also take place, alongside some torture. This film warrants its 18 rating for sure. Overall, this is a superb movie that balances action, comedy, thriller and crime perfectly, creating the ideal buddy cop flick. The characters are entertaining and engaging with plenty of enjoyable banter. Even better this counts as some non-traditional Christmas viewing being set during the season and there being many Christmas lights, trees, songs and decorations scattered everywhere. It makes for some extra viewing, but can be watched all year round. Finally, this film deserves a watch simply for Riggs' marvellous mullet. I mean look at it, such a sight! Also, check out the sequel for more action in Lethal Weapon 2 (1989).

Runtime: 1h 49m

Director: Richard Donner

Genre: Action / Crime / Thriller

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3 Godfathers (1948)

Fugitive bank robbers Robert Hightower, William Kearney and Pedro Roca Fuerte stand at a desert grave. Caring for the newborn infant of the woman they just buried will ruin any chance of escape. But they won't go back on their promise to her. They won't abandon little Robert William Pedro but can they deliver him to safety? Director John Ford's Western retelling of the Biblical Three Wise Men tale remains a scenic and thematic masterpiece. This is certainly one of the more unusual western movies made that tells a story quite different to anything done before in the genre. Little would you know but this is technically a Christmas movie. Set during the festive season, there are plenty of references to Christmas, from the mentions of a Christmas tree to people talking of Feliz Navidad. Also as previously mentioned, the movie takes a Biblical approach in its story and imagery with our trio mirroring the Three Wise Men. There are plenty of moments where our characters refer to the Bible and read from it frequently, as they take the infant child to New Jerusalem. When our story begins, we follow our trio on a bank heist in a town, which had greeted them so kindly. Having made their escape, with the youngest, William, being shot in the arm and injured, they are quickly pursued by the marshal. He makes it his personal vendetta to hunt them down, making it impossible for them to escape. As the blockades around water sources grow, the three move onto one last location where they come across a dying woman and her infant. They promise to take care of the child as their Godfathers and so begins their quest. Ford asserts to us through the story that even men of dissolute character can follow that inner star of Bethlehem to their own redemption. It is here we are shown the hard natures of the wild west. From the harsh, dusty winds to the scorching sun, the cinematography is used superbly in making us feel like we, the audience, are on that journey too in those conditions. Despite their past actions, we now see this group in a new light as they do everything in their being to protect this infant. But with the marshal hot on their trails we start to see him, a man completely in his right to take vengeance on these men, as a villain in some sense. If you haven't seen the film skip past the red to avoid me ruining the end. *Spoilers* As they keep travelling, they are overcome by the treacherous conditions of the desert and become weaker, unlikely to make it. It is here that William, whose gunshot wound had not been treated, sadly dies of exhaustion, doing everything in his might to carry the child as far as possible. The two remaining read him the Bible as he dies then move on, so as not to be caught by the marshal. Later Pedro breaks his leg after falling and can't go on. He asks for Robert's pistol to warn off any coyotes but as Robert moves on we hear a single gunshot. After climbing the last mountain, Robert feels he can't go any further. He starts to hallucinate, imagining his two friends walking alongside him, encouraging him not to give up, which was a very emotional moment. Finally making it to the town, he is confronted by the marshal who then realises what has transpired. In the end, the baby is delivered safely and Robert is only sent to 1 year and 1 day of prison time instead of the 20 years, remaining as the child's Godfather. Overall, this is an emotional drama set in the western genre that features some amazing acting and cinematography as well as an interesting story. I love that it holds many similarities to Biblical stories and makes for some unique Christmas viewing. This is definitely worthy viewing and should be experienced at least once by everyone, especially western and John Wayne fans.

Runtime: 1h 46m

Director: John Ford

Genre: Drama / Western

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Die Hard (1988)

New York cop, John McClane, flies to Los Angeles on Christmas Eve to spend the holidays with his family. He arrives at the Nakatomi Corp building in time for his wife's office party. However, little did any of them know that international terrorists had arrived to take over the building, holding everyone hostage with the intent to steal $600 million of bonds from the vaults. Now it's up to McClane to face the terrorists with nothing but a handgun and his wits. Can he save his wife as well as the other hostages? Well, if this isn't one of the most incredible action 80s movies ever conceived, set during one of the best times of the year! This film is famous for being quite divisive amongst viewers on whether or not it is considered a Christmas flick. It has been an argument that's frequently debated, but in my opinion, I would say it is a Christmas film. However, it is also one you could watch all year round, making it your unconventional festive flick. Although, I certainly think it's best witnessed during the holiday season. Personally, I adore Die Hard cause it's got it all! It has humour, tension, drama and some gritty action sequences that are extremely cool. One of the greatest highlights of this film is the actors. They are truly magnificent, giving some stunning performances, especially when it comes to Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman. Rickman's portrayal of Hans Gruber is just the best, creating one of the most sophisticated villains in movie history with his superb line deliveries. Each word carries such weight to it and makes for some hilarious moments. For example, when one man, killed by McClane, turns up in an elevator with the sentence, "Now I have a machine gun Ho-Ho-Ho" written on his clothing. Gruber reads it aloud slowly and his pronunciation of 'Ho-Ho-Ho' always cracks me up. Willis' performance was very surprising, considering he had never taken part in a serious movie like this up to that point and was a real gamble that was well paid off. Some of my favourite moments of this adventure are when McClane obtains one of the henchman's radios and starts talking with Hans. Their conversations are really interesting and extremely entertaining, especially with Hans' playful responses, asking McClane if he is just a guy who watched too many movies as a child who thinks he is John Wayne or Rambo. I also love how McClane is able to make a cop investigating the area aware of the situation getting the problem known to the force. The two grow a close bond on this mission after the two begin talking over the radio. They both work together despite being far apart and help one another out, which was simply awesome and I always looked forward to the two exchanging conversations. In actuality, John McClane isn't built up straight away to be the hero. He is just your typical everyday man, like anyone else. He's just there to see his family for the holidays and isn't shown off as your buff, muscular hero-like actor such as Stalone and Schwarzenegger (who were originally considered for the role). Only seen as a comedy actor at the time, Bruce Willis flipped the stereotypical and original depiction of your action hero. He spends most of the beginning of the take-over asking for help. Hoping the gunfire had been heard by his limo driver outside before taking matters into his own hands, becoming the badass with the iconic one-liners. Argyle, the limo driver, is pretty comical too just being blissfully unaware of the goings on. Had he been listening, he could've stopped the whole situation by calling the police, yet the entire time he is listening to music and talking on the phone. Even the henchmen are comedic, with plenty of jokes and scenes throughout that mostly involve them meeting an unexpected demise from McClane, which always gets a snicker from me. Overall, this is hands down up there with the best action movies ever made. With some beautiful cinematography, score, visuals, acting, action and twists, Die Hard doesn't skip a beat in any form. Incredible writing and performances all around. Do you consider this explosive flick a Christmas movie? I know I certainly do. If you enjoyed this classic, check out Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990), also set during Christmas.

Runtime: 2h 12m

Director: John McTiernan

Genre: Action / Thriller

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Gremlins (1984)

In search of the perfect Christmas present for his teenage son, Billy, Randall Peltzer comes across a cute furry creature called a "Mogwai". However, this otherwise sweet pet companion comes with a huge responsibility and warning. Should its owner break the three fundamental guidelines of, keeping it out of bright lights, never getting it wet and never feeding it after midnight, then all hell will break loose. Of course, Billy disregards these strict rules, and as the once-adorable animal spawns terrifying minuscule critters, the suburban haven of Kingston Falls is under siege. Now, there is no turning back, and destruction is at hand. Is there an escape from this endless Yuletide nightmare, and the horrible menace of the Gremlins? This is another superb creation from the best decade for movies ever to occur, the 1980s. Despite being set during the festive season, this is a film that can be enjoyed all year round and can be considered an unconventional Christmas flick. However, I highly recommend giving it a watch during Christmas for the full effect. I love the unique design of the creature, Mogwai. Later named Gizmo, this little being is one of the cutest pets I have ever seen and has certainly warmed many viewers' hearts. All the scenes featuring Gizmo are adorable, from singing in tune to the notes of a keyboard to driving around a store in a toy car, racing to help save the day. Unfortunately, if you do not adhere to the rules set in place, things will take an unpleasant turn. When Gizmo accidentally gets wet, he begins to multiply, creating, even more, Mogwai that act quite differently. Things seem fine until one night the five new creatures eat some chicken before midnight but, unbeknown to Billy, they had tampered with the clock. Now, having eaten well after midnight, when the family wakes up, they find them all cocooned in egg-like pods. This is where the horror side of the film comes into play because once they have hatched, they are now dangerous green Gremlins. Once these fierce monsters arrive, it instantly alters in tone proving how this movie isn't for children, despite the cute little Gizmo, don't let it fool you. There are some horrific scenes in this film with people getting attacked and even some Gremlins getting killed in some very violent imagery. Billy's mum gets a few brutal kills during the kitchen sequence, from trapping one Gremlin in a microwave, that blows up, and even knifing one! I mean for a kind and loving mother, she shows no mercy with these creatures and it is honestly scary. I don't know who I should have been afraid of, her or the Gremlins. However, they did attack her first so it's understandable, I guess. Other than that scene, the Gremlins have the most kills after they multiply even more, attacking the entire town. I think my favourite part of the film is the crazy antics of the Gremlins. They are so funny in their on-screen moments, like when they take over the bar and you can see them swinging from ceiling fans, playing poker and dancing. The puppets and mechanical Gremlins (including Gizmo) all look fantastic and so life-like, which is one of the reasons why I love these older films. They feature real movie magic put into them that culminates into a marvellous product. Another segment I enjoyed is the battle between Billy and the lead Gremlin, Stripe. Their fight is brutal with Stripe doing a real number on Billy attacking him with blades and even a chainsaw. Another entertaining aspect is the bounty of visual background references in the science fair, where none other than Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet (1956) can be seen, as well as, the time machine from The Time Machine (1960). I love the detail of it vanishing between shots, travelling through time leaving bystanders looking confused whilst Billy's father is on the phone unaware of what is going on. Such a funny gag. Overall, I adore this festive comedic horror. It manages to blend all the elements very well. It does go a little over the top at times, especially with that tale from Kate (if you know, you know). It's a thrilling experience that I will always put on during Christmas time. Definitely check this one out, especially the hilarious sequel: Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990).

Runtime: 1h 46m

Director: Joe Dante

Genre: Comedy / Fantasy / Horror

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K-9 and Company: A Girl's Best Friend (TV Movie 1981)

It is the year 1981, and some years have passed since journalist Sarah Jane Smith ended her adventures in time and space with The Doctor, resuming her career as an investigative journalist. Days before Christmas, Sarah Jane Smith arrives at the home of her Aunt Lavinia in the cosy village of Moreton Harwood only to find that Lavinia is nowhere to be found. However, a large and heavy mysterious box has been left behind. Upon opening it she finds out the Doctor has left her a parting gift in the form of a robot metal dog: K·9 Mark III. With the help of K-9 and Lavinia's young ward Brendan Richards, Sarah Jane starts investigating her aunt's disappearance. In the process, they discover that Moreton Harwood is home to a coven worshipping the pagan god Hecate and preparing for a human sacrifice. Originally intended as a spin-off series, this show was to follow Sarah Jane after her departure with the Doctor and return to Earth. Unfortunately, the pilot episode didn't do well enough to grant it a series and is now classed as a TV movie. The film is still part of the world of Doctor Who, with the story being a part of the canon. We know this because we later see Sarah has K-9 in an episode of the amazing show Doctor Who: The Classic Era (TV Series 1963-1989) - The Five Doctors. This episode was a celebration story marking the 20th Anniversary of the series, where many characters returned for a huge event. Sarah and K-9 returned in Doctor Who: The Revival Era (TV Series 2005-2017) in the episode - School Reunion, even getting a new series: The Sarah Jane Adventures (TV Series 2007-2011). This series was far more successful and made up for the failed attempt of K-9 and Company. Although we are never told which incarnation of the Doctor sent K-9 I believe it was Tom Baker's incarnation of the 4th Doctor who sent him as a gift since he was the last version of the Doctor Sarah met before her departure. In my opinion, despite only being one episode, I thought the short story was fine, although nothing special. I enjoyed K-9 being back and the new friendship he made with Sarah, which would be explored further in their later revival show and Doctor Who episodes. Sarah moves into her Aunt's town for the Christmas holiday but little did she know there were strange occurrences taking place. With most of the town believing in witchcraft, we are left with a great deal of mystery as to whom we can trust since the mysterious goings-on involved pagan god worship. Most of the time Sarah would call on the help of other townfolk, but we would later find out they are involved. From kind older gentlemen to even policemen, everyone appears to be part of it. I do find it to be quite an unusual and brave first choice for an episode pilot, especially for a Christmas one targeted at the younger audience and then having some rituals worshipping the devil. My favourite part of the entire episode was when K-9 mentions the Doctor to Sarah. As he starts talking about him, we hear his theme from the show played, which genuinely gave me goosebumps. It was extremely cool. Even just seeing Sarah's reaction to hearing his name and seeing the amazing gift, is sure to make any fan smile. The intro is quite catchy too, giving off those very 80s vibes. Watching it simply makes me wonder how this whole concept could have turned out as a running Doctor Who spin-off series. Overall, K-9 and Company is a fun addition to the Whoniverse and if you are a fan of all things Doctor Who, especially Sarah Jane and K-9, this is a nice instalment to check out. With only being a 50 minutes episode, it makes for some quick viewing even if it is likely to be a one-time viewing as it can get a bit boring. Also, being released and set at Christmas this short can be viewed during the festive season or all year round.

Runtime: 50m

Director: John Black

Genre: Mystery / Sci-fi

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Peter Pan Goes Wrong (TV Movie 2016)

It's time for a play and the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society has got you covered with their rendition of Peter Pan performed at Christmas in front of a live audience and broadcast to the nation. However, there is a little problem and that is everything goes wrong. From members forgetting their whole lines leading to them wearing a headset throughout being fed the lines, to Peter getting flung around by the wires making him fly, and pirate ships crashing into other sets of the BBC during the show. It all happens! This is an incredibly funny film. I saw it back when it originally aired in 2016 and was laughing from start to finish. It was so hilarious. Despite its airing on BBC One at Christmas, this film can be watched all year round and is a lot of fun. Of course, most pantomime-related projects have that Christmas feel and this one is certainly not exempt, so definitely give this a watch during the festive season for the full effect. The writers: Henry Lewis, Henry Shields, and Jonathan Sayer all deserve praise for this comedic marvel and it was so good they even returned for another Christmas play: A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong (TV Movie 2017), and also a show: The Goes Wrong Show (TV Series 2019-2021) currently on 2 Seasons with more possibly on the way. Every one of their productions has brought so much enjoyment to me and many others and is a great watch for times when you need a good laugh. All the actors do such a marvellous job, creating an experience full of laughter whilst attempting to be as serious as possible. Acting as if nothing is going wrong until, of course, it inevitably does. Each character has a specific characteristic which gets carried over to the later productions. Chris is the director and wants everything to go as perfectly as possible. Robert believes he is the leading actor. Dennis can never remember his lines and constantly needs prompting. Max is just so happy to be there and adores the audience's attention. Sandra loves to show off and act like the leading actress. Annie does the best she can in countless bad situations. Jonathan can never get into shots properly and Trevor is a terrible backstage manager. Even David Suchet, who is our narrator, plays along fabulously especially since he is well known for his more serious acting roles like in Agatha Christie's Poirot (TV Series 1989 -2013). It was so interesting seeing him go out of his usual type of productions and star in this crazy play, making it all the better. With many jokes, visual gags, and dangerous stunts packed into this film, there's a lot to enjoy. One of my favourite scenes in the play has to be when Captain Hook rows out to the other pirates but they have to use recorded footage of him on a lake. Throughout the recorded footage, he is constantly interrupted and told to only use pedalos on the lake or that the park is closed and he has to leave to the point where he's in a rowing boat in a swimming pool. Comedy at its finest. Even during the climactic final confrontation, all hell breaks loose, from sets breaking and crashing into other BBC sets to fires breaking out, yet, despite all that, the play still goes on. Total madness! If you haven't seen Peter Pan Goes Wrong there are many clips on YouTube and sometimes the whole film is on there so definitely take a look and you might get lucky. There is a DVD copy which doubled up with the other film: A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong if DVDs are your thing. Overall, this is a hilarious film and is sure to give you a laugh. I love it very much that I always come back for more. Also, if you like their work then go check out their YouTube channel linked below for more.

Runtime: 1h 5m

Director: Dewi Humphreys

Genre: Comedy

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