I am rebooting (I DO live in LA, you know) the series of posts I created last year inspired by BFC’s Thursday Night Open Thread in which he professed his love for the maple bar.
Last year, the plan was for this to be an ongoing off-season series on Saturday nights in which I presented to you my five favourite somethings and it worked out pretty well until I either ran out of topics, Saturday Nights, or got bored with the concept. I don’t remember what actually happened. However, I am back with a vengeance!
We’ll see how long it lasts. Phrasing. Please remember to give me your suggestions for a top five list you would like for me to tackle.
Without further ado, I present to you my Top Five favourite LA Christmas movies!
1 – Friday After Next
This is my Go-To Christmas movie. It starts with the opening credits:
If that doesn’t get you in the Christmas spirit, I don’t know what will. Plus, it lets you know right away you are in Los Angeles with the police helicopter. The whole storyline revolves around Christmas as the boys’ presents get stolen (among other important things like the rent money) and they spend the rest of the movie trying to figure out how to save Christmas.
Pros:
I dare say this is the funniest of the Friday movies.
The party scene:
John Witherspoon
Cons:
The cops kept their weed
2 – Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
There are too many memorable quotes from this movie to remember. As you may or may not know, this is the movie that revived Robert Downey Jr.’s career. He should be inviting Shane Black to his mansion for Thanksgiving every year.
The plot revolves around a guy moving to LA and trying to make it in showbusiness. Along the way, he meets incredibly weird characters, gets into major trouble, and reconnects with someone from his past. That is the core of what LA is about.
The dialogue is sharp in a neo-noir style and the acting performances are top notch. Catering services had tubs full of Frescas.
Pros:
Michelle Monahan is gorgeous.
This movie has Val Kilmer AND Corbin Benson in it!
There are a couple of scenes (pool party scene and Christmas party scene) that describe LA to a T.
Cons:
I didn’t really care for the sister’s storyline.
The Epilogue could have been better.
3 – Go
There are two movies that define LA during the 90s. The first one is Swingers and the other one is Go. Go is also a wonderful Christmas movie.
The movie has a unique structure in that the events of a couple of days are told three different ways from the perspectives of three different characters who are all interrelated. The cast is amazing, the writing is superb, and the action is non-stop. The music is really good too as a lot of the action takes place at a rave.
Pros:
It’s not your typical narrative.
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It’s a FUCKING MIATA!!
Cons:
The third chapter is good but the first two are so good that the third feels weak in comparison.
4 – Lethal Weapon
Yes, I know there are two Shane Black films in here. He’s just that good.
The movie is a classic and I’m surprised I have to tell you this. The part you probably didn’t remember is that it is set in Los Angeles during Christmas. That’s why it’s more dramatic that Mel Gibson’s character is suicidal at the beginning of the movie.
This movie embodies the Christmas spirit better than any other.
Pros:
The movie launched a bunch of sequels and the genre of buddy cop movies
Pretty lights!
Mel Gibson at his most likable.
Cons:
Some people don’t like the excessive violence. Fuck ’em!
5 – Die Hard
It had to come to this, didn’t it?
Look, it totally is a Christmas movie because the whole reason he is in LA is for Christmas. And to maybe reconcile with his wife. And to kill some bad guys.
I think Alan Rickman stole this movie like the Grinch stole Christmas but that’s just me.
Pros:
The Family Matters Dad is a Cop!
Hans Fucking Grüber
Cons:
The ex-wife is super annoying. Why does he want to get back together with her?
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What say you in the comments?
