More Christmas magic at the movies
AS the holiday season continues, I’ve been watching the new Christmas movies that have come out on streaming services. Spirited stars the uber-talented Will Ferrell (He’s a comic! He’s a singer! He’s a director! He’s a producer! What more can he do?!) and the pride of Canada... no, not Justin Bieber but Ryan Reynolds, who basically plays his silly self in every movie. It’s a ridiculous and humorous retelling Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol, with Ferrell playing The Ghost of Christmas Present.
He is a part of an otherwordly crew (with the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Future, and other spirits) who chooses one dark soul (i.e., a Scrooge) every year in a bid to change him/her for the better in time for Christmas. This year’s “perp,” as you can probably guess by now, is Pr/political operator Clint Briggs (Reynolds), who isn’t beneath doing opposition research and destroying the political aspirations of a grade school pupil’s run for class president.
Hilarity ensues as the spirits try to redeem’s Briggs’s soul. There’s singing, there’s dancing, there’s a hefty amount of childish behavior not usually from the kids, with a surprising twist for both Ferrell’s and Briggs’s characters. Spirited is streaming on Apple TV+
More friends share their favorite holiday films:
■ Susan “Toots” Ople, secretary, Department of Migrant Workers: My favorite movie is Sleepless in Seattle, even if it’s not a Christmas movie! I like the scene where the character of Meg Ryan (Annie Reed) had to decide whether to go to the Empire State Building to meet Tom Hanks’s character (Sam Baldwin) or accept her fiancee Walter’s (Bill Pullman) proposal. It became a Christmas habit because it‘s a quietly joyful and romantic movie that one can watch with family members and my dogs. Hindi nakakaumay even though I’ve watched it repeatedly. I’m a Nora Ephron and a Tom Hanks-meg Ryan fan.
■ Irwin Lee, president, Universal Robina Corp.: I have two favorite Christmas movies, and one is Love Actually. It’s almost 20 years old, it’s a great romantic comedy from director Richard Curtis with a star-studded cast (Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Alan Rickman, etc), which is a perennial re-run favorite in the UK where I lived for nine years. It’s emotional and light at the same time, with an enjoyable soundtrack to boot. The other movie is Die Hard. Some people may not think of this as a Christmas movie, but it’s a fun one for the festive season. Bruce Willis, playing the lead character John Mcclane, gives us an exciting action movie set at Christmas time—there are explosions with fireworks, a bad guy is thrown off Nakatomi building, the hero saves the girl and they drive off in a limousine as snow falls on the ground. Yippeekayey!
■ Arturo P. Boncato, president, World Trade Center, Manila: Home Alone and the sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York are my favorite movies in the Christmas season. They are very playful and entertaining movies that easily carry the light and happy mood of the season. The focus on family in a flurry of crazy activities during the busiest time of the year is very relatable. And the transition of the young, bratty main character, Kevin Mccallister (Macaulay Caulkin), to single-handedly holding the fort at home against sneaky characters and would-be burglars (played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern), subtly reveals Kevin’s strength of character by taking responsibility for protecting his home at all costs, no matter how inventive, naughty and childish. In the end, the whole family reunites, wiser, more tightly bonded, and with a new perspective. In real life, this happens, too, especially during Christmas.
■ Pacita “Chit” Juan, president, Philippine Coffee Board: The Holiday is a nice film to watch, and makes you feel like you’re eating comfort food. It’s a feel-good movie, with good familiar actors— Cameron Diaz (Amanda), Kate Winslet (Iris), Jude Law (Graham), and Jack Black (Miles). Just when you think life’s a bore, or unfair, or frustrating, there’s a surprise at the end of the rainbow. It’s definitely a movie we need this Christmas, when everything seems to be so noisy and busy. I liked it because it is a story of hope and looks forward to better times. I’m a positive thinker and an optimist, so I feel good just watching something so pleasant. Just what we need in this turbulent season. Good vibes only.
■ Capt. Stanley Ng, president, Philippine Airlines: My favorite Christmas movies are those with Santa Claus in them. Santa is an icon of joyful anticipation for all children, and that’s what our kids need. Christmas is the best time of year for children, a season of giving and love that teaches kids to be generous and compassionate. Santa embodies this in the way that he reaches out to children all over the world. He’s not just giving toys and material gifts. He is spreading hope, the promise of a future that is caring and loving. And the Christmas season also reminds us to love one another and share our blessings, and to forgive one another and create new wonderful memories.
Wishing everyone a joyful new year celebration. Let’s pray for a kinder, gentler 2023.