Christmas bonus:
Some holiday classics have a work-related angle
Looking for holiday movies that don’t center around a jaded, big-city executive who moves back to the small town where she grew up to care for her ailing mom — and unwillingly falls in love with the town handyman while creating a thriving fruit-preserve business and befriending the retiring horse who no longer can pull the children around on a tastefully decorated sleigh? Then we have some movies for you!
OK, we’re not necessarily breaking new ground here and you’ve probably seen most of these films but given the upcoming holidays and the general employment theme of our work, here are some holiday movies that have a job hook — and don’t worry, we’re not mentioning “Die Hard,” which seems to be the unexpected Christmas-movie favorite:
“Elf”
This 2003 comedy stars Will Ferrell as Buddy, a human raised by elves at the North Pole. Buddy eventually discovers his true identity and takes off for New York City to meet his dad, played by James Caan. Not only do we see Buddy navigating the challenges of the bottom rung of corporate jobs — which he handles with aplomb — we also see his dad dealing with missed deadlines, handling workrelated panic and eventually finding a solution he could have never envisioned.
“The Santa Clause”
Tim Allen plays Scott Calvin, who accidentally causes Santa Claus to fall off his roof on Christmas Eve in this 1994 film. When Calvin puts on Santa’s suit, he unknowingly and reluctantly is forced to take on a new job — Santa Claus. In addition to some on-the-job training, Calvin learns the importance of genuine teamwork and work/life balance.
“A Christmas Carol”
This Charles Dickens classic has been adapted into various films. The storyline centers around Ebenezer Scrooge, a mean-spirited, selfish, stingy businessman, and his encounters with the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. In the end, Scrooge’s outlook on life is completely transformed, which we see through his altered approach to his long-suffering employee Bob Cratchit, who gets a raise, a day off, a delicious dinner — “There was never such a goose,” according to Cratchit — and peace of mind with Scrooge’s commitment to pay for the long-term care of Cratchit’s son Tiny Tim.
“Home Alone”
More of a “job?” than a job, Harry and Marv, played by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern, respectively, are a couple of burglars in this 1990 film — the wet bandits, to be exact — who put in the prep work to rob the McCallister house on Christmas Eve. Unknown to them, Kevin McCallister, played by Macaulay Culkin, has been putting in some extra time himself and has laid out numerous traps to catch the bumbling pair. In the end, Harry and Marv end up with new jobs, probably breaking rocks in the state prison but they soon escape during a riot, just in time for 1992’s “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.”
“Christmas Vacation”
Holiday stress, live animals, annoying relatives and a mishandled bonus lead Clark Griswold, played by Chevy Chase, down a path of holiday hilarity in this 1989 classic. Griswold’s reliance on his bonus comes crashing down when he learns his end-of-the-year cash has been replaced with a membership in a jelly club. After a tense showdown with his boss, relatives and a SWAT team, Griswold gets his bonus back and a new appreciation for the holiday season.
“It’s a Wonderful Life”
An idealistic George Bailey, played by Jimmy Stewart in this 1946 film, has dedicated his life to the people of Bedford Falls. To keep Mr. Potter, played by Lionel Barrymore, from controlling housing and loan options for the entire town, Bailey takes over the Bailey Brothers Building and Loan and provides the residents of Bedford Falls with affordable housing and fair financial options. Eventually, calamity strikes and Bailey, despite his best efforts, stands to lose the Building and Loan. After being rejuvenated by seeing what life would be like without him, Bailey’s lifetime of good deeds is rewarded when friends and family members provide more than enough cash to keep the building and loan — and Bailey’s spirit — afloat for years.