The yuletide season isn’t just for kids: here are some Instant Videos to keep the older teens and grown-ups laughing through the holidays, too!
Bad Santa (R, 4/5 stars, currently priced at $1.99 to rent and $9.99 to buy) – From Amazon:
A miserable conman and his partner pose as Santa and his Little Helper to rob department stores on Christmas Eve. But they run into problems when the conman befriends a troubled kid, and the security boss discovers the plot.
One Amazon reviewer says, “Not since “There’s something about Mary” have I laughed so hard in a movie theater! I got into one of the preview screenings of this last week in LA and I have to say 90% of the audience was laughing just as loud as me. Let the prudes stay home – this is a film for anyone who wants to laugh till it hurts!”
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (PG-13, 4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $1.99 to rent and $9.99 to buy, currently FREE for Amazon Prime members to view) – From Amazon:
The comic misadventures of the beleaguered Griswold family continue in this latest “Vacation” outing, the third and most successfulof the series.
One Amazon reviewer says, “The undisputed gem of the National Lampoon ‘Vacation’ series, the plot can be summed up very simply: idealistic family man Clark Griswold wants to host the perfect old-fashioned fun family Christmas. As all of us idealistic family men have discovered, there is no such thing as a perfect holiday, and that just about sums it up. The appeal of this film is that we can all relate to the disasters that holidays can become, regardless of how well-meaning we are and how hard we work to achieve them…The self-inflicted situations that befall Clark in his holiday quest are peppered with memorable dialogue and slapstick, yet believable enough to bring flickers of recognition to most viewers. Witness his mishaps on the roof putting up the lights; getting trapped in the attic; spending his Christmas bonus before he gets it; dealing with his snooty neighbors; and getting hilariously tongue-tied at the lingerie counter and being remarkably eloquent when he gets his “bonus”. Admit it. We’ve all been there.”
Scrooged (PG-13, 4/5 stars, currently priced at $2.99 to rent and $9.99 to buy) – From Amazon:
A cynically selfish TV executive gets haunted by three spirits bearing lessons on Christmas Eve. Stars Bill Murray.
One Amazon reviewer says, “It was great. Great movie, great actors, came through wonderfully on the TV. Streaming is the way to go.”
Surviving Christmas (PG-13, 3.5/5 stars, currently priced at $2.99 to rent and $9.99 to buy) – From Amazon:
A lonely, obnoxious young millionaire pays a family to spend Christmas with him. Starring Ben Affleck, James Gandolfini, Catherine O’Hara and Christina Applegate.
One Amazon reviewer says, “I laughed almost the whole time. At times I even had tears in my eyes from laughing. What is wrong with everyone, this movie is freakin hilarious. It is a light hearted, slapstick, funny Christmas family film. Some of the lines were so funny that we still quote them. Hopefully, people will read this review and give this movie a chance.”
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (R, 4.5/5 stars, currently priced at $2.99 to rent and $9.99 to buy, currently FREE for Amazon Prime members to view) – Okay, this one’s actually set at Thanksgiving, but the winter travel travails of Steve Martin and John Candy will fit right in with the season! From Amazon:
Neal Page is an advertising executive who just wants to fly home to Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with his family. But all Neal Page gets is misery. Misery named Del Griffith — a loud mouthed, but nevertheless lovable, salesman who leads Neal on a cross-country, wild goose chase that keeps Neal from tasting his turkey.
One Amazon reviewer says, “When I think of “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” I smile. It is an absolutely wonderful movie. Yes, it is regarded as a comedy but when I think of it I think of it as more of a drama. The jokes don’t get old. This is probably my favorite comedy of all time. Hughes takes the traveling nightmare genre to a whole new level. It’s more a triumph in script writing than anything.”