Celluloid Christmas: Holy Hollywood! "Elf"
The eighth pick for the 12 Films of Christmas is a family favorite from 2003. “Elf,” which stars Will Ferrell as the title character, is a massive holiday hit. When it was released 16 years ago, I imagine the studio hoped it would succeed based on Ferrell’s popularity on “Saturday Night Live.” Having appeared in five prior films, always as a comedic supporting actor, producers were banking on his hilarious TV reputation and his always-reliable acting chops. When other comics
Celluloid Christmas: Holy Hollywood! "The Holiday"
My fourth selection for the 12 Films of Christmas is a 2006 rom-com “The Holiday.” I don’t ordinarily like movies that fall into this category; my quota for liking “meet cute” storylines is pretty filled to the brim. However, this Nancy Meyers–helmed comedy surprised me because of its unapologetic commitment to breathtaking snow-filled villages, multimillion-dollar Los Angeles mansions, jet-setting overseas trips at the drop of a hat, and a reverence for the film industry its
