Originally Posted by
Macca
What actually does constitute a Christmas film?
'Home Alone' is set at Christmas but it could just as well be at any time of year, doesn't matter to the plot.
Same with 'Die Hard', 'Die Hard 2' and 'Trading Places'
My apologies for dragging this up Macca but the Christmas theme IS integral to the plot of Home Alone! Less so Die Hard but still somewhat. . . .
Firstly the "Wet Bandits" (Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern) obtain the entire streets 'Christmas' lighting schedules as they are on automatic timers to turn their Christmas lights on at a certain time (as it's an affluent area, very rich pickings etc).
Secondly a lot of Kevin's 'booby traps' are made up of things you would find out around Christmas, including baubles underneath potential entrances (windows) after he has systematically removed said bandits socks with tar on an earlier booby trap, resulting in pain for the intruder and alerting Kevin to their whereabouts.
Also in the second film (Home Alone 2 - Lost In New York) his mum (mom) is only able to travel home because she meets up with a band (led by John Candy) whom also cannot get a flight home (because its Christmas) as they wish to get home to see their families too for the aforementioned reason of Christmas.
Also the now renamed "Sticky Bandits" plan to rob a toy store on Christmas Eve because it's the only night of the year when all the takings from that week are kept in the registers (because the owner likes to take the money down to various children's charities on Christmas).
There are numerous more reasons why these films must occur at Christmas, the plots simply wouldn't work without that factor.
Sorry I totally agree that a lot of films are branded 'Christmas Classics' only due to them being repeatedly aired around the same time, must be cheap or something. In Die Hard the staff are having a Christmas party, hence all of them being unaware of the goings on (inebriated etc). The story-line with the policeman 'driving home for Christmas' would not be so appropriate and a lot of the scenes (machine gun ho-ho-ho) would not really make much sense if it wasn't Christmas.
Also the lack of interest initially by the police department in John Mcclane's calls to them are a result of everyone there being a bit tired/merry, again due to Christmas. I agree though, it probably would have worked just as well without any Christmas references in it, unlike Home Alone.
Arguably Die Hard II (although not as good) is more 'Christmassy' as at least there is a lot of snow.
As some integral films from my childhood, I couldn't let that slide, sorry.
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