Christmas Movies Actually

Erik Childress and Erik Laws return to talk with Kerry and Collin about the classic action film that redefined the genre while also changing the conversation about what constitutes a Christmas movie: 1988's "Die Hard." Everything about the film today still feels perfect and their discussion covers a wide range of iconic scenes and characters. Who was the script originally intended for? Was giving...

Kerry and Collin are joined by film critic B.L. Panther to talk about the 1996 made-for-TV musical "Mrs. Santa Claus," starring Angela Lansbury, Charles Durning and Michael Jeter. How did this end up being the perfect film to talk about the week of Independence Day? How is Santa magic used (or not used) in 1910 America? Finally, is it so hard for commercial-based streaming services to put their co...

Kerry and Collin take a look at the 1994 crime comedy "Trapped In Paradise," starring Nicolas Cage, Dana Carvey and Jon Lovitz (the previously planned "The Holly and the Ivy" episode had to be postponed). How does this movie compare to other get-out-of-town crime comedies that also take place during Christmas? Is there such a thing as a "nativity sleigh"? What does any of this have to do with 1959...

Film critic and Now Playing Network head honcho Jim Laczkowski joins Collin & Kerry to talk about the underrated Chevy Chase comedy "Funny Farm" (1988), which also stars Madolyn Smith Osborne, as a couple who buy a dream home in a town populated by deranged, drunken lunatics. Why didn't this film catch on back in the day? Is this Chevy Chase's best film? Why do people wear Christmas wreaths around...

EXPLICIT CONTENT! We don't want any angry letters after this, so there you go. Kerry and Collin are joined by Chicago film critic Clint Worthington (The Spool) to break down Sean Baker's Christmas Eve comedy about a day in the life of two L.A. trans sex workers trying to find a cheating ex-boyfriend. And it's all about the hustle! Why is the use of the song "Toyland" so important here? How does Ch...

Kerry and Collin take a look at the Queen Latifah comedy "Last Holiday," which is actually a remake of an Alec Guinness comedy from 1950. Surprisingly, Robert Zemeckis served as executive producer on this film, which is about as simple and formulaic as a film can be, but its star makes it work (mostly). Why did it take 23 years to make this film? How come nobody talks about Christmas here? What's...

Kerry and Collin finally get around to Tim Allen movies with what is arguably one of the most influential Christmas movies of all time, "The Santa Clause". That doesn't mean "great" necessarily, but the movie does provide the template for hundreds of Santa-based movies that would come later and continue to be made today. Is this the first Santa with a lactose intolerance? Who is Kerry's favorite c...

Have you ever wondered where those crazy Christmas songs come from? The ones you hear at the end of every episode of this show (as well as the intro)? Well, in honor of Record Store Day (April 22), Collin and Kerry take a look at Mitchell Kezin's very entertaining documentary "Jingle Bell Rocks" (2014), which examines the people who discover this music, the people who made it and the passion every...

Film critic Marya E. Gates ( RogerEbert.com , Vulture ) joins Collin and Kerry for a deep dive into one of her very favorite films, "Holiday Affair," staring Janet Leigh, Robert Mitchum and Wendell Corey. While not one of the most popular of Christmas films, could it have influenced films such as "Sleepless In Seattle" and "Baby Boom"? What makes this love triangle so different from other rom-coms...

The Academy Awards are right around the corner! Kerry and Collin take a look at two of the short film nominations, "Night Ride" and "Le Pupille," two shorts that take place during the Christmas season. They also look at the Academy Award-winning short "Franz Kafka's It's A Wonderful Life," which celebrates its 30th Anniversary this year. There is also a lot of general Oscar talk and the various ca...

Kerry and Collin are joined by their friend Christopher Grace ("Mixed Nuts" episode) to talk about this early-'90s classic comedy, "Grumpy Old Men," featuring the kings of the Odd Couples, Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. How is their chemistry with the great Ann-Margaret? Did Burgess Meredith write his own one-liners? How does Prince figure into all of this? All this, plus a look at two other film...

In this crossover episode, Collin and Kerry are joined by Erik Childress and Morgan Gire of The Friendship Dilemma podcast to discuss the 2005 Ryan Reynolds comedy, "Just Friends." Who are we supposed to be rooting for in this film? Would you be friends with any of these people? What constitutes a fat suit? You'll hear answers to these questions, as well as The Blu-ray Gift Exchange, where we look...

Collin and Kerry take a look at a film suggested by a listener, the 1991 comedy "All I Want For Christmas." While the poster for the film might suggest it being about two greedy kids who hog-tie Santa Claus until he gives them what they want, it's actually more about two kids dealing with their parents' divorce. Does the movie really earn its G rating? What purpose does Andrea Martin's character s...

Kerry and Collin start a new January tradition now that they've exhausted all the "Babes In Toyland" movies. The Nutcracker seems like the most obvious choice of films, starting here with the 1993 ballet vehicle for Macauley Culkin. Does he blend well with the other dancers? What's the difference between this and the hundred other Nutcracker productions that have been done over the decades? Do we...

Kerry and Collin are joined by their good friend, Jim Peebles, to talk about the holiday classic, the original "Miracle On 34th Street." For a movie that gives the viewer a lot of reasons to doubt Santa Claus, it nevertheless has stood the test of time and remains a Christmastime favorite. What's the key to its success? What makes the film's trailer so unusual? How are letters to Santa handled in...

Matt Fagerholm joins Collin and Kerry to talk ALL things Muppets! In celebration of the 30th Anniversary of "The Muppet Christmas Carol," the three get into Muppet Christmas specials of the past as well as the other Muppet films. How does Michael Caine approach sharing screen space with non-humans? How does the new Disney+ version of The Muppets compare to the original? What happens when you hit P...

Kerry and Collin squeeze in a previously unplanned episode by celebrating the 80th anniversary of "The Man Who Came To Dinner," starring Bette Davis, Ann Sheridan and Monty Woolley. This movie never quite gets its due, except for the occasional "alternative Christmas movie" list. Don't we all wish we could be Sheridan Whiteside once in a while? Who is capable of stealing his thunder when he/she en...

Kerry and Collin take a look at the very R-rated theatrical release, "Violent Night," starring David Harbour ("Stranger Things") as Santa Claus, who gets caught up in a "Die Hard"-like situation. Ho-ho-ho, will he now have a machine gun? How does "Violent Night" measure up against other R-rated Christmas fare? Should David Harbour play Santa more often? What is Kerry's new favorite word? You'll ha...

Erik Childress joins Collin and Kerry to talk about a TON of Christmas movies that are making their blu-ray or 4K debuts this year. A lot of classics, non-classics, TV specials and obscurities, as well as a run-down of other physical media releases over the last year, all designed to help you with gift ideas for the movie lover in your life. There's something for everyone! Turn off the motion smoo...

Seventy episodes after their debut, Collin and Kerry return to the adventures of Ralphie and the gang with the first direct sequel to "A Christmas Story," a film that carries with it some baggage for the hosts. "A Christmas Story Christmas" has a lot to live up to for many people. Did Peter Billingsly and his team pull it off? Or does it belong in the scrap-heap with the dreadful "A Christmas Stor...

The first big Christmas movie of 2022 is here! And it looks and sounds just like every other lame Hallmark/Lifetime movie instead of something with the slightest hint of ambition. Film critic Leo Brady (amovieguy.com) joins Collin and Kerry to look at whether or not this vehicle is worthy of a Lindsay Lohan comeback. Does she still got it? Are amnesia movies reflecting any kind of reality we all l...

Collin and Kerry pay tribute to one of heir beloved guests and friends, Sergio Mims, who passed away unexpectedly in October. Sergio was a guest on four episodes, all of which are presented here in clips that represent everything he did best when on the mic. A true original, a thoughtful film critic and a generous soul, Sergio will be greatly missed. Luckily, we was a guest on many podcasts and we...

The tradition continues! Patrick Ripoll joins Collin and Kerry once again to take a deep dive into the depths of what was once the most controversial idea for a horror film ever dreamed up. Speaking of dreams, the brain-domed killer, Ricky, has been randomly invading the dreams of a blind woman and she wants answers! So do we. What does Monte Hellman bring to the table for this sequel? Why do we g...

Kerry and Collin are joined by returning guest Steve Prokopy to talk about the 2015 horror-comedy "Krampus," which sports some impressive practical effects, costuming and puppetry from WETA Digital and a terrific cast. How closely does it follow the Krampus folklore? What makes the "Naughty Cut" of the film "naughty"? How does it measure up to other Christmas horror films? All this, plus the Book...

Collin and Kerry pay tribute to the late, great Paul Sorvino as they dissect the ABC Family Classic, inexplicably titled "Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe," without having seen the MIA original. Is this Jenny McCarthy's finest work? Why is her character named Mary Class instead of Mary Claus? Why hasn't "Back To the Beach" achieved greater cult status? All these questions, plus the Book segment and a...