“Slipper socks, medium!”
This is my favorite Christmas movie, but I’m a cynic with a healthy appreciation for witty humor and a leading lady against the Hallmark romantic grain.
Caroline Chasseur (Judy Davis) is my favorite character. I love her realness of being over their marriage, yet hopelessly romantic enough to save it, but it’s her tenacity and almost unbelievable humanness that gets me.
She strikes a bond with Gus (Denis Leary) not out of sexual desires, but as two hostages of situations they’ve found themselves in with unwilling partners - Gus being stuck with this drunk, halfwit partner, Murray & Caroline in a rutted marriage with Lloyd.
Caroline takes home Best Dressed with the exaggerated shoulder wool trench coat and her Christmas dinner ankle length dress over a long sleeve. Simple in every way and modestly separates them as renters in Old Bay Brooks’ mansion owners club.
Best Caroline line: Caroline is obviously drunk reminiscing about being young and in love, Lloyd suggests she eat something. Caroline - “Lloyd, why don’t you eat me?”
Runner-up for Best Dressed is Gus in the finest cat burglar outfit the local K-Mart had to offer - black sweatshirt, black jeans, black boots. His devilishly disconnected mustache & goatee paired with shaggy hair rounds out the 80s bad boy turned jewel thief look.
Honorable mention goes to Mary with an ultra 90’s ensemble, complete with a beret & Jesse’s peacoat worn on the path through the woods to the docks.
Best dressed Santa Clause goes to drunk George in his final moments in the film as he confronts Lloyd and Caroline for ignoring his wife’s fruitcake. His beard is pulled down and his hat is whipped off. This is either the greatest or worst Santa and I choose greatest.
Should this movie get more recognition?
No. It isn’t camp enough for cult or holiday enough for a classic.
The characters are well rounded, the story structure is on point, the running joke isn’t overused, archetypes are met, and the dialogue is sharp & quotable, but this is not a movie for everyone.
Best line:
”You know what, Mom? You know what I'm going to get you next Christmas? A big, wooden cross. So anytime you feel unappreciated for all your sacrifices, you can climb on up and nail yourself to it.”
Best joke:
Connie - “Who would catch a criminal and let them go?”
Mary - “Republicans?”