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First Viewing Viewing Date: December 10th Via: Stan. Plot: Two people search for each other years after the night they first met, fell in love and separated, convinced that one day fate would allow them to end up together. Rating: 7.7/10

First Viewing Plot: The lives of several New Yorkers, each with their own respective problems and concerns, intersect on Christmas Eve.

We've seen this type of narrative done before on many occasions, and it's not the last time we've seen it (fuck, they've even used it for Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve). Nevertheless, Noel worked for me. It's not one of the all-time best Christmas movies, nor is it even Top 10, but the acting is sincere and the story is sweet and poignant. Indeed, some of Paul Walker's best acting to date is glimpsed here, and a late scene involving Robin Williams and Susan Sarandon triggered a little lump in my throat. Noel also dabbles in the fantastical which is a tough proposition, especially when contrasted against stories that are raw and real, but it still comes together effectively enough. However, inevitably, it's annoying when the film cuts away from one story to focus on another, less interesting story. Despite the film receiving a harsh critical reception, I enjoyed Noel and I'm glad I got to watch it as part of my line-up this year.

First Viewing Viewing Date: December 9th Via: Stan. Plot: The lives of several New Yorkers, each with their own respective problems and concerns, intersect on Christmas Eve. Rating: 7.0/10

First Viewing Plot: On Christmas Eve, a not-for-profit crisis hotline is notified that they are being evicted and put out of business. The head of the hotline, Philip, tries to hide this information from his two employees, but the events of the day continue to grow wilder and wilder.

I simultaneously expected both less and more from this festive dark comedy, which is blessed with endless talent on both sides of the camera but was not exactly well-liked by either critics or audiences. Although it doesn't entirely deliver, I still had an enjoyable enough time watching Mixed Nuts, which carries a manic energy and delivers some pitch-black comedy, resulting in some sporadic scenes which genuinely work. The ensemble cast is terrific (including Adam Sandler in an early role) and it's intriguing to see a Christmas movie that explores the statistic about suicide rates going up at Christmastime. However, the ending feels like studio-mandated nonsense as it's extremely trite and predictable, right down to a child being born under a large Christmas tree in the street which is incredibly on the nose and doesn't feel in keeping with the darkly comedic tone. I wish that it just committed to being a black comedy and was armed an R rating, as that would've served the material and the performers better. Still, it's not bad.

First Viewing Viewing Date: December 9th Via: iTunes Store Plot: On Christmas Eve, a not-for-profit crisis hotline is notified that they are being evicted and put out of business. The head of the hotline, Philip, tries to hide this information from his two employees, but the events of the day continue to grow wilder and wilder. Rating: 6.4/10

First Viewing Viewing Date: December 9th Via: YouTube Movies Plot: Two bumbling government employees think they are U.S. spies, only to discover that they are actually decoys for Nuclear War. Rating: 6.6/10

First Viewing Plot: A group of unaccompanied minors bond while snowed in at the midwestern Hoover International Airport during the holiday season and ultimately create a makeshift holiday themselves.

Unaccompanied Minors is so overtly saccharine that it'll make your teeth rot. It's painfully generic, to the point that you can predict everything before it happens, and it's full of hoary cliches - I mean, we have unsecured air vents the kids can climb through, antagonistic adult characters that are painted in broad strokes of black and white, an unclaimed baggage room which is just a treasure trove for anybody who comes across it, and so on. I didn't find it overly funny, it lacks the poignancy and wit of something like The Breakfast Club, and it feels like exactly the type of mainstream Christmas movie that's aimed exclusively at small kids. I just wanted a bit more actual effort. And yet... I still found it somewhat charming and sufficiently enjoyable, especially as it runs a very brisk 90 minutes. It's slick and competently made with an effective cast, and I can't imagine anybody executing this script in a better way; its flaws are purely script-related. Also, it's not offensively bad or mean-spirited, so I can't bring myself to dislike it. I don't regret watching it, but I won't be watching it again.

First Viewing Viewing Date: December 8th Via: iTunes Store Plot: A group of unaccompanied minors bond while snowed in at the midwestern Hoover International Airport during the holiday season and ultimately create a makeshift holiday themselves. Rating: 5.7/10

First Viewing Viewing Date: December 8th Via: Blu-ray Plot: An elite squad of Navy SEAL's, on a covert mission to transport a prisoner off a CIA black site island prison, are trapped when insurgents attack while trying to rescue the same prisoner. Rating: 7.3/10

First Viewing Plot: While out on parole, Dennis reluctantly takes a job selling Christmas trees with his old buddy Rene in order to make enough money to buy his estranged daughter the piano she's always wanted.

This is another Christmas title I've had on my to-watch list for some time, probably since it was first released back in 2013. Paul Giamatti + Paul Rudd + Christmas + Black comedy... I mean, how can you miss? Alas, the resultant picture is relatively hit-and-miss, though I don't regret taking the time to watch this movie. I laughed here and there, the banter between Rudd and Giamatti often sparkles, and this is a relatively charming story through its sheer simplicity. Indeed, it's all about the central duo selling Christmas trees and trying their best to go straight, and it doesn't get truly interesting until the final act. I was just left feeling like I wanted more; more laughs and more black comedy. This is a sedate movie that feels like a workprint in need of more work, though I guess that's the intended style. I can't see myself watching this one again or buying it on disc, unfortunately.

First Viewing Viewing Date: December 6th Via: Stan. Plot: While out on parole, Dennis reluctantly takes a job selling Christmas trees with his old buddy Rene in order to make enough money to buy his estranged daughter the piano she's always wanted. Rating: 6.0/10

First Viewing Viewing Date: December 5th Via: iTunes Store Plot: Hollywood aging stuntman Sonny Hooper wants to prove that he's still got what it takes to be a great professional in this risky and under-recognized line of work. Rating: 6.7/10

First Viewing Viewing Date: December 4th Via: Cinema Plot: Feature adaptation of Frank Herbert's science fiction novel about the son of a noble family entrusted with the protection of the most valuable asset and most vital element in the galaxy. Rating: 7.8/10

First Viewing Plot: In December 1914, an unofficial Christmas truce on the Western Front allows soldiers from opposing sides of the First World War to gain insight into each other's way of life.

My first "alternative" Christmas film this season, and easily the best one so far, Joyeux Noël has been on my to-watch list for several years, since 2008/2009 when I first started actively seeking out Christmas movies each December. Thankfully, it doesn't disappoint. This is a powerful, compelling anti-war movie with a strong message, supported by excellent performances and top-notch production values. The camaraderie between the characters is palpable once the ceasefire sets in, and it's easy to become invested in the story, hoping that nothing bad happens to these opposing sides. The ceasefire sequences are wonderful, and the film thankfully doesn't overplay these moments. Joyeux Noël is not cheery, upbeat festive viewing, but it is an excellent war movie that immortalises the 1914 Christmas ceasefire on-screen. I'm looking forward to watching it again.

First Viewing Viewing Date: December 4th Via: DVD Plot: In December 1914, an unofficial Christmas truce on the Western Front allows soldiers from opposing sides of the First World War to gain insight into each other's way of life. Rating: 9.0/10

First Viewing Plot: A college student faces an impossible journey when he is left stranded in the desert, thousands of miles from home, with no money and only a few days left until Christmas.

I'll Be Home for Christmas is a bog-standard Disney Christmas movie, for better or worse, and it was made using the same filmmaking sensibilities that permeated road trip comedies in the 1990s and early 2000s. You know the type - implausible happenings, lenient/gullible police, the protagonist diffusing all types of situations, and so on. At the very least, however, this is a short and sharp 85-minute movie and it's neither offensive nor boring. Rather, it's a pleasant enough factory-made Christmas comedy that has its charms and its moments. It's also interesting from a historical perspective to see a teenage Jessica Biel in one of the lead roles. I laughed a few times and enjoyed myself enough to make this a worthwhile Disney+ watch in the lead-up to Christmas.

First Viewing Viewing Date: December 4th Via: Disney+ Plot: A college student faces an impossible journey when he is left stranded in the desert, thousands of miles from home, with no money and only a few days left until Christmas. Rating: 6.1/10