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First Viewing Plot: Now an adult, Ralphie returns to his old house on Cleveland Street to give his kids a magical Christmas. He also reconnects with childhood friends and reconciles the passing of his Old Man.

Well, I'll be damned - I enjoyed this far more than the beloved original movie. A legacy sequel which brings back many of the original cast members, A Christmas Story Christmas is a solid Christmas movie in its own right, packing plenty of heart into this story about the loss of a parent and the realities of adulthood, which is precisely why I found it more relatable and compelling than the first film. Since Ralph is now an adult, we see Christmas from his perspective this time, peeling back the curtain on what Christmas can be like for adults. I mean, sure, we see adults trying to put together Christmas all the time (see National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, duh), but it's done well here. Alas, not every vignette lands (the massive Christmas tree is ripped straight from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation), and location authenticity is on the short side - it's obvious that this sequel was filmed in Eastern Europe, not America, which is a problem for a Christmas movie that aims to create a distinctive time and place (last year's 8-Bit Christmas did it far better). Nevertheless, I still enjoyed this movie overall, and the scenes on Christmas Day have unexpected emotional impact. I'm not necessarily sure that this will become an annual staple for me, but I would watch it again.

Rewatch Plot: In the 1940s, a young boy named Ralphie Parker attempts to convince his parents, teacher, and Santa Claus that a Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun really is the perfect Christmas gift.

I've never really taken to A Christmas Story, and I was hoping this rewatch (in preparation for watching the sequel) would finally give me clarity on why everyone loves this one so much. Even with the benefit of a gorgeous 4K HDR remaster, and even as a 31-year-old bloke now with more insight into the world, I still couldn't get into the movie during this rewatch. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I firmly believe that the movie will play best for people who experienced Christmases like this in their childhood. Well, I didn't grow up in America and I grew up in the '90s, so none of the cultural traditions here are familiar to me - I can't relate to tongues sticking to poles, or being wrapped up so warmly I can't move, or soap in the mouth after swearing. BB guns also aren't a thing in Australia, so while I'm sure the perspectives here are true to life, it's still not interesting to me. I do love certain American Christmas movies, I mean I LOVE National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, but this one lacks the universal storytelling and sharp writing which has elevated other Christmas movies from the era. Also, I know the visual style is deliberate, but goddamn, it looks really, really dull in terms of colours - and this is coming from a guy who loves the look of '80s movies and loves to emulate them. I don't hate A Christmas Story, as some scenes are amusing, but I don't see myself watching this one ever again, and the almost unanimous love for this one still remains a baffling mystery. I won't delete my more positive Listal review, which I'm pretty sure was written back when I basically willed myself into liking things that were perceived as great by the rest of the population, as it's fun to compare it to my thoughts in 2022. Sorry, folks, but A Christmas Story is not a Christmas movie for me, and I'm not going to give it another chance.

First Viewing Plot: On Christmas Eve, with no other options, a desperate man sets out on a nine-hour road trip with his irritating, garish neighbour to collect a toy that his daughter wants for Christmas.

A BBC television movie which only runs a slim 53 minutes, Click & Collect is something of a contemporary Jingle All the Way, which is something that is referenced in the script itself. However, it's edgier and far less cheesy than that '90s Arnie comedy, and it is destined to become an annual Christmas staple in my household. Stephen Merchant and Asim Chaudhry are a winning mismatched screen pair - it's a joy to watch their bantering, as well as their budding friendship. Directed by Ben Palmer (who was responsible for many classic episodes of The Inbetweeners), this telemovie is brisk and fast-paced, with slick production values and laughs aplenty, not to mention there's genuine heart despite the clichéd nature of the narrative. Indeed, much of what happens throughout the movie is unsurprising, but that hardly matters when it's so good-natured and fun. Additionally, I'm somewhat glad that it's an hour-long telemovie as opposed to a full feature film, as the length feels perfect rather than perfunctorily drawn out. It's just a shame that it's not available on Blu-ray, as I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Anyway, I highly recommend this one; it was a perfect way to begin my December 1st.

First Viewing Plot: It is time for Santa Claus to retire and leave the job to his successor. He selects an orphan named Nicholas, who is pure of heart but lacks the self-confidence to become the next Santa.

A French-Australian co-production, there's nothing necessarily special about the premise of Santa's Apprentice, which is about Santa finding an apprentice to take over his job, and the script hits pretty much all the expected story beats along the way. I mean, Santa's chosen apprentice doesn't have much self-confidence, there are training montages, the ending is unsurprising, and there's a villain of sorts to create some conflict in the third act. Nevertheless, it delivers ample charm as the narrative unfolds, and this isn't some cheap animated distraction. Indeed, though the animation isn't exactly lavish or expensive, there's genuine style and panache to the visuals, and I'm glad I managed to stream it in high definition as opposed to settling for the DVD. (Although I have now found out that there's a longer Australian version, which isn't available in HD at the time of writing.) It's funny at times and there's enough creativity on display when dealing with the Santa Claus mythology, which is pretty tired after so many films have explored it in the past. The movie is also agreeably short, with the credits starting before the 70-minute mark, making it an easygoing and agreeable distraction. An instant classic? Not exactly. But I'd watch it again, and kids could do a lot worse than this.

First Viewing Plot: Upon hearing that the magic of Christmas was ruined for Peter as a young boy, Drax and Mantis head to Earth to find him the perfect Christmas present: Kevin Bacon.

Over five-and-a-half years have elapsed since we last saw a Guardians of the Galaxy movie written and directed by James Gunn, and it has been one hell of a wait. The Guardians have appeared in other Marvel movies, some better than others, but having them back as the central focus of a production is as comforting as a warm Christmas hug. Especially given that the forthcoming Vol. 3 will be the last ride for many of the Guardians, and for James Gunn, I'm so glad that we got this bonus 40-minute Holiday Special. It's frequently funny, it's got a lot of heart, we get another selection of great songs (including original songs) that will be added to my Guardians playlist, and it's a genius move to bring Kevin Bacon into the MCU playing himself. Another bonus is getting a bit more of Michael Rooker as Yondu in animated segments. It's cheesy at times, sometimes shamelessly so, but the special still holds together really, really well, and includes a new reveal which makes this an important part of the Guardians film series. Plus, happily, the production values are top-notch; the special looks wholly cinematic, and not like a TV movie. This one will likely become part of my annual line-up.