Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Hello, I’m the Nostalgia Critic. I remember it so you don’t have to.
Well, it’s been over a year...
... since I listed the Top 12 Greatest Christmas Specials…
… and though I still stand by the list...
...- except maybe “Christmas Story” and “Christmas Carol”...
... should have been a tie -...
... but a lot of people said there were even more specials...
... that I was missing, so much so that I pretty much...
... had no choice but to do another one.
There’s so many good specials out there...
... how can you just keep them to one list.
These are sort of the runners up...
the next best after last year’s choices.
So get ready...
... because this is “The Return of the Christmas Specials”!
Christmas Specials
The Return of the Christmas Specials
Jesus.
So, let’s take a look at our next top 11. Why top 11?
Because I like to go one step beyond. Let’s take a look.
Number 11:
The Star Wars Christmas Special.
What?!
That’s not a real special. It doesn’t even exist.
No human can be that idiotically cruel.
Well, let’s move on to the REAL number 11 spot…
“Elf.”
Now I have to admit I don’t really see this as a good movie.
While the premise is good, I feel the characters are boring...
... the jokes are kinda weak...
... and the story just gets a little too corny for me.
So what propels it to being a Christmas classic?
Will Ferrell. He is just hilarious.
I love his energy, I love his innocence, and I just love his naivety.
Congratulations!
“World’s best cup of coffee.”
Great job, everybody!
Hi.
How can you not like him? He’s just delightfully annoying.
Does someone need a hug?
This was Will Ferrell’s first starring role after he left SNL...
... and thankfully, he completely saves the film.
I guess it’s just good luck that the first film you actually star in...
... will be watched by millions every Christmas.
Though let’s hope he doesn’t do any other Christmas movies.
Yeah, that wouldn’t work.
What can I say except sometimes one really funny man...
... can, in fact, make a really funny Christmas special.
Call me “elf” one more time! Call me “elf”!
Y-You’re an elf.
Number 10:
The Garfield Christmas Special.
This is another one that when you look at it...
... it isn’t really anything spectacular.
It’s kind of cheesy, and the songs get really lame at times.
You can never find an elf when you need one.
In fact, I think it’s the first special...
... to ever have yodeling in a Christmas song.
That’s a good old-fashioned Christmas! Yodel-ay-hee-hoo!
But unlike “Elf,” there are actually two things...
... that keep people coming back.
One is Garfield, of course.
I mean, he’s just a loveable character...
... a pure cynic but still very funny and very likeable.
And the other is the family. I just love these guys.
If you ever grew up on a farm or knew anybody...
... who grew up on a farm, then you know these people.
You got the homebody mother, the quiet no-nonsense father...
... the shy and sometimes very silly brother...
... and probably the coolest grandmother ever.
Oh, Christmas Tree! Oh, Christmas Tree!
How lovely are thy branches!
Boop-boop-bee-doo-bee-doo-bee-doo!
I mean, this grandma kicks ***!
She should be at every Christmas get-together.
I see you’re putting on a little belly.
You’re getting soft, boy! Come on! Hit me right here.
Give me your best shot.
On top of that, it’s decent animation, the jokes are funny enough...
... and it has a lot of that mushy stuff that seems lame at times...
... but at Christmas, you can let a little bit get by.
"Garfield Christmas Special": a merry pick for the number 10 spot.
Can’t wait ‘til Christmas!
Wake me when it’s through.
Number 9:
The Polar Express.
But ONLY in 3D.
I say this because the film on its own is just OK.
And I know it sounds like I’m trashing....
... somebody’s Christmas special...
... but really, the things that are good are unbelievably good...
... and that’s what makes them stand out.
And this one is no different.
When it’s good, it’s really good.
But at times, it can feel really manipulative...
... like they’re trying to make a Christmas classic...
... instead of just telling a good story.
It’s like they said, “We need a song here..."
"... because most children’s classics have a song here.”
Putting up the Christmas tree / / With friends who come around
“We need a scary moment here..."
"... because most children’s classics have a scary moment here.”
You’re a downer!
A downer you don’t believe!
“And we need some speech with the word ‘heart’ in it, because…”
... well, you know the drill.
Just remember:
The true spirit of Christmas...
... lies in your heart.
Suck my big fat *** heart!
And the CG can be a little creepy at times...
... but like I said, when it works, it’s a very nice film.
I love the atmosphere, the premise is unique...
... and I like how they turn the whole idea about believing...
... in Santa Claus sort of like a challenge of faith...
... which I think a lot of people can relate to.
I want to believe.
But you don’t want to be bamboozled. You don’t want to be caught.
Sometimes the most real things in the world...
... are the things we can’t see.
But what really makes it stand out is the 3D.
Only see this movie on IMAX and in 3D.
You literally feel like you’ve been transported to the North Pole.
That’s what propels it into an experience rather than just a movie.
I know a lot of times people see 3D as a cheat...
... but with this, you really feel like you’re there...
... and the film is shot to make you feel that way as well.
Though I am getting a little tired...
... of Zemeckis making these damn films.
Yes, we know animation can look realistic...
... but if you’re just gonna motion-capture them anyway...
... why not just go back to using real friggin’ actors?
Eh, for whatever reason, he keeps doing it.
“Polar Express” is a ton of fun to watch...
... and leaves you feeling that good old-fashioned Christmas spirit.
On its own, it’s OK, but in 3D, it’s really friggin’ cool...
... and definitely gets you in the mood for the Christmas season.
But next time, could you leave the Steven Tyler elf out?
Seriously.
What the ***?
Number 8:
The Star Wars Christmas Special
- *** IT!
Will you get that out of here?! I told you it doesn’t exist!
The Blackadder’s Christmas Carol.
Now granted, many of you might not even know...
... what the show “Blackadder” is...
... but it’s not required to totally enjoy this special.
It’s a British comedy starring Rowan Atkinson, Hugh Laurie...
... and many others...
... as they are reincarnated through different periods ih time.
The character of Blackadder is always the world’s biggest ***.
That’s part of what makes the show so funny...
... but in the Christmas special, he’s the nicest man in England.
A penny for a Christmas tree, sucker - I mean, sir.
I’m...
... well -
Well, certainly. Here.
But this all changes when the spirit of Christmas comes...
... to show him flashbacks of his ancestors...
... which of course are from the other episodes he’s done.
Ironically, Blackadder likes the way his ancestors act...
and decides he wants to be a jerk from now on.
Oh, we’re in love!
You’ll conceive love, I should warn you.
It’s like a Christmas cracker: one massively disappointing ***...
... and the novelty soon wears off.
It’s cynical, it’s cruel...
... and it’s all done in the name of good will towards men.
Now, it does help to see the original shows...
... before watching the Christmas special...
... but it’s not totally necessary.
But the scenes of Blackadder acting nice...
... are a million times funnier...
... when you know the character he usually is.
Every time he smiles or laughs, you know he’s repressing...
... a ton of anger and wants to smack someone in the face.
Look, there must be something we can do.
How?
That box of matches in your basket is just the thing I need.
How much did they cost?
A quid a match.
Mrs. Scratchit, I suspect that to be a lie of sorts.
And luckily by the end, he does!
I made you…
…a fist.
And what’s wonderful about it is that you can use it again...
... and again...
... and again!
Thank you, Mr. B.
It’s funny, it’s dark, it’s a perfect offset to all the yuletide cheer...
... we’re so used to getting this time of year.
Mr. B.
Where’s the milk of human kindness?
It’s gone off, Baldrick. It stinks.
Number 7:
“Gremlins.”
Yeah, I know many of you wouldn’t consider this...
... a Christmas movie, but I’m surprised to find...
... just how many people whip this movie out around this time of year.
I guess who doesn’t want to see red-eyed demons attack...
... innocent bystanders while singing holly jolly Christmas tunes?
But the more I thought about it, yeah!
I do surprisingly think of Christmas when I think of this movie.
I remember Gizmo given as a present...
... I remember the gremlin in the tree...
... I remember the dog wrapped up in Christmas lights...
... I even remember that *** *** weird speech...
... about Santa Claus that just came out of nowhere.
Now I have another reason they hate Christmas.
There was a Christmas Eve…
… I was nine years old…
… I went to try and light up the fire...
... and that’s when I noticed a smell...
... and me and Mom were expecting them to pull out a dead cat...
... or a bird, and instead, they pulled out my father.
He was dressed in a Santa Claus suit.
He slipped and broke his neck.
That’s how I found out there was no Santa Claus.
Uhm…
… thanks.
Oddly enough, in some deranged sick way...
... this movie did manage to tie in a lot with Christmas.
Weird, huh? I don’t even know what else to say about it!
To be honest, I’m a little disturbed that I connect...
... such a joyous time of year with such hell-raising little maniacs...
... and in fact, a lot of people do, too!
But, hey, if everyone is watching it this time of year...
... at least I know I’m not the only one who is going crazy.
And at least I can enjoy Christmas...
... with all the other nutballs watching it with me.
Merry Christmas!