December 11th 2024.
It's that time of the year again when Mariah Carey thaws out and reminds us that Christmas is just around the corner. And with that comes the age-old debate over which movies can be classified as Christmas movies. The battle lines are drawn, with one side staunchly defending Die Hard as a festive classic, while the other side argues that it doesn't belong in the same category as Home Alone, Love Actually, Elf, and Meet Me In St Louis.
During this annual dispute, Bruce Willis' character John McClane is relentlessly scrutinized for any hints of holiday cheer, while another film seems to get away unscathed. But not anymore. It's time to face the truth and admit that The Holiday is not a Christmas movie.
Yes, seriously. For those of you who have The Holiday on your list of must-watch Christmas movies, let's be real here - it has nothing to do with the festive season. If you're not familiar with the film, it follows the story of Amanda (played by Cameron Diaz), a movie trailer producer from LA who swaps homes with Iris (played by Kate Winslet), a newspaper columnist from Surrey. Both women are looking for a change to escape their respective relationship troubles - Amanda's cheating boyfriend Ethan and Iris' newly-engaged, cheating ex Jasper. Cue the unexpected love stories with Jude Law and Jack Black.
As the title suggests, The Holiday is about a holiday. Or more accurately, two holidays that could happen at any time of the year. Jasper could have proposed in the spring or Ethan could have been unfaithful in the summer, and it wouldn't have made much of a difference to the overall plot. Apart from a few scenes involving Amanda slipping in the snow, the movie could have been set in any season.
Speaking of snow, why is it that Die Hard gets all the attention during Christmas movie debates, while The Holiday is left out? Sure, there's a brief mention of Christmas and New Year towards the end of the film when Jack Black's character Miles shows up in Surrey, but for the most part, the holiday season is barely acknowledged. Love Actually may not be a perfect festive film either, but at least it has a countdown and discussions about gifts. And can we talk about Rowan Atkinson's iconic scene?
But back to The Holiday - where's the Christmas spirit? We're more interested in discussing whether Die Hard is appropriately titled for the holidays, rather than questioning why The Holiday, which is supposedly set during the festive season, barely mentions it. Let's compare the two movies - Die Hard starts off on Christmas Eve with John McClane landing at a festive LA airport, holding a giant teddy bear while Christmas music plays in the background. And let's not forget the meticulously planned heist at an office Christmas party, which wouldn't have worked during any other holiday.
Sure, Die Hard may not have the traditional message of peace and goodwill, but neither does a child being left home alone to fend off burglars. And let's not forget that amidst all the action, there's a heartwarming love story of a tough police officer making his way across the country to be with his family for Christmas. Sounds more festive than whatever Amanda and Iris had planned.
So, let's give credit where credit is due - Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Sorry Cameron and Kate, but Bruce Willis has won this one. And if you need more convincing, just remember that this article was first published on December 20, 2023. And if you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures to share, get in touch with us - we'd love to hear from you!
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