Christmas takes flight

A number-crunching CEO buys a family-owned airline and cancels the airline’s annual holiday charitable benefit. A pilot rallies the community to help save the event and unexpectedly finds herself falling for the magnate in the process.

When Jenny has to push back against Matt’s assertion that they cancel the Santa Flight, she says to her father, “Isn’t our job to keep mom’s dream alive and keep Santa’s Flight on course for the sake of the kids?”

That is the point of the movie.

Q-tips say: We liked it!

Mrs. Q says:  The Santa Flight is a big deal, not only to Snowflake but surely to Idaho Falls, which hosts the Santa Market. Children and local businesses — the Santa Flight benefits everything that holiday movies cherish.

Posted in Movies | Comments Off on Christmas takes flight

National Lampoon European Vacation

12/19/21 – After winning a European vacation on a game show, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) convinces his reluctant family to accompany him. His wife, Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo), is excited, but daughter Audrey (Dana Hill) is reluctant to leave her boyfriend behind, while teen son Rusty (Jason Lively) dreams of meeting girls. After arriving in London, the clan encounters one disaster after another as they travel through France, Germany and Italy, while Clark’s attempts to cheer everyone up make things worse.

Q-tips say: DO NOT SEE THIS PIECE OF TRASH or PAY TO SEE IT!

Mrs. Q says: I see London, I see France, I see Chevy do a dumb dance & a dumb movie.

You may have enjoyed the other National Lampoon movies about the Griswolds but this is NOT one to watch. Both Q’s agree on this & that seldom happens that both of us agree.

Posted in Movies | Comments Off on National Lampoon European Vacation

ELF

Elf - Rotten Tomatoes

Buddy (Will Ferrell) was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa’s elves. Unable to shake the feeling that he doesn’t fit in, the adult Buddy travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father. As it happens, this is Walter Hobbs (James Caan), a cynical businessman. After a DNA test proves this, Walter reluctantly attempts to start a relationship with the childlike Buddy with increasingly chaotic results.

Q-tips say: YES, see it. Even if you saw it before, see it again. Who can’t use a laugh now a days? A movie full of Yuletide cheer, Elf is a spirited, good-natured family comedy, and it benefits greatly from Will Ferrell’s funny and charming performance as one of Santa’s biggest helpers. You might even enjoy the decorations & Christmas scene of the big city in this movie.

Mrs. Q says: Ferrell is a hoot. So is much of this witty holiday family entertainment, which, up until the end, when the “true spirit of Christmas” must be reaffirmed, happily favors slapstick.

Posted in Movies | Comments Off on ELF

8 Bit Christmas

A humorous and heartfelt look back at the adventures of childhood. Set in suburban Chicago in the late 1980s, the story centers on ten-year-old Jake Doyle’s quest to get the latest and greatest video game system for Christmas.

Q-tips say: Yes, we enjoyed it.
8-Bit Christmas is a new family comedy that works well for the young crowd and will resonate strongly with those of us raised in the ’80s. Every single part of the film was working its way towards that ending, and it feels like it was made with a lot of love.

Adults who were kids from the era might get a warm/fuzzy, but kids today will likely download the whole NES system on their phones and play while half watching. Game over?

Posted in Movies | Comments Off on 8 Bit Christmas

A Christmas Story

Teenage Ralphie wrecks his dream car before he even gets it off the lot, so he and his friends get jobs to earn enough money to fix it before the Old Man (Daniel Stern) finds out.

Q-tips say: Was just ok. Not really for the little ones.

Silly jokes abound but it’s no original Christmas Story.

Posted in Movies | Comments Off on A Christmas Story

Single All the Way –

Poster depicting a red Christmas ribbon tied around images of the main characters

Netflix – Desperate to avoid his family’s judgment about his perpetual single status, Peter convinces his best friend Nick to join him for the holidays and pretend that they’re now in a relationship. But when Peter’s mother sets him up on a blind date with her handsome trainer James–the plan goes awry. Cast: Michael Urie, Philemon Chambers and Luke Macfarlane star in this holiday rom-com with Jennifer Coolidge and Kathy Najimy.

Q-tips say: Was ok. This movie takes us into LGBTQ turf for the holidays in a good way.

Mrs. Q says: See it. Single All the Way ultimately does best is show us that a gay Christmas movie can be just as hackneyed as a straight one. Some humorous moments, especially when the younger kids are right on spot for some issues. The movie is smooth, fun and funny holiday rom-com that respects its characters and avoids making anyone a villain.

Posted in Movies | Comments Off on Single All the Way –

David & the Elves

David and the Elves Movie Poster Image

In DAVID AND THE ELVES, an overworked elf named Albert (Jakub Zajac) doesn’t understand why Santa stays invisible while he delivers gifts. Albert feels underappreciated and wants to witness and prove he has the love of the people, so he runs off to the real world in hopes of witnessing the magic of Christmas. There he runs into a young boy named David (Cyprian Grabowski) who is anxious about his first Christmas in a new home, far from his grandparents. Together they set off to discover what makes Christmas special. Along the way they discover people aren’t grateful for Albert’s magical gifts, and Albert’s powers begin to fade. Will they be able to find the answer to save Albert in time?

Q-tips say: Was ok. We liked it. This movie is a Polish Christmas comedy film directed by Michał Rogalski from a screenplay. Has sub-titles.

Mrs. Q says: Parents need to know that David and the Elves is a Polish Christmas movie dubbed into English. It has a surprising amount of swearing and moderate language. Characters, including kids, use words such as “moron,” “crap,” and “ass.” Santa can be heard using words such as “hell” and “damn” and is seen smoking cigars. The main character David keeps a mostly positive attitude while he faces bullies at school and doubtful parents at home. Santa is attacked by various skeptics, including one knight in armor with a sword he swings at Santa. Various people punch Santa and the elf because they think they’re thieves or scammers. A married couple share a passionate kiss before falling on the bed together. There are scenes of them lying in bed together. Innuendo in a scene that implies a woman was caught having a repeat affair with a man named “Claus.” Though the cast is made up of mostly White male characters, Mrs. Claus and David’s mother play strong, prominent roles in the film, giving clever advice, wisdom, and helping to solve the conflict.

PS- Mrs. Q did not realize that they had “Botox” at the time from the looks of Mrs. Claus.

 

Posted in Movies | Comments Off on David & the Elves

One magic Christmas

download on Disney + & other sites

Ginny has a difficult time mustering Christmas spirit due to her husband Jack’s unemployment and her humble position as a grocery store clerk. With the holiday fast approaching, Ginny and Jack’s daughter, Abbie, goes to deliver her letter to Santa. On her way, Abbie meets Gideon, an angel intent on saving Christmas from Ginny’s poor attitude. With Gideon’s magical assistance, Ginny learns how things could be much worse.

Q-tips say: We liked it. Fantasy holiday fare has some good moments.

Mrs. Q says: A movie parents can take some kids to, but which won’t leave you gnashing at the armrest halfway through. A few scenes you might have to answer some questions, but remember, this is a movie.

Posted in Movies | Comments Off on One magic Christmas

Disney’s Christmas Carol

Though London awaits the joyful arrival of Christmas, miserly Ebenezer Scrooge (Jim Carrey) thinks it’s all humbug, berating his faithful clerk and cheerful nephew for their view. Later, Scrooge encounters the ghost of his late business partner, who warns that three spirits will visit him this night. The ghosts take Scrooge on a journey through his past, present and future in the hope of transforming his bitterness.

Q-tips say: Yes, we did enjoy it! Warning: It probably not a good choice with “little ones” around, more for older kids or really older kids, like us.

Christmas magic never fails to touch the heart and spirit and neither will A CHRISTMAS CAROL. God Bless Us Everyone.

 The audience that can’t get through a 90 minute story without a few yuks and a chase.

Posted in Movies | Comments Off on Disney’s Christmas Carol

A Very Murray Christmas

Photo Credit: Ali Goldstein/Netflix


Q tips say: It is ok

Actors: Bill, Murray, George Clooney, Rashida Jones, Miley Cyrus. Directed by: Sophia Coppola.

Q-tips had a little time before the evening news, so decided to watch this.

Mrs. Q says: It was ok – It doesn’t make for the most entertaining holiday special, but as a quirky Christmas card it might do just fine.

This is the show at its best, effectively balancing wry humor with a straightforward affection for the Christmas songbook (the regular one, not some hipster holiday universe version).

Posted in Movies | Comments Off on A Very Murray Christmas