Holiday Classic Movies vs. Modern Adaptations

admin December 22, 2022

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Holiday Classic vs. Modern Adaptations

There’s so many holiday movies that it’s impossible for anyone to count. For instance, a collection stands high of classic movies but also newer adaptations too. How do these modern adaptations differ from the holiday classics that came before them. Are they better? Worse? Or just different?

Holiday classic movies & Modern Adaptations

A Christmas Story (1983) vs. A Christmas Story Christmas (2022)

In the 1983 A Christmas Story, we follow a young Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) as he wishes for a Red Ryder air rifle for Christmas. In a series of little scenes, we follow Ralphie’s life with his family, mom (Melinda Dillon), dad (Darren McGavin), and brother (Ian Petrella). It’s a holiday classic filled with so much nostalgia that so many audiences adore.

Now 33 years later, Ralphie is an adult with a wife and 2 children in A Christmas Story Christmas. Set in 1973, 33 years after A Christmas Story, Ralphie has gotten word of his father passing away. Ralphie then takes his family back to his home so help prepare for the funeral. He is given the task of writing his father’s obituary and providing the best Christmas for his family. The pressure is on! The film packs on the nostalgia with the original Ralphie returning as well as his brother and some other favorites.

It’s A Wonderful Life (1946) vs. The Family Man (2000)

It’s A Wonderful Life follows the timeless story of George Bailey (played by the classic actor James Stewart). The kind businessman and loving father is going through some tough times on Christmas. When he thinks about ending his life, a guardian angel appears to show him how life would look if he was never born. And it’s a sad sight. The film is a staple to watch during the holiday season, also becoming a popular stage play too. The story let’s us remember why we’re here, and how special we are to the people in our lives.

The Family Man is a 2000 modern adaptation of this kind of story, with Nicolas Cage starring as Jack Campbell, a New York executive. After helping disarm a gunman (Don Cheadle) at a grocery store holdup, Jack wakes up Christmas morning in New Jersey rather than New York. He is married to his ex-girlfriend and has children. The gunman was actually Jack’s guardian angel showing him his life if he had made different choices. Now, Jack must choose which life he wants: the bachelor executive lifestyle in New York, or the family in New Jersey? While not exactly like It’s A Wonderful Life, it still illustrates the message of choosing your own destiny.

Scrooged (1983) vs. Spirited (2022)

Scrooged, starring Bill Murray is actually a modern adaptation of a Christmas carol, but a 1988 classic in its own right. Frank Cross is a television executive with a cold exterior. When he drives away his love and fires a staff member, he is visited by a series of ghosts to right his wrongs. With a comedian like Bill Murray,Scrooged retells this famous story in an ’80s setting with funny gags. Also, you get a character like Frank who is not easy to persuade. It still has a lot of heart too!

Spirited is a musical take on the story of Scrooged with a little change to the plot. It’s told from the perspective of Christmas Present (Will Ferrell) who is actually Ebenezer Scrooge. When he sets his sights on helping controversial media consultant, Clint Briggs (Ryan Reynolds), Clint is less than easy to persuade. The consultant actually turns the tables on the ghost, with Ebenezer wanting a 2nd chance at life with Kimberly (Octavia Spencer). It’s an interesting retelling of the ’80s movie with musical numbers sprinkled all throughout.

Love Actually (2000) vs. Let It Snow (2019)

Rom-coms of the early 2000’s have a knack for adding a bunch of stars into one movie and somehow all their characters have connections to one another. Love Actually capitalizes on that formula with actors like Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, and Kiera Knightley. We follow stories of people nearing the holidays, as they discover what it means to love. It’s a staple rom-com that people can watch even when it’s not the holidays!

The closest adaptation to this holiday rom-com would be Let It Snow. When a snowstorm hits a small midwestern town, high school students are brought together for the holidays. They all discover new loves and new friendships. The stories include a daughter and her sick mother, 2 best friends who have secret feelings for each other, and a secret affair between 2 girls.

It’s a modern and different attempt to formulas like in Love Actually. Is it better? Hard to decide.

Which do you prefer? Holiday classic movies or modern adaptations?

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