Reviews

I fail to understand why White Christmas is still regarded as a classic. The storyline, about 2 ex-army men who team up to perform a Christmas show at a ski lodge, is hardly interesting, engaging or even festive.

I've watched many classic Christmas films in my long life including Elf, Home Alone, It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, Polar Express, and A Christmas Carol, to name a few. They are all way superior, entertaining and festive, whereas White Christmas is saddled with a weak plot that just never gets off the ground. Why is a show about putting on a show regarded as entertainment is beyond me! The whole plot in fact is so tedious I find it hard to maintain any interest every time I try to watch this. It is a truly boring snooze fest.

I guess it probably means a lot more to those who grew up watching this from a very young age. I am also guessing it means a lot more to Americans than anyone growing up or living outside the USA.

As for the title White Christmas, I think the makers should be sued under the Trade Descriptions Act. There's hardly any snow to be seen until the last few minutes. Unless 'white' actually means something else. Just saying.

I don't understand the praise heaped upon this film. It goes out of the way to portray Princess Diana as a neurotic bullimic with deep psychological issues. It totally ignores her good nature, sparkiling personality and all her valuable contributions to so many good causes including numerous charities. Kristen Stewart looks nothing like Diana and even the way she talks - too fast and too jittery - feels like an insult to the late princess. I am sure it was made purely to show the Windsors in good light to pave the way for Charles to become a King. Utter travesty.

I kind of enjoyed this when I first saw it in the early 1980s but it hasn't stood the test of time.

The Richard Prior / Bill Cosby bickering storyline is painfully unfunny. Who laughs at stepping over broken glass and other physical accidents these days? These two make even the Mr. Bean movies look like masterpieces.

The Walter Matthau plot where he wakes up with a comatose call girl in bed was just dull and painful.

Maggie Smith, (looking particularly young), flying to LA for the Oscars with her bisexual hubby Michael Caine is the only plot worth watching. The Alan Alda character is also quite likeable. Hence the three stars for those three characters.

A highly watchable and entertaining comedy. It is also better than Meet the Parents which I found too cruel and cringe worthy with elements of bullying (such as the endless ridiculing and name calling levelled against Greg Focker, around the swimming pool netball scene).

This one also has the added bonus of Barbra Streisand and Dustin Hoffman, both of which deliver great comic performances. Robert De Niro is also funnier and more likeable in this one as he has enough 'opponents' to bring him down a peg or two.

Film critics and many reviewers should just accept that a lot of sequels are a great improvement on the originals, end of.

I enjoyed the original 2008 film. This one was quite weak in many aspects. The constant move from the present (Amanda Seyfried) to the past (Lily James) really did my head in. It just stopped the plot from flowing nicely, but then again what plot? Who am I kidding? A weak and pointless sequel.

Nine year old Tom discovers Santa and persuades his sceptical dad to help him get back to Lapland. Jim Broabent is very entertaining as the naive and bewildered Father Christmas.

This is refreshingly British and a great addition to my annual must see festive films. One of the best Christmas movies ever made.

It is also way superior to over-rated schmaltz such as 'critics favourite' White Christmas (1954). Personally I had more fun watching paint dry.