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PODCAST

Christmas Movies Actually

You don"t have to love Christmas to love this podcast. Film critic Collin Souter and renowned sheep expert Kerry Finegan delve into every type of Christmas movie they can find. Classics, non-classics, horror, Hallmark, obscurities, foreign, shorts, TV specials, unnecessary sequels and remakes. Even films that you might not think of as traditional Christmas movies. The great, the awful and the unusual, all year round.

tv & film visual arts

All Episodes

01:11:13

Episode 19: Love Actually

Christmas Movies Actually ·

2019/12/23

For the last show of 2019, Rebecca Martin joins us to talk about the film that carries this show's namesake, "Love Actually," the "Ultimate Romantic Comedy" that has become a Christmas classic, like it or not. We also take time to thank all our guests of 2019 and wish everyone here a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. "Stay a little Jesus," everyone and Baaaaa! Humbug!

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01:19:19

Episode 18: The March Sisters At Christmas

Christmas Movies Actually ·

2019/12/19

In honor of Greta Gerwig's upcoming version of "Little Women," we dig deep into the made-for-Hallmark miracle known as "The March Sisters At Christmas," a modernized version of Alcott's story, told exactly as she intended it... full of Twitter drama, dumb iPad apps and curiously vindictive water heaters. This movie exists. Hear us talk about it as well as some Christmas specials we enjoy, the Chicago Film Critics Association awards and, of course, "We Just Say Book."

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53:17

Episode 17: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Christmas Movies Actually ·

2019/12/13

LIVE from the Elk Grove Theater! Collin Souter and Erik Childress talk about the classic "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" following a 30th Anniversary screening. Unfortunately, Kerry couldn't make it, so no "Book" segment, but Collin and Erik talk about why this film has endured over the decades.

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55:25

Episode 16: Noelle

Christmas Movies Actually ·

2019/11/25

Kerry and Collin discuss the Disney+ film "Noelle," starring Anna Kendrick and Bill Hader. Can a by-the-numbers Christmas storyline still be fresh and entertaining? We also talk about other shows and films we watched on the new streaming service as well as odd Santa schools around the world. We may have to dive into that again pretty soon. Also, Kerry talks about "Battleship Potemkin" (1925), "Mirror" (1975) and "Wake In Fright" (1971) for the "We Just Say Book" segment.

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01:03:23

Episode 15: Last Christmas

Christmas Movies Actually ·

2019/11/08

Kerry and Collin are once again joined by film critic Steve Prokopy, this time to break down the latest Christmas release, "Last Christmas." Is this better than the Hallmark stuff or does it fit right in? They talk about that as well as the big ending, which is a separate segment. SPOILER ALERT! Also, Kerry talks about "Tokyo Olympiad" (1965), "Videodrome" (1983) and "The Hurt Locker" (2008) for the "We Just Say Book" segment.

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01:23:00

Episode 14: Black Christmas (1974)

Christmas Movies Actually ·

2019/10/28

Kerry and Collin are joined by film critic Sergio Mims to talk about Bob Clark's highly influential horror opus, "Black Christmas," released in 1974, a few years before "Halloween." Sergio provides a wealth of information on "Black Christmas" and other films of its era, because, you know, HE WAS THERE! Kerry talks about ""The Heiress" (1949), "Scream" (1996) and "Wanda" (1970) for the "We Just Say Book" segment. Also, Sergio sticks around to give us his take on the previously-discussed "The Lemon

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01:16:13

Episode 13: 3615 Code Pere Noel (aka Dial Code Santa...

Christmas Movies Actually ·

2019/10/08

"Code Pere Noel" (aka, "Dial Code Santa Claus") is the best Christmas film you've never seen or heard of. Released in France in 1989, this yuletide horror film came out a year before the similarly-themed "Home Alone," but never reached an audience in the US. We want to help change that! It's "Home Alone" meets "Rambo" meets "Silent Night, Deadly Night" meets "The Shining" meets "John Wick" with direct references from films of its era. And it's a lot of fun! Film critic Dave Canfield joins

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01:11:27

Episode 12: Santa With Muscles

Christmas Movies Actually ·

2019/09/05

Kerry and Collin dive into the immortal Hulk Hogan vehicle, "Santa With Muscles," a mid-90s, straight-to-video yuletide extravaganza, in which our hero gets amnesia, becomes Santa Claus and discovers The Dark Crystal (not the movie, the actual crystal). This episode poses the question, at what time does a T-square become a perfectly viable weapon? Also, Kerry talks about "Letter From An Unknown Woman" (1948), "The Palm Beach Story" (1942) and "Performance" (1970 for the "We Just Say Book" segment

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01:03:51

Episode 11: Batman Returns

Christmas Movies Actually ·

2019/08/04

Brad Strauss of Director's Club joins Collin and Kerry for this discussion of "Batman Returns," Tim Burton's summer blockbuster sequel with a twisted nature and clear influences of German expressionism that would never see the light of day today. What makes it such a yuletide treasure? Listen in and find out. Also, Kerry talks about "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" (1920), "The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp" (1943) and "Beverly Hills Cop" (1984) for the "We Just Say Book" segment.

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57:31

Episode 10: Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever

Christmas Movies Actually ·

2019/07/05

Kerry and Collin are joined by film critic Brian Thompson as they take a deep dive into the one and only meme-based Christmas movie, "Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever," which is what happens when Lifetime takes a stab at irony. Can a movie get away with making fun of its own existence while also trying to yank at the heartstrings with sincerity? Also, Kerry talks about "Closely Watched Trains" (1966), "Jezebel" (1938) and "Detour" (1935) for the "We Just Say Book" segment.

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01:33:30

Episode 9: Gremlins

Christmas Movies Actually ·

2019/06/08

Kerry and Collin are joined by film critic Steve Prokopy for a spirited celebration of the 35th anniversary of Joe Dante's 1984 classic "Gremlins." Discussions include the movie's history, influences, the score and whether or not that Phoebe Cates speech should have been cut. Oh yeah, and Christmas stuff, too! Kerry also talks about "The Cool World" (1963), "Down By Law" (1986) and "The Color of Pomegranates" (1969) for the "We Just Say Book" segment. Bye-bye, woof-woof!

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01:05:13

Episode 8: The Lemon Drop Kid

Christmas Movies Actually ·

2019/05/08

This month, Kerry and Collin discuss the Bob Hope comedy "The Lemon Drop Kid," a Christmas movie that flies under the radar for most people, but deserves to be recognized. "I gotta tell ya', it's a wild ride!" Also, Kerry talks about "Vagabond" (1985), "Tampopo" (1985) and "Jurassic Park (1993) for the "We Just Say Book segment.

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01:18:34

Episode 7: Ernest Saves Christmas

Christmas Movies Actually ·

2019/04/05

Film critic Dave Canfield joins Kerry and Collin for this deep dissection into the Ernest P. Worrell universe when they talk about "Ernest Saves Christmas" (1988). Dave also talks about his contribution to the book "Yuletide Terror: Christmas Horror On Film and Television" (see link in show notes for more info). And Kerry tells us about "Elephant" (2003), "Belle De Jour" (1967) and "The World of Apu" (1959) for the "We Just Say Book" segment.

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