Friday Food Insider: In these holiday movies, conflict centers around the dinner table
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Here is a list of must-sees to help you get in the holiday spirit.
As we head into the holiday season, sitting down for a family meal is the ritual for millions of families. The best Christmas dinner scenes in movies capture and sometimes recreate that experience.
While it may be exaggerated, here are some holiday-themed films to get you in the holiday spirit and allows you to experience some chaotic family dinner fun before your family holiday parties this season.
Christmas must-sees
If you want a “fun-filled, old-fashioned Christmas,” look no further because National Lampoon’s “Christmas Vacation” is a classic. As the Griswolds host their family for a Christmas celebration, Clark’s extended family begins taking over his house and plans start to awry. In particular, when it comes to the Christmas Eve dinner, let's just say it starts when the turkey is a little overcooked. From there, trees are burning, squirrels are running around, the FBI shows up and pure chaos erupts.
“Home Alone” takes you through the life of 8-year-old Kevin McCallister, who is accidentally left home alone while his family leaves for a trip to Paris. But it all starts when the family is sitting down for pizza and Kevin’s brother Buzz “accidentally” eats all the cheese pizza because, as we discover, Kevin doesn’t like ”sausage and olives.” “Kev, quick get a plate” was the line that prompted Kevin to attack his brother. Pepsi spills on passports, everyone rushes to clean up the mess and, in the end, Kevin is sent to the attic.
“Bridget Jones’s Diary.” The romantic comedy has everything from an ugly moose Christmas “jumper” worn by Colin Firth to a failed blue soup. In this case, the chaotic dinner takes place on New Year's Day. Bridget’s mother, who is hosting her annual turkey-curry buffet, is also a bit of a match-maker, and seeks a pairing between Bridget and the aforementioned Firth character, the stodgy Mark Darcy. Instead of fireworks, there is a mutual dislike, especially when she overhears him saying everything he doesn’t like about her.
I “triple dog dare you” to watch “A Christmas Story” this year. The movie follows Ralphie Parker and when he’s not trying to avoid his bully, he spends his time daydreaming about his ideal Christmas gift, a Red Ryder air rifle. When Christmas day comes around, he is surprised by the air rifle. When taking it out, an accident occurs, and the neighbor's dogs come running into the house, destroying their kitchen and Christmas dinner. “It was gone! All gone! No turkey, no turkey sandwiches, no turkey salad, no turkey gravy!” The family then heads to a Chinese restaurant, where they are surprised when the duck comes out “smiling.”
The 1942 black-and-white comedy "The Man Who Came to Dinner” follows Sheridan Whiteside, a radio personality invited to dinner by a prominent family. Spoiler alert: he never actually makes it to the actual dinner. He slips on the ice outside on the family's front porch, and injures himself. From there, he insists on recovering in the home, becoming an unwanted house guest.
“The Santa Clause” follows divorced dad Scott who has his son on Christmas Eve. After getting home late, he begins to make a whole Christmas dinner, but the dinner catches on fire, and he resorts to taking his son to Denny’s. If you thought dinner was a mess, you will have to watch to see what happens next because Santa Claus ends up falling off his roof.
While the movie “Elf” is known for many iconic scenes, it also has a chaotic dinner scene. Buddy, played by Will Farrell, is eating dinner with his dad for the first time. Instead of adding parmesan cheese to his spaghetti, he adds maple syrup. That’s not all. The step-mom Emily invites Buddy to stay with them, which causes a disagreement. Buddy drinks all the Coke and commences with an epic burp.
While it is not a Christmas movie, the Emmy Award-winning episode of “The Bear” "Fishes" episode. If you want to experience pure chaos for a whole hour, here’s your chance. The episode is in season three and takes place at the Berzatto family’s Christmas Eve dinner, a traditional Italian American feast of Seven Fishes. The episode focuses on the ups and downs of the family’s dinner with Carmy’s mother, Donna, trying to cook the seven fish dishes perfectly at the same time. There is yelling, food burning and a car being driven through the house.
Share your chaotic Christmas dinner stories here. The Mainebiz Food Insider wants to hear from you! Contact Alexis Wells at awells@mainebiz.biz.
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