Author: Dan Stalcup

My nostalgia was not enough to prep me for how sensorially annoying and tacky this is. I guess these Rankin & Bass specials don’t do it for me like they used to. Nonetheless there’s still plenty of holiday charm and memorable moments. And it’s iconic. Can’t hate it.

What the hell is up with the elevators. Slight overall recommendation built entirely around Hugh Jackman’s charisma.

Perfectly charming animated short of Pluto chasing around Chip and Dale as Mickey decorates. A few striking moments and sense of inventive fun keep it delightful the whole way through.

Not as good as the original, with lots of filler, but still a lightweight watch. Plus I’m a sucker for good sibling stories.

What if a Christmas short for children about Santa’s elves was also a spy thriller? And also landed the emotional beats? It’d be a good watch!

A fascinating account of how one laid-back artist’s character became an internet icon for the alt-right, and what he’s done to push back. All of it is engaging, but the dives into the weirdest corners of “Pepe culture” were my favorite.

Blunt force use of close-ups and emotional manipulation result in an exhausting watch that can feel self-parody at times in the second half, but the highs (e.g. Ally’s first performance of “Shallow”) really really soar. Gaga and Cooper have great, charming chemistry, and Cooper acquits himself terrifically as a debut director, especially the intoxicating opening stretch.

A tightly plotted on-the-run road comedy that’s riotously fun and satisfying. De Niro plays the perfect rough-edged but lovable tough guy, and Grodin makes a brilliant foil. Brilliantly watchable and near-flawless.

The Minions are excessively zany and the tone is quite wobbly, but disaster averted because Gru and his relationship with the girls are so charming.