Here's the thing: I grew up in a time when there was a semi-decent timeline for holiday marketing. There was LATE August, when school supplies would go on sale. (That's when school started the right way: after Labor Day.) In early October, Halloween decorations and costumes would show up in the stores; November - Thanksgiving. Then there was AFTER-Thanksgiving: Christmastime wonderlands all over town (with a few Chanukah items thrown in...if you were lucky). Late January, you'd start seeing stuff for Valentine's Day. These are all normal timelines. No one in their right minds would sell or buy (or decorate with) Christmas items until after Thanksgiving.
But all that has changed over the years and now the lines are blurred and stores start selling Halloween items BEFORE Labor Day and the whole world is subsequently going to hell in a handbasket. So I had a hard and fast rule for years: no Christmas music until Thanksgiving. NO CHRISTMAS MUSIC UNTIL AFTER I'VE HEARD ALICE'S RESTAURANT. I would get incensed if I walked into a store in early November and heard yuletide songs being piped in. I know you're all thinking: "Why do you care? You don't even celebrate Christmas." And to that I reply: here in America, we're all forced to celebrate Christmas whether we like it or not, so at least stick to some rules of common decency. Hold off on Decking the Halls until after I've eaten my obligatory turkey and stuffing.
Clearly, it was harder to control this in public areas, but once the Spazz and I got together, I felt a moral responsibility to control this meshuggas in my own home. KOST plays Christmas music early in November and the first time the Spazz tuned into this station in my presence, prior to Thanksgiving, I put the kibosh on that behavior right then and there. The Spazz has since followed my rule. No Christmas music, no tree, no decorating until AFTER Thanksgiving.
But it's 2020 and all that has changed. I need that holiday spirit as much as anyone else does right now and, at this point, there is no reason on earth why any of us should wait until Turkey Day. I've already watched three Christmas movies, and the tree is already up. Well, to be fair, we decided this year to have a driftwood tree from now on, and it was delivered in mid-October, so we first made it a Halloween tree and we've just left it up. However, we fully plan to decorate it before November 26th.
And not only am I indulging in the holiday season early this year, I'm also watching movies I would normally never watch. Cheesy romantic movies that are usually not my preferred entertainment fare. 2020 has made everything topsy-turvy, so here I am listening to Christmas music in November and pulling out the decorations, so why not start watching movies that are completely out of my wheelhouse. So, since I've already watched three holiday-themed movies/series so far, I will now bestow upon you my short reviews of said three movies/series (whether or not you even care).
Christmas Unwrapped
This was a Lifetime movie, which I would normally never watch (or even know of) but my former coworker and person-I-know-with-the-best-smile-and-attitude-ever had a leading(ish) role in it so of course I watched it. Cherion Drakes was excellent as Tisha, and, honestly, she wasn't the lead, BUT SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN. Not a bad little movie, very sweet, and I love how these romance movies are embracing diversity and featuring more POC actors. Worth seeing, especially for Cherion. She deserves the recognition.
Dash & Lily
I had no idea this was going to be a series when I read the book earlier this year. I didn't love the book, but I loved the idea behind it....basically a literary and romantic scavenger hunt. However, the series was super-engaging. I loved the way they filmed it...the cinematography was beautiful and it made me actually fall in love with New York City again (I fell out of love with NYC in June of 2011 during a particularly dreadful weather weekend). This movie is a love letter to the Big Apple in it's own way, and it reminded me a lot of another book which I believe the authors of Dash & Lily based their book on: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg. Haven't read it? Read the Konigsburg book, watch the Dash & Lily series. It will make you so excited for the holidays.
Holidate
Meh. I have a bona fide potty mouth and the plethora of "fucks" in this movie bothered even me. I thought Emma Stone was wrong for the part and the Spazz even pointed out that she was trying too hard to channel Anna Kendrick. It was fun, but I don't ever need to see it again.
Given that it's only November 17th, this is a pretty impressive number of holiday movies I've seen so far. I do plan to watch my favorites (Elf, The Holiday, Auntie Mame, It's a Wonderful Life, etc.) this year as well as a list of others that I've never seen....I'll put those in my next blog.
Meanwhile, the Spazz has already bought a vat of peppermint bark at CostCo (I hope my officemates are prepared for the onslaught of sweets) and I won't mind hearing holiday tunes as I go grocery shopping this week or make a run for pre-lockdown toilet paper (you know it's coming, people.....no mask, no mall shopping).
And, before I go, here is my best recommendation for this holiday season (open the link):
Worth every penny.
You're welcome.
