Posted 1 week ago
Wed 11 Dec, 2024 12:12 AM
Christmas movies. The cozy blankets, the twinkling lights, the hot chocolate in hand… and the same recycled tropes playing out on screen every year. While we love a good holiday flick to get us in the festive spirit, there are some trends that make even the most dedicated Christmas fans roll their eyes. Let’s take a sleigh ride through the worst offenders, shall we?
1. The "Big City Workaholic Learns the True Meaning of Christmas" Trope
If you’ve seen one Christmas movie, you’ve seen this plot 75 times. A high-powered executive (usually in marketing, journalism, or law) is sent to a quaint small town, where they learn that spreadsheets can’t cuddle you by the fire. Inevitably, they fall in love with a ruggedly handsome local who wears flannel and has a mysteriously endless supply of time for festive activities. It’s charming the first few times, but at this point, we’re wondering if city people need a support group.
2. The Magic of a Ridiculously Unrealistic Snowstorm
Nothing screams Christmas like being snowed in with your crush or family members you were planning to avoid. The snowstorm always arrives just in time to force characters to reconcile, confess their love, or bake cookies together. What’s worse? It usually ends the second the emotional resolution happens, as though the snowstorm itself was just waiting for closure.
3. Santa Claus as a Career Counselor
Santa is supposed to deliver presents, not life advice, but apparently, he’s moonlighting as a career coach in Christmas movies. He always seems to show up at just the right moment to nudge someone toward their destiny. Sometimes he’s in disguise as a janitor or a cab driver, and you don’t realize it’s him until he disappears in a puff of glittery smoke. How about Santa sticks to chimneys and cookies instead?
4. The "Christmas Deadline That Makes No Sense"
Why does everything in these movies have to happen before Christmas? Whether it’s finalizing a big business deal, planning an over-the-top holiday festival, or saving the family bakery, the deadline is always Christmas Eve. Couldn’t they push it to New Year’s? The unnecessary stress level makes us want to cancel our own holiday plans.
5. Romances That Blossom Over 48 Hours
Apparently, Christmas magic can accelerate relationships like nothing else. Two characters meet, bicker over something trivial (like who makes the best hot cocoa), and by Christmas Day, they’re head over heels in love and planning their wedding. If real-life dating worked like this, Tinder would be out of business.
6. The Overuse of "Christmas is Canceled" Drama
A common plotline: one person announces that Christmas is canceled because of some minor inconvenience, like the Christmas tree falling over or someone burning the ham. Cue the dramatic montage of everyone scrambling to save Christmas, as if the holiday itself depends on one family’s dinner plans. Spoiler alert: Christmas is never actually canceled.
7. Talking Animals That Teach Life Lessons
Nothing takes you out of the festive spirit faster than a CGI reindeer or dog spouting inspirational quotes. Why do Christmas movies insist on making animals the moral compass? They’re adorable, yes, but I’d rather watch them wear Santa hats than deliver life-altering wisdom.
8. The "Generic Prince from a Made-Up Country"
It’s a tale as old as time: an ordinary girl meets a mysterious stranger who turns out to be the prince of some snow-covered kingdom no one’s ever heard of. By Christmas Day, she’s wearing a tiara and waving at a crowd of adoring peasants. Look, we’re not saying we wouldn’t marry into royalty if given the chance, but the sheer volume of these movies makes us wonder if any European monarchies are left.
9. The "Dead Parent Flashback" for Instant Tears
Want to tug at heartstrings? Just add a tragic backstory about a parent who loved Christmas but passed away tragically, leaving their family to carry on their holiday traditions. It’s emotional manipulation at its finest, and we’re tired of crying into our eggnog.
10. Overly Perfect Christmas Villages
These towns don’t exist in real life, and we’re not sure if that’s comforting or disappointing. Every house is perfectly decorated, every shopkeeper knows your name, and there’s always a Christmas festival happening. Where are the power outages? The tacky decorations? The grumpy neighbor who refuses to participate? Give us some realism!
Christmas movies are like fruitcake—a little cheesy, a little over-the-top, and somehow still endearing despite their flaws. While we poke fun at these trends, let’s be honest: we’ll still binge-watch them while wrapping presents. After all, what’s Christmas without a little predictable magic?
