Modern cinematic Christmas tales hardly induce holiday cheer like the well-known old-timey classics, but today’s audiences have seldom seen these staples where they were most meant to be seen — in theaters. In the coming weeks, however, audiences may experience a selection of vintage advent films in all their glory at the Paramount Theater’s ornate auditorium in the Downtown Mall. These upcoming feel-good comedies are sure to ease viewers into a jolly, festive mood.
“Home Alone” (1990)
The showings kick off with 1990’s "Home Alone," the unforgettable comedic story of young Kevin McCallister, played by Macaulay Culkin, protecting the family home after being seemingly abandoned by his extended family en route to Paris. The film dominated the box office when it first premiered in theaters, being the highest grossing film at the box office for 12 consecutive weeks. Audiences will have the chance to relive that initial release at the Paramount Friday at 8 p.m., immediately after Charlottesville’s “Grand Illumination” at Ting Pavillion, a Christmas tree lighting festival accompanied by holiday, concerts, vendors, games and prizes.
“This Christmas” (2007)
The next day, the venue will be screening two films at separate times, with “This Christmas” first at 2 p.m.. “This Christmas” is a comedic family drama centering the holiday reunion of the Whitfield family. As all six children return home, their strained family dynamic spirals a well-intentioned gathering into an array of connected conflicts before a cliché holiday resolution. The film is perhaps the least commonly known of the lineup, but its impressive cast, featuring Idris Elba and Chris Brown, and sentimental themes make it a fitting festive watch.
“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (1989)
Saturday’s second screening is “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” at 7 p.m.. The film is a classic slapstick comedy about the hilariously unfortunate sequence of events along the Griswold family’s holiday outing. It is the third installment in the "National Lampoon's Vacation" film series, which stars Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold, the father, across five films. With merry snafus ranging from city-wide blackouts to SWAT visits, the family’s circumstances throughout the quintessential Christmas movie test their holiday spirit.
“White Christmas” (1954)
The theater’s screenings continue Sunday at 7 p.m., with “White Christmas,” the oldest film in the lineup. The romantic comedy is the only musical being screened at the Paramount. Set just after World War II, it follows the quartet of singers Bob Wallace, Phil Davis and sisters Betty and Judy Haynes in putting on an extravagant Yuletide show in Vermont to save a local hotel in financial peril. “White Christmas” was the first film to be released in Paramount Pictures’ “VistaVision” format, making it a cinematic marvel of its time with cutting-edge quality film grain and a wider resolution augmenting its vibrant technicolor visuals. Over 70 years later, its rescreening at the Paramount will speak to how dramatically cinema has evolved, yet how timeless holiday themes remain.
“A Christmas Story” (1983)
Continuing after a one week gap, "A Christmas Story" is next at 4 p.m. Dec. 14. The Christmas comedy, set in the 1940s, follows the lovable 9-year old Ralphie Parker, played by Peter Billingsley, on his quest to receive a toy air rifle from Santa Claus. “A Christmas Story” is an evergreen nostalgic classic, with memorable moments like Ralphie’s confrontation with a menacing mall Santa and his triple-dog-dare that gets a friend’s tongue stuck to a flagpole. As one of the most iconic and tenderhearted films in its genre, the movie will surely grow audiences’ anticipation for Christmas with under two weeks until the date.
“Love Actually” (2003)
“Love Actually” is being screened a few hours later on the 14th, at 7 p.m. The romantic comedy is the only film on the Paramount’s Christmas slate to be R-rated or set outside of the United States. “Love Actually” tells the story of eight London couples and their interwoven dating affairs in the six weeks leading up to Christmas day. Accompanied by a star-studded ensemble cast featuring Liam Neeson, Alan Rickman, Keira Knightley and Rowan Atkinson, the film carries on the warm nostalgia of the venue’s previous showings with a more adult plot that dives into the hilarious complexities of love during the holidays.
“Elf” (2003)
Separate from these prior showings — but blanketed in Christmas spirit alike — is a screening of “Elf” at 6 p.m. Dec. 21 as the finale to the Paramount’s ninth annual “Brew and Buddy Run.” The event visits breweries at the Downtown Mall just before the film rolls and audience members are encouraged to participate in a costume contest. “Elf” famously chronicles the tale of Buddy, played by Will Ferrell, a human raised among Santa’s elves. Buddy travels to New York clad in elfwear to find his real father and his jolly upbringing comedically collides with the real world. A staple of festive cinema, the film is an apt screening to cap off the Paramount’s holiday schedule a handful of days before Christmas.
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