Cinema Swapshop: Christmas

Ash Walker • 18 Dec 2024 Features

Our writers exchange films about festive shenanigans.

Welcome to Cinema Swapshop, where every month our esteemed writers assign each other a movie to watch - preferably something they haven’t seen before - then regroup to share their thoughts.

This month, in celebration of the festive holiday season, the theme is Christmas.

Ash: The Night Before (2015)

Credit: THE NIGHT BEFORE - Official Trailer (Sony Pictures Entertainment, YouTube)

Plot

Facing scary adult things like parenthood, careers and serious relationships, three thirty-something friends embark on their traditional Christmas Eve night out, one last time.

Thoughts

Like all the best nights out, The Night Before is funny, messy, gross and occasionally a bit emotional. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a drunken hang-out movie from Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (Superbad), which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

There are some pretty good jokes here, and a genuinely sweet emotional throughline as these three friends come to terms with growing up and growing apart. But what elevates things for me is Michael Shannon’s unexpected appearance as mystical weed dealer Mr Green.

He’s a brilliant character, a sort of cross between The Dude, Scrooge’s ghosts and Clarence from It’s a Wonderful Life, helping our heroes face up to their issues through the medium of magic drugs. And, of course, Shannon brings his trademark intensity to the role, which plays perfectly against Rogen and co’s buffoonery.

A bizarre, brilliant character, and a plot line that weirdly lends the film a bit of Christmas magic.

Best Bit

It’s a joke we’ve seen countless times before - intoxicated guy trying to act sober in a very serious place - but something about the scene where Rogen’s Isaac is forced to attend Christmas Eve Mass while high on mushrooms (and other things) really got me.

Especially the foul-mouthed, staring baby and Isaac’s paranoia about being Jewish. Hilarious stuff.

Worst Bit

The sudden, unexpected appearance of James Franco made me flinch like a horror movie jumpscare.

Favourite Line

“It's hard to stay friends with people when you're older. You have so much of your own s*** going on.” - So true.

Fun Fact

Despite being set on Christmas Eve, most of the movie was filmed at the height of summer, making things very uncomfortable for the jumper-clad cast.

Verdict

Just like its trio of central characters, The Night Before is silly and loud. But its heart is in the right place, and it’s actually pretty funny. A good, festive time.

Johnnie: Klaus (2019)

Credit: Klaus | Official Trailer | Netflix (Netflix, YouTube)

Plot

A spoilt postman is assigned to set up a post office in a desolate town. He tries to cheat the system but in the process brings happiness, serenity and the magic of Christmas to the locals.

Thoughts

This film gave me a good warm fuzzy feeling in my tum tum. I love that it is essentially the origins of Santa Claus and how a simple entitled postman brings the spirit of the holiday season to this town.

I also thought the town and its people were hilarious. The Romeo & Juliet-esque feud between the two families is an element that I didn’t think could work in a Christmas film but absolutely does.

The comedy aspect was very much to my liking - simple and stupid at times but not filled with overuse cliches and idiotic jokes. It’s still a family film, but the comedy certainly appeals to adults as much as it does to kids.

Best Bit

When Jesper and Klaus make and deliver the sled to the little Sami girl and she hops on to give it a go the next morning. Tears. In. My. Eyes.

Worst Bit

I don’t want to say there was a worst or bad bit. It was too lovely.

Favourite Line

“A true selfless act always sparks another.” – Has to be.

Fun Fact

The town of Smeerensburg in the film is actually based on a real town that existed in Norway named Smeerenburg. While it has been long abandoned, it was once a prosperous whaling settlement. 

Bonus fact: The name Smeerenburg is a Dutch word that literally means “blubber town”.

Verdict

I loved every part of the movie. It was a different Christmas tale to the standard which I liked a lot, even if it took me an embarrassingly longer time than I’d like to admit to realise how it is a Christmas film.

And a quick bit of love for the animation. It’s unlike anything else I’ve seen and felt rather endearing to the story in a way that I can’t really describe.