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A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (2011)
A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas (2011)
2011 | Comedy
A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas is the third movie in the Harold and Kumar series. This movie takes place six years after the events of Escape from Guantanamo Bay. Harold Lee (John Cho) and Kumar Patel (Kal Penn) have fallen out of touch since Harold got married, got a job on Wall Street and moved to the suburbs. Kumar is still smoking tons of weed. Harold on the other hand has stopped smoking weed and is desperately trying to find a way to impress his father in-law, Mr. Perez, played by Danny Trejo. Mr. Perez is obsessed with Christmas. Every year his family uses a Christmas tree that he has grown. This year he brought his home grown tree to Harold’s house for Christmas. In an attempt to win Mr. Perez over, Harold encourages Mr. Perez to take the family to midnight mass while Harold decorates the tree while they are gone.

Kumar is still living in the same apartment that he shared with Harold. He has let the place go a bit while he has been living on his own. His ex-girlfriend shows up to tell him she is pregnant, but since Kumar is high he doesn’t act very mature about it. Later, as Kumar is getting ready to go to a party with his new friend, he finds a mysterious package at his door addressed to Harold. Kumar decides to take it by Harold’s house on his way to the party. When he gets there Harold and Kumar catch up a little bit over some egg nog. Harold opens the package and discovers it is a giant joint, which Kumar proceeds to light it up. Harold gets upset and throws the joint out of the window. It then magically comes back inside and burns down the tree. Of course this freaks Harold out and a desperate search for a new tree begins

This is the beginning of a hysterical journey . This roller coaster ride is filled with drugs, sex, gangsters and even more drugs. Of course Neil Patrick Harris comes back to be his crude self. This movie has a lot of good Christmas moments, but it is only for a mature audience. Fans of the first two Harold and Kumar movies will love the third installment. A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas is a non stop laugh fest. The 3D in this movie was surprisingly good. Movie goers will be impressed by the two different kinds of snow and the weed smoke going out over the audience. A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas is bound to become a Christmas classic that you will want to watch every year.
  
Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas
Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas
Adam Kay | 2019 | Biography, Health & Fitness, Humor & Comedy, Medical & Veterinary
7
7.6 (9 Ratings)
Book Rating
Short but sweet
I loved This is Going to Hurt, so I was hugely excited to see Adam Kay had written another book. And this one follows on in the same enjoyable format as the first.

This book easily balances witty and rather funny anecdotes with heartwarming and sometimes even heartbreaking stories. I laughed out loud quite a lot reading this. It also in parts tells the honest truth about the state of the NHS and what the staff have to endure, which makes for rather grim reading. The main problem with this book is not the quality of the writing and anecdotes, it's the quantity. This is so short a book that I struggled to drag it out past an hour or so, and whilst I know we should take quanlity over quantity, these stories make you want more and there just isn't enough in this to even call it a book. I can understand focusing on Christmas but if there wasn't enough Christmas anecdotes, why release it at all? It's a shame as otherwise this would be a hugely enjoyable book.
  
Last Christmas (2019)
Last Christmas (2019)
2019 | Comedy, Romance
I ummed and erred about how to start this review, should I burst into song? Should I be writing it while adorned with fairy lights? None of that is needed though, and I'll tell you why in a moment.

Kate the Christmas elf has lost her Christmas spirit, life just hasn't felt the same recently and it's affecting her friends and family as well as everything in her life. Tensions run high as she takes advantage of her close friends and slowly burns almost all of her bridges.

Then she meets Tom, he's happy-go-lucky and all about something more to life. Where she's single-minded and oblivious he's caring and mindful of everyone, the pair couldn't be more different while still being the perfect match.

So... a Christmas film using the music of George Michael. Christmas probably appears in 95% of the shots and yet at no point did I feel very Christmassy. As for the music, if I hadn't been told they use his tracks in there I would have just said they just used Last Christmas because they thought they should match the title.

A fair bit of the film takes place at night which does allow for some beautiful illuminated shots of London. The settings are all very well suited for this, I always think that Covent Garden looks like the perfect place for a Christmas paradise when it's made up properly... and that Christmas shop! I died and went to heaven!

I've had no real previous experience with Emilia Clarke as an actress, I've never knowingly seen her in anything (yes, I've never watched Game Of Thrones), but I was impressed with her portrayal of Kate. It all felt very natural, there was a lot of sass but she also managed to keep it together during the serious moments. I don't think I'll be going back to watch GoT after this but I may well give some of her other films a go.

Henry Golding plays the perfect gentleman, that might be his niche. There's nothing to object to in his performance at all, I might have some issues with the way he's written in the script but Golding brought Tom to life perfectly on screen.

The best support performance for me was definitely Santa, played by Michelle Yeoh. Santa and Kate playing off against each other was wonderful to see, no matter whether it eas a dramatic moment or a comedy one they bounced back and forth incredibly well. Seeing Yeoh listed for this was a little dubious but it was delightful to see.

Emma Thompson's portrayal was enjoyable, though the accent did change the feel of the humour. I do question why Kate's family needed to be of Croatian descent. I'm not one to say "this was trying to make a statement" but there wasn't anything of any major consequence in the film that required it to be that way. It didn't feel like the film gained anything from this apart from an opportunity to shoehorn in Brexit.

Despite my quibbling, which you know I love to do, Last Christmas was a thoroughly enjoyable film. It is much more drama than it is Christmas film, Christmas honestly feels incidental even though Emilia Clarke is dressed as an elf most of the time. Sure its message might be a little "hidden agenda" and overly sweet but it's a great bit of entertainment. Just remember, don't be the arsehole who spoils it for someone.

Originally posted on: https://emmaatthemovies.blogspot.com/2019/11/last-christmas-movie-review.html
  
Dearly Deleted
Dearly Deleted
Sarah E. Burr | 2023 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Killing at Christmas
Winnie Lark is staying in Copper Bay for Christmas, in fact, she’s playing host to her family. She’s nervous about her strained relationship with her parents and all of them fitting in her cottage. But before they even arrive, another murder happens in town. Her friend Owen is hosting a bestselling mystery author at his bookstore, but after the signing, Owen finds a dead body behind his store. Can Winnie save his reputation?

This book doesn’t waste any time before jumping into the mystery, and it kept me guessing until we reached the end, which took me by surprise. I fell in love with the characters in the first book, and that continued here. I also liked seeing how naturally Winnie’s relationship with her brother has developed. I did feel one sub-plot got a little short changed, but I did like how it was resolved. The Christmas setting is fun, and there are some great scenes in the second half of the book. If you can work this book in before Christmas, you’ll be rewarded. But no matter what time of the year you read it, you’ll be glad you did.
  
40x40

Peter G. (247 KP) rated Elf (2003) in Movies

Jun 12, 2019  
Elf (2003)
Elf (2003)
2003 | Comedy, Family
Thoroughly brilliant Christmas tale that can be quite hilarious at times as this is Will Ferrell in his element as the manchild and innocent titular character, it has wide appeal and great set pieces and an early role for game of thrones Peter Dinklage. "Santa, I know him"
  
PP
10
10.0 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Hannah finds another dead body, this time the man running the local Christmas tree lot. Yeah, the series is stuck in a rut, but I still really enjoy them.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-plum-pudding-murder-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
This was a short, sweet read. I am not a huge "holiday themed" book girl but it was so very sweet. Noel and Tazmin made me smile and laugh. They felt like siblings I never had. They were so adorable.. The pain Tazmin went through made me sad.. This was a sexy read and fairly short so if you are looking for a cute christmas themed sweet story I would highly recommend this one.
  
this is the third book in the series but it can be read as a stand alone. You will fall in love with the characters from the first page. This is a fab Christmas story to get you in the mood. This book has it all and more such as sexy cowboys. I just couldn't put it down till id finished it. I cant wait to read more from this author in the future.

Highly recommended

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A Christmas Mourning
A Christmas Mourning
Laura Bradford | 2020 | Mystery
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Mystery of the Missing Christmas Spoon
Claire Weatherly is going to enjoy a rare day off with her aunt Diane, and the two are going to play tourist, visiting the Amish sites that are open for tours. When Claire mentions this to Jakob Fisher, her new boyfriend, he tells her a story about a Christmas years ago. Raised by a local Amish family, Jakob actually attended school in the one room school house Claire and Diane will be visiting. The last year he was there, he took a fancy Christmas spoon his mother owned to show off to his friends, and it got lost. Claire decides to see if she can figure out what happened to it. But can it be recovered all these years later?

I’ve been meaning to read this short story at Christmas one year, and I’m glad I finally made the time. While the events of the past are set around Christmas, the contemporary part is not set during the season, which was a surprise that I got over quickly. The story was perfect for a short story; it kept me engaged without being overly complex. The ending made me tear up, but in a good way. We don’t see all of the characters, but it was wonderful to check in with those who were part of the story. It took me just under an hour to read, so if you want to read it this year, there is still time to slip it in before the holiday.
  
Things are gearing up for Christmas in July in the town of Rudolph, New York, and Merry Wilkinson is looking forward to the town’s new tradition, Santa arriving for his vacation in a boat parade. However, things get complicated when her ex-fiance, Max Folger, shows up in town wanting to rekindle his relationship with Merry. When he turns up dead in Merry’s shop, she finds herself drawn into the investigation. Can she figure out what is going on?

I love this series for the Christmas spirit that author Vicki Delany infuses into every page, and just because this book is set in July, that Christmas spirit hasn’t diminished at all. The mystery takes off into some surprising areas that kept me turning pages until I reached the end. The series regulars are their normal charming selves, and I was pleasantly surprised by the growth we saw in the suspects as well.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2017/11/book-review-hark-herald-angels-slay-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.