With winter approaching, it brings along many festivities. One of them is sitting down and watching some seasonal movies. In light of the winter spirit, we reviewed three films that remind us of what this time of year is all about.

The first movie we watched was “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” With the main character being Clark Griswold, a people-pleasing, energetic father, the movie was entertaining. This film shows how aggravating, yet unforgettable, celebrations with big families can be. Although there is a lot going on throughout the movie, in the end it is clear what the theme was: how important it is to spend time with your loved ones. We enjoyed the comedy aspect and the theme of this film. We would definitely watch it again. Our rating for this movie is 4.5/5.

Then, we traveled to the frosty suburbs of Chicago and met with the chaotic family of eight-year-old Kevin McCallister. In the movie “Home Alone,” Kevin wishes his family would disappear. The next day, he is left behind when his family leaves for Paris and has to defend himself from two burglars. The main character was intelligent and it was interesting to see how his plans played out. We found it amusing to see the antagonists constantly getting outsmarted. The setting of the movie being inside of the main character’s house is unique. The setting led to many different ways for Kevin to trick the robbers. We highly recommend this movie. Our rating is a 4/5.

The last movie we watched was “The Grinch.” This devious creature wants to steal Christmas from the people of Whoville. With the guidance of a bright child, Cindy Lou Who, he realizes the holiday is more than just gifts, it is about community. One reason why this movie was enjoyable was because of the actors. We believe that Jim Carrey as the Grinch was a great cast. He embodied the mannerisms of the character perfectly which made the film more enticing. “The Grinch” is a classic winter movie. We both enjoyed watching the film. Our rating for this movie is a 4.5/5.

These movies share the common thread of being humorous and witty, but all come together in the end to display what the wintertime is about: spending time with family and friends. Watching these films was a great way to start off celebrating this joyous season.