National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and Home Alone top my list. I
like a little humor during the holidays. Ok, a LOT of humor and those
two movies do it for me.

(Mollee Francisco is a staff writer for the Chaska Herald. She can be reached at mfrancisco@swpub.com.)

"Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings."

I own the video (and will someday splurge for the DVD) of the original "It's a Wonderful Life" and, whether it's the video or one of a gazillion showings on TBS or a like channel, I'm sure I'll see it at least once.

I am such a nerd about this movie that I often blurt out, "Paste it, Daddy. Paste it." (ala Zuzu wanting her rose put back together) whenever I break something that can't be fixed.

Every once in a while, I get the urge to blurt out "Get me! I'm giving out wings!" while ringing a bell, ala evil Pottersville.

Oh, and much to everyone's consternation, at least once a year, I yell out "Merry Christmas! Bedford Falls!" in my best (or most terrible, depending on your view) Jimmy Stewart impression.

I have several holiday movie favorites, all based on my mood and sentiment! When I want to laugh, I definitely look to Chevy Chase, cousin Eddie and the crew from "Christmas Vacation." I have too many favorite scenes to list here, but high on the list are when Chevy flies through town on his metal saucer, the squirrel flying out of the tree (after Aunt Rose's cat litter jello and before the uncle's smoking toupee!) and Eddie in his bathrobe and fur hat having a smoke while emptying his, umm ... trailer "pipes."

When I want to recapture my youth (and enjoy the holidays from a child's perspective), I pop in the VHS collection of "Year Without a Santa Claus" and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." The animated classics - with Heat Miser & Cold Miser, Burger Meister/Meister Burger, Kris Kringle - just can't be beat.

When I need to remember that the holidays aren't about gifts, parties and creating the "perfect holiday memory," I turn to a "A House Without a Christmas Tree." Jason Robards stars as the bitter dad who doesn't want daughter Addie have a Christmas tree or celebrate the holiday ... I think I first saw it in 1974 and was thrilled to find it released on video about 10 years ago.

When I want to reminisce about holidays from days, and years, gone by I watch a "Little House Christmas" and "The Waltons Thanksgiving." Call me a sentimental sap, but I can't get through the holidays without spending some time with the Ingalls and Walton families - and I'm thankful my children enjoy them too.

But the most essential movie on my annual holiday list is obviously, "It's a Wonderful Life." There's nothing like Jimmy Stewart, lassoing the moon for his gal Mary, caring for Zuzu's petals and meeting his angel Clarence, to make me laugh, cry and want to hug everyone all at the same time.

Ahh ... who has time for work or shopping during the holiday season? Let's watch some great movies!

I really like "Elf" and "Bad Santa". They're both terribly funny - maybe even new classics.