Top Ten Romantic Comedies: A Valentine’s Day List

By Lisa Anderson

I Love You Phillip Morris

The romantic comedy: it’s the most reviled of genres, and yet also the most resilient. There’s an assumption that men only go see them out of obligation . . . although men are likely to enjoy the good ones, and women are likely to dislike the bad ones. Too many rom-coms rely on mutually insulting stereotypes (the commitment-phobic man, the miserable career woman), predictable plots (boy meets girl, boy does something stupid), and problematic supporting characters (Sassy Black Friend, Sassy Gay Friend).

Nevertheless, they keep getting made, and they keep making money. This is because among the scores of bad rom-coms, there are gems. Almost everyone can think of a few that have actually made them laugh, and managed to resonate with their feelings and experiences. Here are a few of mine, in no particular order.
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A Very Gerry X-Mas

If you watch nothing else this holiday season, watch this.

Reed Farrington (from Film Junk‘s Cantankerous podcasts) stars in this new Christmas special.

Featuring gingerbread, Star Trek, stop-motion animation, and lots and lots of sneezing, it is, in its own inimitable way, as brilliant, profound, and disturbing as The Wrestler.

Enjoy!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Popshifter,

Less Lee Moore

Christmas Songs For A Future Generation: The Superions, Destination . . . Christmas!

By Cait Brennan

Fred Schneider rarely gets his due as a rock legend. One of the most original voices and imaginative storytellers of the New Wave, Schneider brought weird and wonderful absurdist lyrics, a fearless outsider sensibility, and his unique sprechstimme delivery into the rock mainstream. The discrete charm of Fred’s voice and lyrical style are lost on some people, but despite an army of jokesters’ best efforts, Schneider is truly inimitable.

Sad, then, that despite a relentless touring schedule, in the past 18 years his groundbreaking band the B-52s have managed only one new studio release, 2008′s Funplex. The prolific Schneider has participated in dozens of other projects during those years, but none have captured his own brand of madness better than Destination . . . Christmas!, the new album with his band The Superions.
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Meowy Christmas

By Less Lee Moore

I like to troll thrift stores for old craft books and the best ones are usually found at the “Bibles For Missions” shop down the street from my building. Recently, I came across a hardcover Better Homes and Gardens’ book called Easy Bazaar Crafts. It just reeked of “country ducks” and calico, so naturally I had to peruse.
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Top Ten Holiday Tunes: By Less Lee Moore

1. “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” Band Aid

I know this song’s privileged, paternalistic attitude is totally inappropriate, but it just reminds me so much of teenaged Christmases, I can’t help but love it. Plus, it features many of my teen musical crushes: Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Boy George, and of course, Marilyn (before the drugs took their toll).
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My Very Own Christmas (and Hanukkah!) Mixtape

By Jesse Roth

Every holiday season, the media never fails to deliver its audience the unwelcome gift of what I’d like to call the “and your point is?” story. From what I can tell, the big story this time around reflects on this new phenomenon known as “people other than Bing Crosby recording Christmas music.” Thus far, most of the stories have gone along the lines of “Oh. My. God. You mean Bob Dylan released a Christmas album?! And Mariah Carey released one in 1994?! And wait? What’s this? Andrea Bocelli has one too, and he’s singing with MUPPETS?!? What a craaaazy decade we’re suffering through!”
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Top Five Holiday Tunes: By Laura L.

1. “Last Christmas,” Wham!

Yes, it’s full of ’80s cheesiness, but that’s what makes it so great. You can just picture George Michael and Andrew Ridgely performing this song in sweaters that would make even Bill Cosby blush.
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