Way back in 2012 (and a few years before Rewind It Magazine), I took a chance to check out an ’80s show in Orlando with The Romantics, John Waite, and Modern English all on the same bill, and ended up having a blast that night. Fast forward a good decade plus, I heard The Romantics were coming back for another WMMO-sponsored event, this time at the Ocoee Music Fest with John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, and the one and only Minikiss also on board, which more or less sealed the deal for me (and the wife and kid this time around, too).
Upon arrival this past Friday, November 14, Minikiss were already well into doing their thing (local musician Bre Hopkins had also played prior to them, though we were obviously unable to catch any of her set), and “Shout It Out Loud” could clearly be heard while walking over from the nearby parking lot, followed swiftly by the early-’80s Kiss classic “Lick it Up.” The band then went into “The Star Spangled Banner” in honor of Veteran’s Day, then teased the epic “Black Diamond” (one of my personal favorites) before seguing into the Black Sabbath classic “War Pigs” (and dedicating it to late frontman Ozzy Osbourne), and ultimately returning back to the 1974 classic they had previously started.
It was around the time of said track’s solo that I got a little teary-eyed thinking of Ace Frehley’s recent passing, and the fact he would never be around to play it himself again. It was also around this time that I noticed how few fellow KISS Army members were actually side-by-side with me that night, as so many (though not all) remained unmoved until the big “hits” started coming out.
Minikiss shouting it out loud at the Ocoee Music Fest in Ocoee, FL on Friday, November 14 (Photo by Brooke Striewski).
And the hits did come, with “I Was Made For Loving You,” “Love Gun,” and the timeless anthem “Rock n’ Roll All Nite” closing things out on a high note. As an avid Kiss fan who was able to see the band while still active (ironically also in 2012, the same year that I had caught The Romantics), as well as Frehley solo, I can say with all honesty that Minikiss are as close to the real thing one might get to seeing the band live these days (had I closed my eyes long enough, I might’ve actually believed it was them), and I think Kevin James’ Paul Blart just might agree (the band had cameo-ed in the 2015 sequel Mall Cop 2, for those unaware).
Next up was John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band. Not exactly an act I can say I’m a fan of per se, though their music has been here and there throughout my lifetime thanks to having songs included in such films as 1983’s Eddie and the Cruisers (and its 1989 sequel), and 1985’s Rocky IV.
The ensemble came out with I believe “Tough All Over” before getting right down to business with their massive 1983 hit, “On the Dark Side.” “Hearts on Fire,” “Blue Moonlight Drive,” and “C-I-T-Y” all kept the momentum going, likely winning over a new fan or two along the way (yours truly included).
John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band giving the crowd what they came for at the Ocoee Music Fest in Ocoee, FL on Friday, November 14 (Photo by Brooke Striewski).
And last but not least, The Romantics took the stage right around 9:15pm. The lineup had changed considerably since that last time I had caught them live in Orlando, most notably via original guitarist Mike Skill and bassist Rich Cole, whose simultaneous exits in 2022 left frontman Wally Palmer the sole original member now. However, the return of guitarist Coz Canler, who originally joined the band way back in 1981 but left in 2011, added some interest nonetheless.
That being said, the band’s sound has not missed a single beat, despite the changes. Opening strong with “Rock You Up,” the band followed it up with “In the Night Time,” “When I Look In Your Eyes,” “Gimme One More Chance,” and “Got Me Where You Want Me,” sung by current bassist Bruce Witken.
“One in a Million” has always been a personal favorite of mine, though sounded a bit on the weaker side this time around. “A Night Like This,” “Boom Boom Boom,” and “Bop” were each admirable efforts before the band pulled out the big guns with 1981’s “Talking in Your Sleep.”
The Romantics giving their everything to all those in attendance at the Ocoee Music Fest in Ocoee, FL this past Friday, November 14 (Photo by Brooke Striewski).
What could’ve been the perfect one-two punch ending was prolonged with a bit of overindulgence as the band continued with “Stone Pony” and “Little White Lies” before finally giving the crowd their first massive hit they had all came for, 1979’s “What I Like About You.” While it might not have been an entirely flawless affair from start to finish, it was no doubt a night filled with classic rock hits from the ’70s and ’80s, an era of great music worth holding onto for as long as possible indeed.
What really constitutes a ‘classic’ Christmas movie? Is the term limited strictly to the holiday specials of yesteryear, like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, or Santa Clausis Coming to Town? Or does it refer only to the same films played to death on cable television every year, such as A Christmas Story, Home Alone, and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation?
Over the years, there’s been many a film with Christmas either on the side or in the background all together, some more obvious than others, some more off-the-cuff. I tried to find twenty-five movies (for December 25th) for those with “alternative” tastes that prefer something slightly less than typical, and once and for all end the debate what exactly classifies as a Christmas movie (and of course, once and for all declare that Die Hard IS in fact a Christmas movie!).
It was not easy narrowing it down; as much as I wanted to include the likes of Maniac Cop 2, Reindeer Games, or Jaws: The Revenge, there were simply others that better fit the mold. Other films that also came to mind that deserve an honorable mention include Mean Girls (pictured above), Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Can’tBuy Me Love, Vice Versa, and even the original Karate Kid, all featured some Christmas in them, but not quite enough to make the list. And as tempting as it was to include some horror films like Black Christmas or Silent Night, Deadly Night, they indeed still fall under the Christmas banner in their own demented ways. So, compiled here for you now, I present the ultimate misfits guide of not-so-obvious Christmas movies…
25. Running Scared (1986): What better way to start things off than with an over-the-top, mid-’80s action/comedy starring Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines? The two portray Chicago police officers dreaming of retiring in sunny Florida, who first have to take down a drug dealer (played by Jimmy Smits), and take down they do as the bad guy eventually meets his demise in a pile of Christmas presents. A recent re-watch proved the film still has its own charm, and if you like a good dose of violence with your holiday cheer, than this one’s for you.
24. Night of the Comet (1984): Okay, I know I just said I was not going to include horror on this list, but I’ll make an exception for Night of the Comet since this mid-80s flick starring Catherine Mary Stewart and Kelli Maroney is not only more of a Sci Fi/comedy feature, but there’s no killer Santa in sight. Instead, the main protagonists here are zombies after a comet hits the Earth just days before Christmas.
23. Trapped in Paradise (1994): Nicholas Cage, Jon Lovitz, and Dana Carvey star as three bumbling brothers who rob a small town bank. The plot is predictable, and the jokes few and far between, but the winter scenery is on point and enough to put anyone in the holiday spirit.
22. Invasion U.S.A. (1985): Die Hard was far from the first action film to incorporate yuletide carnage in it. This mid-’80s Chuck Norris romp features plenty of exploding Christmas trees as Norris tears his way through shopping malls (among numerous other suburban settings).
21. Screwed (2000): When chauffeur Willard (Norm Macdonald) gets a lousy pair of cuff links from his boss for Christmas, he snaps and devises a plan with his friend Rusty (Dave Chappelle) to kidnap her dog and hold it for ransom. Everything that can go wrong, does, as the two bumbling anti-heroes scramble to keep their heads above water.
Dave Chappelle (left) and Norm Macdonald enjoying some holiday cocktails in Screwed (2000).
20. Light of Day (1987): Michael J. Fox and Joan Jett star as brother and sister and bandmates in a struggling Ohio rock group trying to “make it.” Sure, the actual Christmas side of things are few and far between, but the amount of white snow seen throughout is enough of a holiday reminder, despite the dreary atmosphere.
19: Diner (1982): This early ’80s buddy film who center around a group of friends (played by Steve Guttenberg, Kevin Bacon, and Mickey Rourke, among others) hanging out and experiencing adulthood for the first time in late 1950’s Maryland. Almost every frame is dark and filled with frigid cold, often with Christmas decorations appearing.
18. Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009): Paul Blart (Kevin James) is a harmless New Jersey mall security officer who must rise to the occasion when thieves disguised as Santa’s Village employees attempt to heist the mall on Black Friday. The majority of the film takes place within the mall itself, something once as synonymous with Christmas as mistletoe.
17. Less Than Zero (1987): Andrew McCarthy, Jami Gertz, and Robert Downy, Jr. play rich kids lost in the decadence of 1980’s Los Angeles. Scenes of Christmas parties include plenty of “snow” despite the film’s often bleak, western setting.
16. Robocop 3 (1993): Often getting the worst rap of all the Robocop films (and rightfully so), Robocop 3 will always hold a special place in my heart for personal reasons (I have fond memories of going to see it on opening day with my mother and late Aunt Roberta) despite its many flaws. Aimed more at family audiences than the previous two entries, it features a Christmas backdrop throughout, with the donut shop scene towards the beginning displaying some of the most festive sites, as well as one of Jeff Garlin’s earliest roles.
15. Daddy’s Home 2 (2017): The two co-dads (Mark Wahlberg, Will Ferrell) from the original Daddy’s Home take their respective families to a ski resort for Christmas vacation, with their own fathers (Mel Gibson, John Lithgow) in tow as well. One mishap after the other leads to a few memorable moments, with the film even culminating complete with an epic sing-a-long of “Do They Know It’s Christmas?.”
14. Grumpy Old Man (1993): Walter Matthau and Jack Lemon play two bickering old neighbors in Minnesota. Snow covers nearly everything the eye can see in exterior shots (many centering around the two men ice fishing), while interior settings center around the holidays when family comes to visit.
13. Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986): Long before there was “The Dude,” there was Nick Nolte’s brilliant portrayal of a homeless man who is reluctantly taken in by Beverly Hills elitists (Richard Dreyfus, Bette Midler) during the holiday season. Things eventually get so out of hand, even Little Richard shows up at the family’s Christmas party.
12. Eyes Wide Shut (1999): Stanley Kubrick’s odd masterpiece of cults and cheating spouses starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman immediately starts off at a Christmas party in New York. The film maintains a cold, dark tone throughout, with the Christmas elements contrasting the material perfectly.
11. Better Off Dead (1985): High school dances, ski competitions, and hamburgers singing Van Halen are just a few of the highlights in this John Cusack vehicle directed by Savage Steve Holland. It’s absurd and over-the-top in every way imaginable, but contains just enough Christmas to earn your mom’s approval during the holiday season (I know this firsthand).
Curtis Armstrong, Amanda Wyss, and John Cusack prepare to hit the slopes in 1985’s Better Off Dead.
10. Hook (1991): This early ’90s take on the classic animated Disney film Peter Pan (which contained Christmas itself) starring the late Robin Williams only featured Christmas in the beginning and ending of the film, but contains enough magic to qualify here. Williams would appear in another similar fantasy film just a few years later in Jumanji (1995), which also featured some Christmas scenes in it.
9. First Blood (1982): The true O.G. of the Christmas action film, Sylvester Stallone’s first time portraying John Rambo contains more festive cheer than one might realize at first glance. From the sheriff’s office in the beginning, to the big in town shoot up ending, there’s plenty of Christmas decor to spot throughout.
8. Ghostbusters II (1989): From ghostbusting in Santa hats on the streets of New York, to an outdoor sing-a-long on New Year’s Eve, this 1989 sequel to the original Ghostbusters no doubt contained the Christmas spirit.
7. Rocky IV (1985): Going back to the 1976 original, the Rocky films were no strangers to holiday atmosphere. But by the time the Italian Stallion (Sylvester Stallone) got to the fourth entry, it was full-on, with the film’s final fight taking place on Christmas day in Russia. The trend would continue further five years later with Rocky V (1990), which also featured plenty of Christmas, but lacked much of the heart.
6. Edward Scissorhands (1990): Tim Burton was hitting his stride as a director by the time he reached Edward Scissorhands in the early ’90s. Johnny Depp stars as the Frankenstein-like titular character trying to fit in in a pristine suburbia, and Winnoa Ryder appears as his love interest. Again, the Christmas season doesn’t appear until near the end of the film, but the snowy flurries from Edward’s ice sculpting throughout the film adds to the seasonal feel.
5. Batman Returns (1992): In this entry, Batman (Michael Keaton) takes on the sleazy Penguin (Danny Devito) and slinky Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer) in sub zero temperatures. Children are kidnapped, and Christmas parties are crashed in this final Batman entry with Keaton and directed by Tim Burton.
Mel Gibson gets more than he bargained for while shopping for a Christmas tree in Lethal Weapon (1987).
4. Lethal Weapon (1987): One of the greatest of its kind, the original Lethal Weapon with Mel Gibson and Danny Glover blended fast-paced action over a Christmas backdrop flawlessly. Perhaps the most memorable festive moment comes when a bullet goes through Tom Atkins’ torso into a glass of egg nog (I was thoroughly pleased to see Atkins actually had stills of this to sign when I met him this past October). It’s great to see Lethal Weapon is finally getting the recognition it deserves as a Christmas classic.
3. Trading Places (1983): Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy brilliantly portray an upper class broker and a small time street hustler whose lives are swapped at the whim of two millionaires making a bet. Much of the film takes place in the frigid temps of winter in Philadelphia with Christmas decor in aubundance. Very few on screen Santa’s before or since have compared to Aykroyd’s boozed-up, show-stopping performance.
2. Die Hard (1988) and Die Hard 2 (1990): Yes, the original Bruce Willis blockbuster Die Hard, which takes place at a high rise holiday party on Christmas Eve, is absolutely a Christmas film. But its first 1990 follow up, which includes terrorists taking over an airport on Christmas Eve, is often overlooked as an equal Christmas film. Of course, nothing will ever top Hans Gruber falling off the Nakatomi Plaza in the original, but each deserves their own holiday viewing.
1. Gremlins (1984): Marketed as a horror/comedy upon its initial release, the original Gremlins has since become a staple Christmas time classic. When teenaged Billy (Zach Galligan) gets a cute and fury, foreign creature as a Christmas present, it turns out to be too good to be true when it multiples, and the rest turn into hideous little monsters who wreak havoc on the small town. From start to finish, Christmas is everywhere in Gremlins, which has been a go-to in my household since I first received it as a gift (for Christmas) on VHS when I was a kid in the ’80s.
