I’ve got a blast from the past this week.

My late husband Greg Lackner was the funniest guy I knew. He cracked me up on a regular basis.

Today, I have an email he wrote to my sister (the Graphix Goddess and THANKS for her images today) in 2006 which features his Holiday movie picks.

I don’t agree with him on everything (he HATES the movie, White Christmas, for example) but he’s pretty funny in explaining his picks. He was a TV and radio movie reviewer in Rockford, IL where we grew up.

Enjoy! (Greg’s text is in italic.)

Just because I’m bored out of my skull with my current writing assignments, I thought I would grace you with some picks for holiday movies.

Use them, don’t use them, but you may find some fun with these choices.

A Christmas Carol

You may have heard of the story (it’s only been done a bazillion times), but my choice is the Alastair Sim version made in the 1950’s. Funny, scary, and very moving; it’s a terrific way to celebrate the holidays.

A Christmas Story

Just try not to find this on TV this time of year. I dare you. I double dog dare you. Based on several stories from the genius known as Jean Shepherd (and narrated by him), it takes you back to the early Depression years in a town that is curiously close to being Hammond, Indiana, and the adventures of Ralph who find out that, indeed, a Red Ryder BB rifle will shoot his eye out.

Elf

Will Ferrell finally emerged as a true movie star in this very funny film about a six-foot elf and his efforts to bring the Christmas spirit to his co-workers.

Bad Santa

Explore the dark side with this comedy about a department store Santa who is actually a drunk safe cracker. He robs the stores in the mall on Christmas Eve with the help of his evil elf friend. Trust me on this.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Tim Burton produced this amazing stop-motion animated film where the pumpkin king Jack Skellington, decides to take over Christmas. Great tunes and pure eye candy.

The Santa Clause

The original film with Tim Allen as a regular guy who becomes Santa is a lot of fun. The sequels blow.

Christmas in Connecticut

Barbara Stanwyck plays a cynical writer who is supposed to be the Martha Stewart of her day. She has to actually do the things she writes about and the results are delightful.

It’s a Wonderful Life

All right. All right. All right. It’s not really a Christmas movie (the only thing Christmasy about it is the ending happens on Christmas), but it is a terrific film no matter what the season.

Holiday Inn

Forget White Christmas (yuck), this is the for-real version of the story with unforgettable songs by Irving Berlin. Hey, have you ever noticed that Non-Christians write the best Christmas songs?

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

The third movie with Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold is hilarious, and, in its own twisted way, kind of sweet. Randy Quaid, again, steals the show as Cousin Eddie.

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

This is a good movie to put on after you’ve been drinking eggnog all day. Truly one of the worst films every made, it’s so bad, it’s good. Watch for a very young Pia Zadora as one of the Martian kids who conspire to kidnap Santa Claus and bring him to Mars. Honest.

Greg still cracks me up! But no way is Holiday Inn better than White Christmas. And a couple of those Santa Clause movies are fun. I like the one where he has to find a wife.

However, for me, it’s not Christmas unless we’re watching the first Home Alone movie with the cutest evil little kid in history, Macauley Culkin (his brother Kieran is the wets-his-pants kid). And the house that’s featured in the scenes where they knock over yard ornaments is in Chicago-land (a big plus in my book).

I’m also pretty fond of the second Home Alone movie because–Tim Curry!

Whether you prefer Hallmark or Game of Thrones for your holiday viewing, I hope you have plenty of good food and belly laughs this holiday season!

PS: I must add this funny Kurt Russell entry, Christmas Chronicles, because he’s adorable AND the music scene in the jail is killer. Try to keep from singing along. I double dog dare you! There’s an uncredited and sexy walk-on by Goldie Hawn, too!