EACH DAY UNTIL CHRISTMAS, WE’LL PROFILE A TITLE WORTHY OF YOUR HOLIDAY VIEWING PLEASURE.
GREMLINS (PG)
Article by Adam Mast
Throughout this column, we’re trying to switch it up a bit. A traditional Christmas movie here, an unconventional holiday treasure there. Today, we’re going to profile a Christmas flick that is definitely a little more on the unconventional side. Joe Dante’s GREMLINS tends to be a little mean spirited but damn if it isn’t an entertaining movie. It also happens to take place during the holidays and even though it opened in June, 1984, it always reminds me of Christmas when I watch it.
“Cute. Clever. Mischievous. Intelligent. Dangerous.” read the catchphrase for what is essentially Dante’s spirited homage to a Looney Tune cartoons. GREMLINS was executive produced by Steven Spielberg and as you watch it, you can feel Amblin all over it. Screenwriter Chris Columbus (who would go on to pen THE GOONIES and direct HOME ALONE as well as the first two HARRY POTTER films) makes his presence felt too, but make no mistakes, this is a Joe Dante movie through and through.
The set up is pretty simple; A salesmen (played by Hoyt Axton) purchases a strange creature he finds in a run down shop in the heart of Chinatown, and presents it to his son, Billy (played by Zach Galligan), as a Christmas gift. As it turns out, this cuddly little fur ball comes with a very specific set of rules; Keep them out of the light, don’t get them wet, and lastly, whatever you do, don’t feed them after midnight. Of course, through the duration of this lively movie, all of these rules are broken. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have a movie, would we?
Throw logic out the window here, particularly that “don’t feed them after midnight” rule because logic doesn’t matter in a movie this undeniably entertaining. GREMLINS has an infectious energy about it that’s really hard to resist and even though this is a monster movie of sorts, there is plenty of cuteness to be found, particularly whenever adorable little Gizmo is front and center. Both Giz and his monstrous offspring were created by the great Chris Walas who would go on to effectively gross out audiences with his startling Jeff Goldblum make-up and creature effects in David Cronenberg’s THE FLY.
GREMLINS is a perfect fusion of dark comedy (had Ruby Deagle just used the stairs, perhaps she would have met a different fate), tragedy (Phoebe Cates’ Santa Claus story would put any Debbie Downer tale to shame), zany antics (beware the microwave), warmth (the bond between Gizmo and Billy is undeniably sweet) and, of course, Christmas cheer (if caroling Gremlins don’t warm your heart, I don’t know what will). All of these tonal shifts are handled with absolute precision by Dante.
Topping it all off, GREMLINS offers up a wonderful cast fronted by the likes of Galligan, Axton, Cates, Frances Lee McCain, Polly “Kiss My Grits” Holliday, Judge Reinhold, Corey Feldman, Dante’s go-to-veteran Dick Miller, and Jonathan Banks (who you may recognize as Mike from “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul”.)
I love me some GREMLINS and I always make a habit of watching it at lease once every holiday season. Still not convinced it’s a Christmas movie? Well, two Decembers back, I saw it as part of a double bill with A CHRISTMAS STORY at The New Beverly in L.A., and if The New Beverly says it’s a Christmas movie than it must be a Christmas movie!
TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
DAY 5- MEET JOHN DOE– CLICK HERE
Day 4- IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE – CLICK HERE
Day 3- DIE HARD – CLICK HERE
Day 2- ELF – CLICK HERE
Day 1- KRAMPUS – CLICK HERE
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