Movie Info:
Writer: Anna McRoberts, Robert Vince
Director: Robert Vince
Cast: George Wendt, Christopher Lloyd, Danny Woodburn
Rating: G
Studio: Disney

Release Info:
Original Theatrical Release Date: November 24, 2009
DVD Release Date: November 24, 2009
Online Availability: Amazon for $24.99

I might be a reviewer, but there are some movies that I just do not want to see. Some press releases get me nice and excited thinking about the great films that I will be able to review and others make me groan with the thought of upcoming boredom.

Santa Buddies was not one of the movies that I was excited to see. In fact, I only decided to review it because my nephew was dying to see it. He made me promise to get it for him, so I got it for review so that he could see it. I watched it with him and he liked it so much that I had to bring the DVD to his house, so that he could keep it and watch it with his friends. When he saw me walking out of the house with the case, he wanted to know where I was taking his DVD. He calmed down when he realized it was just the Blu-ray. If he had a Blu-ray player I would have let him keep it. Lord knows, I probably won’t get much use out of it unless he wants to watch it at my house.

When it comes to holiday movies this fails. There is nothing else to say about it. Santa Buddies is a movie that rides off of the success of a movie that came out a long time ago. That movie, Air Bud, was good, but it wasn’t good enough to spawn this many sequels. I mean seriously, what plans does Disney have in the future? Is this going to be a holiday tradition? Valentine’s Day spawns Cupid Buddies, Easter offers up Easter Buddies, and New Years Eve brings us Party Buddies?!?

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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.

Movie Info:
Writer: John Hughes
Director: Chris Columbus
Cast: John Heard, Joe Pesci, John Candy, Catherine O’Hara, Macaulay Culkin, Daniel Stern
Rating: PG
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Release Info:
Theatrical Release:
DVD Release Date: December 2, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $23.99

If there is one movie I remember loving at Christmas time, as a kid, it’s Home Alone. I don’t know how many times I saw this movie in the theater. I just know it was a lot. I’m only a few months younger than Macaulay Caulkin, so I loved this movie. I used to pretend I was Kevin, and make little drawings of the fun house I would attempt to set up, just in case someone tried to break into my house. I think I even tried to set up various booby traps around my house, which didn’t go over well with my parents.

I’ve seen Home Alone at least 100 times since I owned the VHS and ran it ragged. Actually, I’ve seen the first two Home Alone movies so many times I could probably recite their plots in my sleep. Now that I have kids, I’m the one who has to watch Home Alone with them. What’s not to love about this movie? Seriously, it’s the 80s, classic Christmas special for the ages to enjoy.

Being a young boy around the age of Kevin McCallister meant that I was able to relate to this movie a lot more than adults could. I was the independent type, like Kevin. I could cook my own meals, by that time, shower myself, and pick out my own clothes. I wasn’t too good with the laundry though. Every kids secretly wishes, at one point or another, that their family will disappear. Besides, this is a John Hughes film. What’s not to like about it?

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Written by Dominick - Visit Website
Dominick Evans is in his late 20's. He spends his days working as a full time writer/editor and a part time musician/composer. His passions in life include music, directing films, watching movies, reading books, watching sports, wheelchair football, politics, his religion (Hellenic Reconstructionism) and spending time with his family (fiancée Ashtyn, son Robert, and shih-tzu Oliver). Other interests include being an advocate for the disability and GLBT communities.

Movie Info:
Writer: Jay Lee
Director: Jay Lee
Cast: Jenna Jameson, Robert Englund, Roxy Saint, Joey Medina, Shamron Moore, Penny Drake, Jennifer Holland, John Hawkes
Rating: R
Studio: Sony

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: September 19, 2008
DVD Release Date: October 28, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $25.95

All I can say after watching this is, “Wow!” I’m not even sure this is necessarily a good ‘wow’ either. I came into Zombie Strippers wanting to see Mr. Freddie Krueger himself, Robert Englund. In an effort to do this, I got way more than I bargained for with this movie. Oh, the irony of this story. I can’t say that it is necessarily good. It definitely is ironic and interesting at the somewhat, poorly played out, but potentially intriguing storyline. I guess, with stories about zombies (absurdist stories), you just can’t expect an Oscar nominated screenplay. I wasn’t expecting this nor was I expecting the story I received.

I guess such a messed up society could only be attributed to such losers as the Bush Administration. This story is kind of humorous yet terrifying at the same time (Eight more years with Bush? Yikes!). It does not have a whole lot of substance, but it is kind of funny to think about the possibility of something like this happening. Bush’s administration would have to be the one to experiment with making soldiers zombies, and letting them “accidentally” get loose. Only the Bush Administration could be responsible for a ‘real life’ version of Resident Evil, because essentially, that is what the primary story for Zombie Strippers is; a Resident Evil knock off with strippers.

Now, don’t get me wrong. The stripper element was hilarious. You could totally see Robert Englund running a seedy, underground strip joint. He seems like the type of guy who would deny Bush mandates that prohibit strip clubs due to a ban on public nudity. I guess stripping is considered public nudity. I always thought that was streaking since establishments are behind closed doors, but who knows. Anyway, that’s pretty much the gist of this entire movie.

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Written by Dominick - Visit Website
Dominick Evans is in his late 20's. He spends his days working as a full time writer/editor and a part time musician/composer. His passions in life include music, directing films, watching movies, reading books, watching sports, wheelchair football, politics, his religion (Hellenic Reconstructionism) and spending time with his family (fiancée Ashtyn, son Robert, and shih-tzu Oliver). Other interests include being an advocate for the disability and GLBT communities.

Movie Info:
Writer: Jean Shepherd
Director: Bob Clark
Cast: Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin, Peter Billingsley, Ian Petrella, Scott Schwartz, R.D. Robb, Zack Ward, Tedde Moore, Yano Anaya
Rating: PG
Studio: Warner Home Video

Release Info:
Theatrical Release: November 18, 1983
DVD Release Date: November 4, 2008
Online Availability: Amazon for $19.95

If you say you don’t like A Christmas Story then you absolutely stink. This movie has been hailed the best Christmas movie since It’s a Wonderful Life, and I think that’s a pretty accurate assessment. At my house, we have a tradition of watching It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, and Mixed Nuts (I’m also a child of the 80s, so as a parent, Home Alone is also quite popular) along with a few different animated specials (Frosty, Rudolph, Charlie Brown). These are movies we never miss watching no matter the year. A Christmas Story is one of our very favorite movies not only for Christmas, but of all time.

Regardless of your age or the decade in which you grew up, Ralphie and the Parkers are relatable. I grew up in the small town Midwest. I remember wanting that one, elusive toy that every kid seemed to want and feeling the frustration of thinking I’d never get it. I don’t remember Santa being quite so scary, but I do remember the school bullies, having to bundle up until you’re practically unrecognizable (and have trouble moving because of it) and the double and triple dog dare. Add in some silliness, such as the dad with the leg lamp (The Old Man was my dad – he was a world champion when it came to swearing), and the “show mommy the lil piggies” scene with Ralphie’s little brother, Randy, (my brother was so picky his ketchup and mustard couldn’t touch on his hamburgers or hot dogs – for the longest time I believed mustard had to go on the bottom of a bun and ketchup on top of the meat!) and you pretty much have the All American Christmas classic, A Christmas Story.

When A Christmas Story was first released, it was only a modest success. It had the kind of reception It’s a Wonderful Life had, with fans warming up to the movie once it started airing on television. Now, both movies are considered essential watching in many of the households not only in North America, but around the world. It truly is amazing to see what a beloved character Ralphie has become and all of the adventures he experiences are laugh out loud moments no matter your age!

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Written by Dominick - Visit Website
Dominick Evans is in his late 20's. He spends his days working as a full time writer/editor and a part time musician/composer. His passions in life include music, directing films, watching movies, reading books, watching sports, wheelchair football, politics, his religion (Hellenic Reconstructionism) and spending time with his family (fiancée Ashtyn, son Robert, and shih-tzu Oliver). Other interests include being an advocate for the disability and GLBT communities.