Podcast Summary: The Matt Walsh Show – "Matt Walsh Reviews CHRISTMAS MOVIES"

Episode Information

• Title: Matt Walsh Reviews CHRISTMAS MOVIES
• Host: Matt Walsh
• Podcast: The Matt Walsh Show, The Daily Wire
• Release Date: December 23, 2024
• Description: Matt Walsh delivers his unfiltered opinions on cultural, religious, and political topics, providing listeners with a candid perspective on current issues.

Introduction

In the December 23, 2024 episode of The Matt Walsh Show, Matt Walsh delves into the realm of Christmas cinema. Stripping away the festive cheer, he offers a no-holds-barred critique of both beloved classics and modern renditions of Christmas movies. Starting the discussion at [00:32], Matt emphasizes the importance of consistent content creation before diving into his comprehensive review.

Top Christmas Movies

Number 2: A Christmas Story

Timestamp: [01:55] – [04:26]

Matt Walsh places A Christmas Story in the second spot of his top Christmas movies. He passionately defends its status against critics who deem it overrated, stating, “A Christmas Story is the movie that I've seen probably 30 times in my life, if not more. I enjoy it every time” ([01:57]).

Key Points:

• Timeless Appeal: Matt praises the film for capturing the universal magic and wonder of Christmas, resonating with both children and adults across generations.
• Personal Stakes: He highlights how the movie maintains personal and intimate stakes, avoiding the grandiose crises often seen in modern Christmas films. “The stakes remain very personal and very contained” ([03:10]).
• Perfection in Execution: Drawing parallels to The Princess Bride, Matt asserts that A Christmas Story is perfect in its performances, script, and overall execution, leaving no room for improvement.

Number 1: It's a Wonderful Life

Timestamp: [04:33] – [09:49]

Claiming the top spot without contest, Matt names It's a Wonderful Life as the greatest Christmas movie of all time. “It’s a Wonderful Life is one of the greatest films ever made” ([04:33]).

Key Points:

• Iconic Status: Matt lauds the film not just as a Christmas classic but as one of the top 15 films ever, emphasizing its perfection in capturing the Christmas spirit.
• Supernatural Elements: He appreciates how the movie integrates supernatural elements seamlessly, enhancing the Christmas narrative in a way that modern films lack.
• Personal Anecdote: Matt shares a heartfelt but humorous lament about his wife’s refusal to watch the movie with him, illustrating the deep personal connection he has with it. “She calls it boring. Every time she says that, it cuts me. It cuts me to my core” ([05:15]).
• Cultural Critique: Despite acknowledging George Bailey’s communist leanings, Matt believes the film transcends its political undertones through its enduring excellence.

Most Overrated Christmas Movies

Timestamp: [09:49] – [11:57]

Transitioning to the negative spectrum, Matt Walsh categorically dismisses all Christmas movies produced after 1994 as overrated and subpar. “The most overrated and the worst Christmas movies of all time, those are every Christmas movie made after the year 1994. No sh” ([07:53]).

Key Points:

• Critical Decline Post-1994: According to Matt, Christmas cinema peaked with films like Home Alone (1992) and The Santa Clause (1994). Everything following these years has deteriorated in quality.
• Specific Criticisms:
  • Elf (2003): Matt criticizes Elf for its stretched narrative and loss of charm, stating, “It wears out its welcome midway through the first act” ([08:19]).
  • Jim Carrey’s Grinch: He refers to the latest Grinch adaptation as an “abomination,” expressing strong disdain for its departure from the traditional portrayal ([09:22]).
  • Rock’s Snowman: Matt mocks the reimagining of Santa as an action hero, calling for its elimination from Christmas lore.
• Lack of Christmas Spirit: He argues that modern Christmas movies fail to embody the true essence and spirit of Christmas, a sentiment equally applied to contemporary Christmas songs.

Notable Quote:

• “They have forgotten how to make Christmas movies. Even the mildly entertaining ones are still missing something, okay? They’re missing the essence of the Christmas film. They’re missing Christmas spirit” ([09:49]).

Listener Questions and Further Discussion

Timestamp: [11:14] – [11:58]

Towards the end of the episode, Matt addresses listener inquiries regarding other Christmas films.

Jingle All The Way (1996)

Timestamp: [11:14] – [11:37]

When asked about Jingle All The Way, Matt vehemently criticizes the film, holding it responsible for the decline of Christmas cinema. “Arnold Schwarzenegger killed Christmas movies” ([11:20]).

The Polar Express (2004)

Timestamp: [11:37] – [11:57]

In response to questions about The Polar Express, Matt concedes that while it manages to capture some Christmas spirit, it remains mediocre. “There are exceptions to every rule. I guess that one has it. Yeah, that one does have the Christmas spirit. It’s not great. It’s decent” ([11:39]).

Conclusion

Matt Walsh wraps up the episode by reiterating his unwavering stance on the superiority of classic Christmas films over modern counterparts. He emphasizes that the essence of Christmas cinema lies in its ability to evoke genuine spirit and personal connection, something he finds lacking in contemporary productions. Ending on a personal note, he shares his frustrations with his family’s differing tastes, underscoring the deep emotional ties he has to the traditional Christmas classics.

Closing Remark: “Don’t be greedy, you brats. Also, Merry Christmas” ([11:52]).

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• On A Christmas Story:

  • “A Christmas Story is a movie that I've seen probably 30 times in my life, if not more. I enjoy it every time” ([01:57]).
  • “The stakes are that the kid wants a BB gun. That's it. It never becomes a planetary crisis” ([03:21]).

• On It's a Wonderful Life:

  • “It's a Wonderful Life captures the Christmas spirit better than any other film” ([04:26]).
  • “I have to watch it alone because nobody watches it” ([09:00]).

• On Overrated Movies:

  • “Every Christmas movie made after the year 1994. No sh” ([07:53]).
  • “Elf was a funny idea for an SNL skit. Maybe stretched out about 20 times longer than it should have been” ([08:19]).

• On Modern Christmas Films:

  • “They are missing the essence of the Christmas film. They’re missing Christmas spirit” ([09:49]).

Final Thoughts In this episode, Matt Walsh delivers a fervent critique of modern Christmas movies while championing timeless classics that he believes authentically embody the holiday spirit. Through passionate discourse and personal anecdotes, he invites listeners to reflect on what truly makes a Christmas film great, separating nostalgia-driven favorites from contemporary cinematic attempts that, in his view, fail to capture the magic of the season.