Since we don't get the Hallmark channel here at the home/house, I looked for something on Netflix. I started two different movies, and got through about five minutes of each before turning them off to look for something else.
In the first five minutes of the first movie, the main male character was at a Christmas party ignoring a woman trying to talk to him while he stared at his phone constantly, while the girl he was with did backflips between taking shots. After the third shot of her underwear I lost interest.
While I know that these are probably the cynical, jaded characters waiting to experience the true meaning of the Christmas spirit and be transformed, I couldn't wait that long.
The second movie wasn't much different. So I watched something else instead.
You can blame it on my age, but I think I've always pretty much been the same in this regard. I was longing for something gentler. Something sweeter. Something purer. Just something else.
Flash forward to Sunday afternoon. I had three baskets of laundry to fold, and it seemed like a good opportunity to watch something on tv. I saw a dvd I had bought at Tractor Supply (yes, really) that had six "holiday" movies on it. I think I had seen one.
To be honest, most of the movies on the dvd looked a bit questionable. (As in, "are these going to be worth a two hour investment of my life?") So why did I buy it in the first place? Another good question. I guess the answer is, because I hoped they would be good. I like inspirational movies. I like the idea of a world where people are kinder, gentler, less vulgar - and these movies looked like they might work.
That said, I still hadn't watched them. I wasn't sure they would really be Friday night fare. But Sunday afternoon while laundry folding? Perfect!
So that is the long version of how I came across the best Christmas movie I had never heard of. Really!
The movie is called, "The Great Rupert." Ever heard of it?
The color photo on the dvd cover led me to imagine this was some kind of 1980's kids movie. Turns out it was made in 1950 and is a family comedy.
I highly recommend this, even if you're NOT folding laundry during the holidays.
Don't let the cover fool you, this one's in black and white.
The Great Rupert has it all: an unemployed trained squirrel who can dance and do tricks but fails to find work with an entertainment company; a grinchy tightwad man who's hoarding all his money; an out-of-work family who lost their jobs at the circus when the father's knees gave out and they could no longer perform their human pyramid; and an enamored young couple who spontaneously perform a (beautiful!) duet on the tuba and harp one Christmas Eve. Really.
On top of that, the picture is grainy and the audio has a slight buzz.
But it was great! Really!
How great?
Well, I might actually watch it on a Friday night in a future Christmas season. I mean, my husband and son missed this. And they NEED to see it.
It was also sweet, kind, gentle and perfectly captured the spirit of the Christmas season. Really.
Halfway through the movie, I was entranced. I could not wait to see how this movie was going to wrap up. I won't spoil it, I'll just say - The Great Rupert came to a very satisfying conclusion. I ran out of laundry to fold and STILL kept watching. It was two hours very well spent.
Some scenes from my tv:
Rupert is awesome early animation - a little mechanical squirrel.
Here's a pic from the internet. I want a squirrel like this!
So what did I learn from my weekend experience?
Probably this: when you need a break from the modern world, never underestimate the power of a good, cheap dvd from Tractor Supply.
Or something like that.
Can't wait to see Rupert. It might not be a giant paw movie, but at least there are paws! :)
ReplyDelete