As if by magic December 2020 is upon us. And so must begin, whether anyone wants it to or not, The Fourth Annual James Proclaims Advent Calendar of Christmas(ish) Films.
And to kick off this year’s festive countdown of films, is a movie that really highlights the difference between the worldviews of children and adults. For it is none other than 1988’s Vice Versa starring Judge Reinhold and Fred Savage. I don’t speak of the plot, though it does centre on the premise of a father and son magically switching places, but rather of my own worldviews. Or at least my cinematic tastes.
For, when I was a child, I genuinely, for a time, believed this to be the greatest movie ever made.
But as an adult I can see that it isn’t.
It’s derivative and entirely unoriginal and the plot is problematic on multiple levels.
That said, I still quite like it and, while the stars of neither Judge Reinhold nor Fred Savage are shining as brightly as they did back in the eighties, it’s eminently hard to dislike either of them.
Score for Christmasishness
It’s set in the build-up to Christmas and concludes in late December albeit prior to the actual festivities. However there is a Christmas tree, which is relevant to the plot. A stuffed reindeer features, which also contributes to the narrative. Christmas decorations and lights are plentiful throughout and, while the film could really be set at any time of year, it does feel quite Christmas(ish) at times.
James Proclaims! 
11 responses to “The Fourth Annual James Proclaims Advent Calendar of Christmas(ish) Films – Door 1”
Never seen this one. t sounds like -excuse the pun- a littler ‘Big.’
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More of a ‘Less-Freaky Friday’ but it’s definitely ‘Big’-esque
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I’ve never seen this, but since it came out before “Home Alone” I can understand how you would have seen this as the greatest film of all time.
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Home Alone is infinitely better but I always think it’s a bit too Christmassy to make my list
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That seems fair. I’ll never tire of seeing people step on nails and getting their hair blowtorched.
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It’s the gift that keeps on giving
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Yep.
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OK OK OK. I couldn’t stay away!
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As one of the very select few who’ve endured the previous three versions of this annual atrocity, I knew you’d be back
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Never saw this one But there are three versions of Freaky Friday so why not set one around the holidays?
Keep laughing
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There are (surprisingly) also multiple versions of Vice Versa and I believe there are four screen versions of Freaky Friday. Assuming there are other similarly themed but lesser known works with different names, a Christmas version seems inevitable. It’s a classic tale.
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