I'm in a weird place when it comes to Christmas movies. I like the honest comedy of what Christmas is actually like in Christmas Vacation and Christmas Story, but as much as they make me laugh, they don't really get me into the Christmas spirit. I want sentimentality, but not sappiness. I want comfort, but not overly glorifying the past or the status quo. I like modern mythology like Santa, but as an atheist I find the message of the importance of belief deeply problematic. That... well doesn't leave a lot of movies to choose from. Here's a few that I still love through all of that.
Arthur Christmas - An animated movie that takes the idea of Santa semi seriously, like how the operation would actually look like. At it's heart it's a story of a family passing down a legacy, and the conflicts that everyone's expectations of each other complicates things. It's a heartfelt movie without a villain and the only sentimental Christmas movie I still really like.
Home Alone and Elf - Both lighthearted fun that doesn't take itself too seriously and still feel warm and cozy.
