GUEST COLUMN: 3 Movies That Showed Holiday Shopping Madness

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3 Movies That Showed Holiday Shopping Madness

by Lewis Robinson

Holiday shopping is a certain kind of madness that everyone expects around Christmas time. Getting gifts for everyone you need at a reasonable price without going broke, all while dealing with crowds and crazy lines. 

It wouldn't be a Christmas that you can relate to if this experience wasn't captured in a Christmas movie.

Here are the top holiday movies when it comes to showing shopping madness while trying to get into the spirit of Christmas. 

1. The Madness in Jingle All the Way

Jingle All the Way is a movie about a father trying to buy a much-wanted action figure for his son. His wife told him to buy the action figure two weeks before Christmas, when they were plentiful in stores. Schwarzenegger's character puts this off until the night of Christmas Eve, when he goes on a mad dash in hopes of finding the toy for his son, but not without a little competition from another father who is trying to achieve the same goal.

The movie stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad, who serves as a foil to Schwarzenegger's character. Although many parents can likely relate to these types of antics, hopefully, it serves as a reminder to you that you should not put off your holiday shopping, and to make a point to get what you need while it is still early in the season!

2. The Christmas Rush in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is a classic for many folks, especially those who remember seeing the movie during the 1980s. Clark Griswold is determined to make this Christmas the happiest one ever for his family. But when extended family members come to stay (including notorious Cousin Eddie) and Clark doesn't get the big raise he was hoping for, this might prove to be more difficult than he realized. 

The movie stars Chevy Chase, with Beverly D'Angelo as his wife and Randy Quaid as everyone's favorite cousin. 

Although this movie doesn't focus solely on holiday shopping, there is a very funny scene where Clark meets a sales girl selling lingerie and becomes tongue-tied. While flirting with her, he gets caught by his son, Rusty, making it an awkward (yet funny) moment and showcasing how stressful holiday shopping can be when you aren't ready for it, and why taking advantage of Cyber Monday deals might be a better alternative instead. 

3. A Different Outlook on Christmas With the Movie Krampus

Although the movies discussed earlier show holiday shopping as a funny yet stressful time, Krampus leaves viewers with a different message altogether. The movie opens with people fighting over items at a store on Black Friday. This harks to the constant commercialization of the holiday season. A young boy named Max still believes in Santa, but family fights and other issues cause him to lose his faith. 

When he tears up a letter intended for Santa, another supernatural being answers it, only it's Krampus, and he has come to take the entire family. Max and his Omi, or Grandma, are the only ones that can help show the true meaning of Christmas and renew the idea of peace on earth and goodwill to men. 

The movie stars Emjay Anthony as Max and Krista Stadler as Omi, and while it has a darker meaning, it is sure to become a favorite in many families.

The next time you're feeling down and need a pick-me-up, want to brighten your spirits, or simply need to remind yourself of what Christmas is truly about, try watching one of these movies, and see how you feel about the craziness that is holiday shopping.