PLGRM

I have a recurring gag I turn to every year after Thanksgiving. As TV channels are promoting their winter holiday slate of movies and live events, I decide to be a bit of a Scrooge and I log onto various social media platforms, and I start the “Die Hard Debate” (DHD).

I begin by laying out the following criteria for what is and is not a Christmas movie:

1. The plot must occur during the Christmas season.
2. The events of Christmas must drive the plot, not merely exist as setting for an otherwise generic plot line.
3. The movie must expound upon the themes of the Christmas season, including (but not limited to) an exploration of “the spirit of Christmas.”
4. It must explicitly intend to be a Christmas movie.

After which, I declare, in no uncertain terms, that Die Hard is not – I repeat: IS NOT – a Christmas movie.

Then I watch the debate ensue.

The joy this activity brings me is incalculable. I’m weird. You don’t have to say it.

Most years, I suggest that I am happy for someone to disagree with my assessment of the movie in question. However, in order to do the topic justice 😉 they ought to present their criteria for what is and is not a Christmas movie.

No one ever does.

I used to start the DHD solely for fun, but it’s taken on more meaning and importance for me over the years. I think the DHD is important because it forces people to reckon with why they think the way they do.

We live in a world where people have forgotten how to think about things. Someone inevitably says during the DHD “It’s a Christmas movie because I like to watch it during Christmas.” When I push them to distinguish between a Christmas Tradition and a Christmas Movie they often to resort to telling me I’m a big stupid head who should mind his own business.

Let me be clear on what I’m saying: Like what you like and think what you think. Absolutely.

But if you want to convince anyone else, you might need to do some mental heavy lifting.