The disparity between these characters and the spirit of the season is actually essential to a good Christmas tale, and the classics we look forward to each year wouldn’t be classics without them. While there are exceptions, the majority of these Christmas villains fall into one of two general categories: the irredeemably bad that we can’t help but hate and the jaded grown-up who finds redemption.
First up are the baddies we love to hate. These are the characters who never learn, who end up much as they begin: bad eggs. My personal favorite example of this is the devious duo from “Home Alone” (1990), the Wet Bandits.
[aesop_image imgwidth=”500px” img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Screen-Shot-2015-12-04-at-10.08.24-AM.png” align=”left” lightbox=”on” caption=”James Caan in “Elf” ” captionposition=”left”] We first meet criminals Harry (Joe Pesci, “Casino,” 1995) and Marv (Daniel Stern, “Manhattan” ) in the entryway of the McCallister home as they case the joint. Throughout the film they not only rob multiple houses on Christmas Eve – leaving drains clogged and water running, hence their moniker – they develop a vendetta against 8-year-old Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin, “My Girl,” 1991) and proceed to stalk him with malicious intent. While their antics provide physical comedy that would make the Three Stooges proud, their depravity knows no bounds.
What their villainy accomplishes for the viewer is invaluable. We know that Kevin is a lippy little guy right off the bat, which is amusing, but not quite enough to endear him permanently to the viewer. It’s not until he’s pitted against these two bumbling brutes that we really find ourselves on his side – their onslaught forces Kevin to reflect upon the family he was so eager to lose, and to realize he’s been taking them for granted. A Christmas miracle, courtesy of two despicable guys.
Another example of this kind of Christmas villain (and arguably the most iconic) is Mr. Potter from “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946). Played to nasty perfection by screen legend Lionel Barrymore (“Grand Hotel,” 1932), Potter is a rich and powerful miser with a heart of coal whose life mission seems to be eliminating the Bailey Bros. Building and Loan, an establishment George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart, “Rear Window,” 1954) has sacrificed much to keep afloat.
Early in the film we see the extent of his nastiness when he keeps money misplaced by George’s uncle. It’s a blatant attempt to bankrupt the Building and Loan, and even when George begs for Potter’s help, the old man does nothing but rub the failure in George’s face. A small loan would keep George’s business afloat, but Potter refuses, saying instead, “You’re worth more dead than alive!” It’s this cold-hearted phrase that leads George to the brink of suicide, and only his guardian angel – and a glimpse of what a world without George would look like – can coax him off that ledge.
