Movies and Boxing Day go together like turkey and stuffing.
While everyone is returning unwanted Christmas gifts or fighting bargain hunters at the mall, it will be the perfect time to relax and catch up on flicks you missed in the hectic ramp-up to the holidays.
The multiplexes are jammed with new movies at this time of year. Go see Disney’s first hand-drawn fairy tale in 20 years, The Princess and the Frog, for the beautiful animation
Stay for the great songs and first ever African-American princess.
Also kid friendly is Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, which sees the three furry singing stars find some competition from The Chipettes, an all-girl chipmunk group led by (the voice of) Drew Barrymore.
If singing rodents aren’t your thing, how about an all singing, all dancing movie from the usually oh-so-serious Daniel Day Lewis?
The Oscar winner stars in Nine, a musical about a film director juggling relationships with his wife, mistress, muse, agent and mother, all while wearing cool Italian suits.
If twisty-turny relationships turn your crank but an overdose of Christmas carols has put you off music for the week, you may find some yuks in watching Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin fight over Meryl Streep in the comedy It’s Complicated, or the soon-to-be-divorced couple Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker enter the witness-protection program in Did You Hear About the Morgans?.
If you have time on your hands — or simply want a break from Christmas house guests — James Cameron’s two-and-a-half-hour sci fi epic Avatar is the longest – and most eye-popping movie in current release.
Can’t make the trip to the theatre? There’s something on DVD or Blu-Ray for everyone and then some. For the kids there’s Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and G-Force, a flick about everyone’s favourite team of action guinea pigs.
Once the tots have gone to bed and grandma has had an extra sherry or two, check out Trailer Park Boys: Countdown to Liquor Day, Inglourious Basterds or The Hangover for some adult entertainment.
For the music lover in the house, there’s Taking Woodstock and the excellent guitar rock doc It Might Get Loud.
For the lovelorn, (500) Days of Summer should confirm that love can be fleeting. And for the romantics, Julie & Julia should verify that food always tastes better with someone you love.
Whether staying home or going out, there are plenty of options to help while away a lazy Boxing Day.
