There’s a story out this week in the LA Times that the movies this holiday season aren’t exactly pick-me-ups.  If you are needing a guffaw with your holiday movie viewing, rather than hitting the cineplex, perhaps you should rent “A Christmas Story” or “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”…that is, if you don’t already own them on DVD like me.

That’s not to say that some of the best holiday movies of all time haven’t had their dramatic components. One could say that “A Christmas Carol” is about a lonely old miser, “Miracle on 34th Street” is about a single mother and her fatherless daughter’s fantasies created to minimize their pain, and that “It’s a Wonderful Life” is about a suicide attempt by a stressed and overworked father. But as we all know, those descriptions aren’t completely accurate.

Among the anticipated holiday releases this season are “Precious”, a film about a mistreated and obese pregnant teen, “The Road”, a dark and harrowing post-apocalyptic tale, and “The Lovely Bones”, which surrounds a murdered teen and the mystery surrounding her killer. However, like the aforementioned Christmas classics, simply summarizing the plot doesn’t even touch what these movies are about: finding light in the darkest of times.

At a time when our country is in dire straights economically, when more people are out of work and wondering how they are going to afford presents under the tree, these movies offer hope. And while I can appreciate a good scare or a cheap laugh, I am looking forward to a movie that makes me think and that makes me appreciate what I have, instead of dwelling on what I don’t. Now if we could just do something about the ridiculous ticket and concession prices, we’d be all set.