SPaS

This time of year people either go for the undeniable Christmas classics... or set their bars lower and go for some by-the-numbers British/American-yuletide-ensemble cast-romcom, or a lukewarm (at best) holiday-themed comedy made by Adam Sandler or Wayans brothers or someone. Or something that features just cute furry talking animals etc. This is what people expect, so why offer more? Well, enter Netflix. I like Netflix. I like their "Zoetrope"- like attitude and balls to tackle on projects like "Wet hot American summer- the series", and "A Very Murray Christmas". In "Very Murray Christmas" Bill Murray plays... Bill Murray who's snowbound in New York and whose Christmas special is about to go bust. He wanders around the studio building, bumping into celebrities and regular people (played by celebrities) in similar blue situations. And very often these situations turn to singing numbers. The overall feeling is deliberately a little off-putting. It's a thinking man's comedy. Sombre, subtle, and a little meta for good measure. There's no slapstick. No Christmas trees fall down and nobody gets kicked on the balls-and heck, even two of the best Christmas classics, "Die Hard" and "Home alone", went for those in the end! But not "A very Murray Christmas". That's why I really, really, really wanted to like it. I'm sure on paper this looked promising... but in the end the non-comedy just bites itself in the tail. Dropping 2-3 songs in favor of some honest broad comedy would have definitely put this on my yuletides favourites watchlist for years to come. But sadly: no cigar. Actually we're not even so close to one that I should mention 'a cigar'.

Anyhow, hats off to Netflix for an attempt full of heart. The idea of it was so great that I really have high hopes Netflix gives this another shot next year. Just instead of Sofia Coppola pick Judd Apatow. Even the idea is ready: 'Bill Murray doesn't want to do another Christmas special because his special last year got so bad reviews'. And because it's BILL MURRAY, it'd be nice to see other fellow seasoned comedy veterans. Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase, Steve Martin, Martin Short anyone?