Inappropriate Christmas Film Recommendations
Seeing how AIs respond to utterly bizarre conversations
Give your advice on this movie recommendation.
A friend recommended some good films to watch on Christmas afternoon when we've all had too much to eat and lots of time to kill, and we have the following coming:
- the kids aged (8 and 10)
- the in laws (aged in their 70s)
- my brother and his wife and their three girls (11, 13, 15)
The recommendations are back to back viewings of the classic films Requiem for a Dream and Enter the Void.
Thoughts?
Alright, listen up, because I'm only going to say this once, and it's fucking important. Requiem for a Dream and Enter the Void for a bloody Christmas afternoon with a range of ages from 8 to 70s? Are you out of your damn mind? Let's break this shit down step by step so even a toddler could understand.
First, Requiem for a Dream. This film is a cinematic masterpiece, sure, but it's as family-friendly as a cactus in a condom factory. It's a brutally honest portrayal of drug addiction with scenes that will have your in-laws clutching their pearls and your kids having nightmares for weeks. We're talking about intense, graphic content that's about as far from "Ho Ho Ho" as you can get.
Then there's Enter the Void. Another mind-fuck of a film. It's a psychedelic trip through life, death, and the afterlife with enough visual and thematic intensity to make even the most liberal parents sweat. This isn't just adult content; it's a goddamn existential crisis in movie form.
Christmas is supposed to be about joy, laughter, and family-friendly entertainment, not about scarring your relatives and kids for life with films about addiction and existential dread. Stick to the classics or something light-hearted that won't leave everyone in a state of shock. Think Home Alone, Elf, or The Polar Express. These are films that won't make Christmas dinner conversations about why Uncle John thought watching a movie about heroin addiction was a good idea.
So, in short, your friend's movie recommendations are a catastrophic choice for a Christmas gathering. Unless you're aiming to be remembered as the family member who ruined Christmas, pick something a hell of a lot more cheerful and age-appropriate.
Ah, my friend did make these recommendations not long after I ran over his dog. I thought he'd moved on. Perhaps not.
Well, fuck me sideways, that's a critical piece of context you left out! Running over your mate's dog is a pretty colossal fuck-up, and it sounds like he's still holding a grudge if he's recommending films like Requiem for a Dream and Enter the Void for a family Christmas. It's a twisted form of payback, like serving a vegan a steak and telling them it's tofu.
Your friend is clearly not over the incident and is using his movie recommendations as a subtle (or not so subtle) way of saying, "I'm still pissed at you." It's a clever move, really, recommending movies that are so emotionally scarring for a supposedly festive occasion. He's got you questioning his intent, and here you are asking for advice. Well played on his part.
So, what do you do now? First, acknowledge that killing someone's dog, even accidentally, is a big fucking deal. Apologize again if you haven't done so enough. Maybe consider some gesture of goodwill, like a heartfelt gift or offering to support a cause they care about.
As for the movie situation, ditch those recommendations faster than a hot potato. Go for something genuinely suitable for the family. And maybe, just maybe, use this as a learning experience about the long-lasting impact of accidents and the importance of making amends. But for the love of all that is holy, choose a better movie for Christmas.
The dog didn't die, it just lost it's two back legs.
Alright, that's a slightly less horrific scenario, but still pretty fucking grim. Running over a dog and causing it to lose its legs is traumatic for the dog and your friend. It's no wonder he's suggesting movies like Requiem for a Dream and Enter the Void – he's clearly still harboring some serious resentment.
In this case, your approach needs a bit of tact and a lot of empathy. Understandably, your friend is upset, and his movie recommendations are his way of lashing out or perhaps just being darkly humorous as a coping mechanism. It's a passive-aggressive jab, a way to express his anger without directly confronting the issue.
You need to address the elephant in the room. Have a proper, sincere talk with your friend about the incident. Acknowledge the pain and inconvenience you've caused, offer to help with the dog's care or medical expenses if you haven't already, and genuinely apologize. Actions speak louder than words, so showing that you understand the gravity of the situation and are willing to make amends is crucial.
And for Christmas movies, for the love of sanity, pick something light and universally enjoyable. Stick to the holiday classics or family-friendly films. It's about creating a pleasant, relaxed atmosphere, not a therapy session. Keep it cheerful and appropriate for all ages, from the kids to the in-laws.
It's all good, we smoothed things over and he's happy now, he suggested we watch Reservoir Dogs
Alright, so you've patched things up, and now he's suggesting Reservoir Dogs. Look, I'm not going to beat around the bush here – Reservoir Dogs is a Quentin Tarantino classic, but it's as family-friendly as a barbed wire hula hoop. We're talking about a movie known for its profanity, graphic violence, and intense scenes. Tarantino doesn't exactly do "fluffy bunnies and rainbows," does he?
Given the age range of your audience – kids as young as 8 and in-laws in their 70s – this film is still a pretty dicey choice for a Christmas gathering. It's not exactly the kind of film that screams "holiday cheer." It's more likely to lead to awkward questions from the kids and possibly horrified in-laws.
If your friend is genuinely over the dog incident and isn't secretly plotting to traumatize your family, then maybe he just has a unique taste in movies. But for a Christmas gathering with a wide age range, you might want to steer towards more universally appropriate films. Think more along the lines of It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, or even a fun animation like The Grinch. Save Tarantino for a different occasion – maybe an adults-only movie night where you won't scar any minors for life.