Episode 12: Happy Holidays!

[Music] Hello and welcome to Unlaced with Truck in Bates. I'm Madison Trock. And I'm Evan Bates and we're Olympic Ice Dancers for Team USA. If you're into sports betting, bet online is the fastest and easiest way to bet all your favorite sports. Head to their new updated desktop or mobile website to sign up today and receive your 50% welcome bonus on your first deposit. Just use our promo code Believe50 to receive your bonus. Well, it's a very festive week here at the Truck Bates household. We've spent pretty much this entire month getting into the holiday spirit since December 1st and the Grand Prix final was cancelled. We took full advantage of not traveling and settled into the Christmas spirit. That's right. Montreal has so much to offer this time of year. I feel like it's like a winter wonderland of sorts. Would you agree? I would absolutely agree. Especially today, it felt like we were in a snow globe with those big blurries of clumps of snow coming down. Those big chunky snowflakes. Yeah, the big chunks. You try to catch on your tongue. Oh, I love those. I love catching them in my hand too and studying the snowflakes. Each one is just a little different. Exactly. Oh, it's so beautiful. Last weekend, also, we went on a very fun outing to the Christmas market in our neighborhood, which was just super cute. Local vendors with little, in their little wooden shacks. It was so charming. I felt like we were in a hallmark movie. They're selling like homemade candies and candles and gingerbread and little gifts. We got hot chocolate. They had the maple syrup taffy. I can't remember what it was called. Maple syrup candy that you pour into the snow and then you roll it up on a stick. I've always wanted to see that in person and experience it and I felt very Christmasy watching it. It was a spectacle, I would say. We didn't actually taste the taffy, but it was fun to watch them make it. No, I already had my sugar fix with those two hot cocos that we got. You got the Clermond, which is the hot cocoa with marshmallows and whipped cream. It was a mountain of marshmallows. It was a real sugar high for me. It was just the quaintest thing you ever did see. Oh gosh, Evan. We actually had the film crew from On Edge there with us. You'll be able to see what it was like for yourself if you watch the upcoming episodes of On Edge on the Olympic channel or on YouTube. Yeah, it was so perfect. It was snowing and we got to sit on snowy benches and sip our hot cocoa. Then two days after that, the temperature rose and all the snow was gone. We drove past the Christmas market and it looked very different. We did. Yeah. It was like just a parking lot full of trailers. No, they're not trailers. They're still cute little wooden huts, but yes. The magic was all gone. The advantage was melted away with the snow. Yeah, sure did. But it's true. There are just some things that make everything feel more Christmasy and snow is definitely one of them. Absolutely. We all hope for a white Christmas, right? Crossing my fingers right now, as we speak. Another would be Christmas movies, right? Yes. Christmas movies, of course. Holiday lights, Christmas shopping, shopping, Christmas shopping, just general cheeriness. We started our Christmas movies December 1st. Is that true? Yeah, I remember because we're like, "Oh, should we watch this?" And it was November and we're like, "No, let's save it for December." And I'm so glad that we did because I feel like maybe we get burnt out if you start too early in November. So we've had now four weeks of Christmas movies like three and a half weeks. It's wonderful. I'm still excited. We should be experts in the category. Would it you say? I would say so. I think we've watched a lot of our favorites and maybe it's time to rewatch them. That sounds fun. Let's do it. I feel like maybe we should share our favorites or maybe like a top three. That sounds great. Let's do it. So I actually found a list of like a top 10 Christmas movie list and I sent it to you, but I don't know if you read my texts. When did you send it? November 30th. Oh wow. We were having this conversation. We were so excited. Yeah. So this is good. Maybe we could go through the list. We could decide if how we feel about the list and we could give our own list. I love it. Let's do it. Okay. So number one is an all-time classic, right? It's my mom's favorite Christmas movie. Miracle on 34th Street. No, it's the one that we never remember the name. Even right now I'm blinking, but I know the angel. Black and white. Yes. What's his face is about to jump off the bridge? Right. Jimmy Stewart. Jimmy Stewart. Is everyone would be better off without me? Yes. Can you can you name it? Not without cheating and looking at your list. That's a wonderful life. Damn it. Yes. It's always like I always hear it and I'm like duh. I know we can I don't know why. The title always eludes us. Every time we talk about it and bring it up we can never remember the title. So that's the number one on this list. Okay. Which I feel like is a solid number one. I think a lot of people would agree with that. Yeah. That's for sure classic. Classic. They play it on TV every Christmas eve in the States. You want a moon? I'll get you the moon. It's romantic. Yes. Classic. I'm gonna last so over it and pull it down. You know it well. You just can't remember the title. Yeah, but I just can never remember the title. Okay. Number two is a modern classic. I would say. Okay. It's a movie that we love. The Santa Claus. No. It's a movie that we've watched. No. Home alone. Yes. Yes. We've watched it multiple times this month. The first home alone is number two on the list. So far so good. I think that's a good list. Solid. Good start. Okay. Number three is a movie. This is one I feel like you shouldn't even guess because it's just so left field. It's have we watched it recently? I've not actually seen this movie but I've looked at the actors in the movie and said to myself, something's a rye. This can't be number three. Number three best Christian movie of all time. It's Fred Claus. What? You've seen Fred Claus, right? I have and I do not agree and it's slotting on this list. I mean, it's a I'm no offense. It's a Vince Vaughan movie. It's a comedy I'm assuming. Yeah. I mean, he was in four Christmas's with Reese Witherspoon, which is another Christmas movie, which I would eat. Definitely slot above Fred Claus, but I don't think it should make the. It's offensive that it's number three on this list. Number three spot. Let's just move on. We're going to make our own list by the end of this episode. I think we have to now. Number four is a classic, but not necessarily from our generation. This is an I don't want to say an older movie, but it's an older movie. Okay. It has a very famous Saturday Night Live alum. It's a family. They have a series of movies. This National Lampoon. Yes. Christmas vacation. Christmas vacation. That's right. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. That has like a really big following. Very popular. I will say though, it's not my cup of tea. It's not really for me. I agree with you on that. It's not really our humor. Yeah. Okay. To each their own. Right. No judgment here. No judgment, but not for me. But we are judging that. Yes. But this is a terrible list. Yes. 50, 50 so far. Really? Okay. Five is a tried and true of beloved. Elf. Yes. That should be higher up. My next hint was I traveled through the seven layers of the candy cane forest. Through the sea. I've swirled twirly gum drops. And then I walked through the Lincoln tunnel. But that would just give it a little. That might have to be number one on our list. That's that's one of our favorite movies of all time. I know. I am. Say goodbye to the dull gifts. Lightbox lab-grown diamonds are the brightest gift of the year. Using cutting-edge technology and innovative techniques, they've cracked the science of sparkle, creating the highest quality lab-grown diamonds you can find at a light price of $800 per carrot. Lightbox lab-grown diamonds are the gift they'll never want to take off and the key to making any outfit sparkle. Okay. Let's let's continue. Yes. Number six. Again. This is a problem for me. I think it's going to be a problem for you. Number six. It's part of the franchise that's already made an appearance on this list. Santa Claus. No. Home alone. Home alone too. But it's not what you would expect. Home alone. Anything past two is just really shady. Completely agree with you. This list. Home alone three at number six. Okay. Which is just a bad take. Home alone three. Yeah. A head of number two. No. A head of so many other movies. How could you go ahead of number two? It just doesn't make sense. Anyways. Okay. To each their own. Someone obviously curated this Christmas list from their own personal taste. Which is what you do with a list. But I feel like the world needs a new list. I'm sure there are many lists. Well, let's give it to them at the end of this. Precisely. Number seven. Another older one. We're going on 34th Street. Oh, damn it. I'm so off this list is not jealous. This is the one where the kid gets a BB gun at Christmas. Oh, Christmas story. They play 24 hour straight on TBS on Christmas Day. - Right. - Yeah, I was thinking about it. - I mean, it's a classic. - It's classic. - I feel like it's sort of with the national ampune sort of. - It didn't resonate with me. I think it had sort of a same pattern. - That's sort of generation and just kind of not our thing. But hey, you know. - To each their own. - Number eight. Now this is a classic we have recently watched. You have said the title of this movie multiple times now. - Miracle on 34th. - There it is. - I just thought that one needs to be higher up. That is so charming. So nostalgic. You got the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Macy's a classic department store. Back in what the 40s, the 30s, the 40s, or the 50s. - Oh, I think that movie's from the 40s. - Yeah, 47 I think. We really saw it. Just so charming. Two non-believers turned into believers, brought on by the magic of Christmas and the real Saint Nick. - See now that's a movie that I can feel your passion for. - Oh yeah, I love that movie. In fact, I think we should watch it again. Christmas morning. - Okay. - Okay. - Okay, let's do it. - Yeah, we'll do it. (laughing) - Is that it? - No, no, that wasn't eight. So number nine. - Okay. - Now this franchise again is now making its third appearance on this list. - Home alone. - Yes. - Finally. - But not the second one. - Yes. - Oh, thank goodness. - This is completely underrated on this list. - So underrated. - Coming in at number nine. I would have it much higher. - Yeah. - Definitely above home alone three. Home alone three should not be making an appearance on this list at all. - Let's veto that from this list. Can you veto something from a list? - You can make your own list. - I can amend it from the list. - There you go. - There you go. - There we go. I will amend this list. - Let's just finish this list. - Okay, yeah, let's just pass. - Let's just just pass. - Number 10. Again, this is right on par with the taste of this list maker. This is a movie kind of crass, Angelina Jolie's dad is in it. Oh no, Angelina Jolie's ex-husband. - ex-husband is in it. - Billy Bob Thornton. - You know. - Bad Santa, yeah. I just, yeah, any kind of like Drunken Santa, I just like, I'm here for the magic and the mariment that is Christmas. And if a movie isn't vibing with that, it's not vibing with me. I agree, I couldn't agree more in fact. I feel like some of these debates like is die hard at Christmas film. It's like there are a couple, there are some criteria that a film must meet. One for me is music. Like if it doesn't have that, what do you call it? - That like a joyous, open toe. - John Williams kind of like fun or cast role, you know, the music that makes you feel the holiday spirit. - That's like essential. And when they watch some of these movies that we like from the 90s, they're so good. Like the Santa Claus is not on this list. We watched the original Santa Claus with Tim Owens. - It is so good. - It's such a great movie. Hilarious. - Yeah. - Definitely one of my favorites. - Classic. All right, so shall we make our own list now and just name our favorite? - Yeah, so maybe just like a top three. - Okay. - Oh gosh. Okay, so let's not name the same top three then. - Well, we probably have the same ones, but. - Okay. - So I would say like, I mean, it's kind of, of course, Elf, of course, home alone. - Of course, the Santa Claus. - Santa Claus. Like that's the top three. - And then the two classics, Miracle on 34th Street and it's a wonderful life. There we go. That's the first time I remembered it. - But then there's kind of this new wave of Christmas movies that we really like that you like a lot. - Like, - Clouse. - Clouse. - So boy named Christmas, we just watched. That was pretty good. - Yeah, that was quite charming. I really liked, what was it called? - Arthur Christmas, we watched last year. - Noelle. - Noelle. - Noelle, I like that one. - That's funny. - Mm-hmm. - That's a really clever one. - I like it 'cause in the North Pole that they depict, you can skate through the North Pole. Like, there's a track. Like, instead of a sidewalk, you put your skates on and you can skate through the village, which has always been a dream of mine to live in a town like that ever since I was little. But that would mean I would have to live somewhere cold all year round, which. - I mean, Montreal is probably the closest thing. - Yeah. - To that. Could you like round it out with two more? - Two more movies? - Yeah. - Or would you agree with Fred Clause and Santa? - No. Amending those from the list, annulling them, vetoing them, exing them off. I don't know, I can't really think of any two others that I would-- - The Grinch. - The Grinch. Oh my gosh, how could we forget? The Grinch. - The Grinch. - We just watched the Jim Carrey one recently. And then there's the animated one too. - Yeah, the newer one with a Benedict Cumberbatch as the Grinch. - Benedict Cumber Grinch. - But what's your favorite Grinch? The animated one or the one with Jim Carrey or the one with Benedict Cumberbatch? - Oh gosh. You know, I'm gonna have to say the Benedict Cumberbatch one, 'cause I just think he's like fluffy little fur looks so cute and softened. It reminds me of our dogs and so. And that way I really like it. But you know, Jim Carrey is hilarious. So it's a toss up really. - Jim Carrey is really fun. - I expected you to say the animated one. - Well, I did say the animated one, just the newer one. - Oh, okay, now I know what you're talking about. Okay, it's not actually been in the Cumberbatch. It's his voice. - Yes, yes. - Okay, now I understand. - Right. - There was some confusion there. - Yes. - I see it's cleared up now. - But you're said he was all fluffy and stuff. - Yeah, his animated character is really fluffy and looks really soft. - Okay, got it. - Yeah. - Well, I think that that's, we've really let it be known how we feel about many Christmas movies. - Yeah, I hope you guys are inspired to make your own Christmas movie list and share them with your friends and family. I had a lot of fun doing this with you. And maybe you compare your list to ours and see how we line up. - No one can defeat your movie knowledge. - I mean, I'm sure there's someone out there but yes, I do love movies and-- - And your TV program of knowledge. - Yeah, I'm a TV movie junkie. Oh, I thought of one more for our list. Love actually. - There you go. - Classic. There's our top 10. The Grinch and Love actually. Whew, can't believe I almost forgot that one. Which we haven't watched yet. I think we should go do that right now. - Okay, let's do it. Moving night again. - We just wanted to wish everyone a happy holidays on this week's episode. We realized for many of us this holiday won't look normal. - Yeah, this pesky virus just won't go away. And we for one will be having a very socially distanced Christmas, just the two of us and our dogs. And we know it's probably similar for many of you who won't be able to be with your loved ones this holiday. So we want to wish you well and say we hope for a better holiday and situation in 2022. - Yeah. Let's go. - Let's hope for that. Maybe that can be our Christmas wish. - This has been Unlaced with Chalkin Bates. - Make sure you subscribe for future episodes. You can also follow us on social media at Chalk Bates. - We'll talk to you soon. - Bye. (upbeat music) (upbeat music)