Three days out from the big day…
While we can’t speak for everyone, we’re certain there are some of you who have already reached the stage of spending your days on the couch living off a diet of Celebrations and Miniature Heroes.
For that, we salute you.
For those brave soldiers and for anyone else who fancies chilling out with a movie at any stage throughout the day, here’s what’s on offer on the box today (22 December).
Muppets Most Wanted – BBC One – 10am
Not the best ever Muppets outing, but the bar is pretty high in fairness.
This 2014 movie, starring Ricky Gervais, Tina Fey and Modern Family’s Ty Burrell amongst others, is a commendable effort.
High Society – BBC Two – 10.30am
Acclaimed comedy starring Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Grace Kelly, about as A-list as you could get in the mid-1950s.
Arthur Christmas – UTV – 11.35am
Delightful Christmas animation with James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie and Imelda Staunton amongst the voice cast.
Funny Face – TG4 – 1pm
The second acclaimed 1950s comedy on the box today, with Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn featuring in an equally star-studded cast.
Clash of the Titans – BBC One – 1.45pm
Mercifully for the viewer, this is the 1981 version featuring Laurence Olivier, Harry Hamlin and Maggie Smith, not the ill-advised 2010 movie of the same name with Liam Neeson.
Puss in Boots – Film4 – 3pm
Doubts about whether there this Shrek spin-off could sustain a movie in itself are cast aside in an enjoyable 2011 outing with Salma Hayek, Zach Galifianakis and, of course, Antonio Banderas.
Happy Feet Two – ITV2 – 4.50pm
The second one.
You’ve Got Mail – Comedy Central – 6.45pm
A movie that seems remarkably quaint in 2020, but you can always rely on Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan to deliver the romantic comedy goods.
Miss Congeniality – ITV2 – 6.50pm
Universally loved by critics this was not, but Sandra Bullock starring as an FBI agent come undercover beauty queen was deemed popular enough to merit a sequel.
Spider-Man: Homecoming – BBC One – 7.55pm
Having featured as a young Spidey in Captain America: Civil War, Tom Holland took to his first title outing as the webbed wonder with aplomb.
Perfect viewing for the Tuesday evening before Christmas.
Apollo 13 – Sky One – 8pm
“Houston, we have a problem.” Tom Hanks utters the immortal line that has no doubt been repeated at a certain Dublin train station many times since.
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues – E4 – 9pm
Alas, the legend absolutely did not continue in a thoroughly disappointing sequel.
The Martian – RTÉ2 – 9.30pm
Ireland’s own Matt Damon stars as a botanist surviving life on Mars after a botched mission. Full of thrills and suspense and funnier than it probably should be given the fairly grim subject matter.
Office Christmas Party – Channel 4 – 11pm
In the likely absence of your own this year, relive what it could have been with this overblown 2016 comedy starring Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman.
Collateral – BBC One – 11.15pm
Rounding off a decent selection this evening is this excellent and arguably underrated thriller with Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx.
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