Best Holiday Movies 2012 (And What Not to See with Your Parents)

For all the lazy slackers out there who are still off work (ok, me included), a great thing to do with your family after the holiday festivities are over is go to the movies.

By now you're probably getting a little stir crazy in your childhood home and the conversations (or perhaps screaming matches) with your parents about your "lifestyle" are starting to tucker you out. Oh, you have a "normal" family? Lucky you.

Going to the movies is a great reprieve from holiday tensions, and often a nice way to bring you back into the holiday spirit and refresh your family values.

So I've complied a list of the best holiday movies for 2012, and the ones that you should def not go see with your parents.

Best Holiday Movies 2012

The Guilt Trip

You already know how much my mom loved this movie (and it wasn't just because she got to meet the stars), but I'll bet you'll like it too. It's the story of a mother (Barbra Streisand) who accompanies her son (Seth Rogen) on a road trip to try to sell his new product. There's Babs humor for the adults, Rogen humor for the kids, everybody wins. It will remind you that everyone deals with nagging mothers, and put a mirror up to your own behavior. Sometimes you're being the unruly one. 

Hey, even Seth Rogen admitted he reverts to immature behavior when his parents are in the picture.

This is a great one for the whole family, but especially for a mom-date.

This is 40

DO NOT GO SEE THIS MOVIE WITH YOUR PARENTS...

...unless of course you're comfortable with watching multiple lude sex scenes with them. I'm not, but I unfortunately realized it too late. My boyfriend, my mom, and I saw this together and it was probably one of the most uncomfortable moments the bf has ever had with my family. Bf's, BJ's, and moms don't mix....you get the picture? 

If you liked Knocked Up, this is a grittier version of that. It's the story of an aging couple trying to navigate the main problem couples in their forties deal with: parenting while keeping the spark alive. Despite their protests, it's basically an autobiography of Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann's real life with a few funny Paul Rudd moments sprinkled in.

Who should you see this movie with: your siblings (if they're cool), your stoner cousin, your old high school pals, etc. It's got a lot of funny moments, but it's hard to enjoy them with your mom gasping at the number of F-bombs being dropped.

Parental Guidance

This is a great movie for the whole whole family. It's a story about a pair of grandparents who attempt to care for their daughter's three kids while she is out of town, and the outrageous scenarios that transpire.

Bette Midler and Billy Crystal will charm your parents and grandparents, while the three children in the film provide endless slapstick humor for small children. You might be thinking, "This is so not up my alley." But it has its cute moments, and is the best choice out there for everyone in the family. And hey, you can always sneak out of the theater and catch This is 40.

Les Miserables

If you liked the play, you'll love the movie. 

It's the story of one man's quest for redemption during the French Revolution. I saw it yesterday and it was beautiful. Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman give impressive performances, both vocally and theatrically. 

My only warning about this one...it is completely in song. If anyone in your family doesn't enjoy the theater, they will not like this movie. It's also very long. With a run time of nearly three hours, this is not a good film for small children or anyone with extreme ADD. 

And don't drink a big gulp before entering the theater.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday break! And follow me on Twitter @WhitneyLEnglish