Tis the holiday season everyone! 2020 may be a garbage year, but there’s still few things that rival the joy of getting someone a gift they truly want, and watch them perk up about it. But The Office threw the titular legendary wrinkle into the proceedings, giving people the opportunity to give back the gifts they were given if they saw something better.
Below are 6 classics that have some sort of gift in the title or the plot of the movie. Would the main characters Yankee Swap the gift away, or keep it? Let’s find out.
A woman in a fragile mental state leaves the hospital to spend a summer with her family in a beachside cottage.
Is the Main Character Yankee Swappin?
Karin would trade anything to get out of the “gifts” her brain has received.
Why this movie’s a gift…
The great Ingmar Bergman makes movies that strike deep at the heart of you, sticking to your brain long after they end. This one is no exception, focusing on Harriet Andersson’s Karin, who’s clearly going through some form of schizophrenia. Today, we’d just see what Karin was visualizing, but Bergman, by simply putting Harriet Andersson in an empty room and telling her to go, makes the movie much more intriguing and heartbreaking as you wonder what the hell is happening in her head to make her the way she is. While Karin’s going through all sorts of crises, her family is also dealing with issues of their own around her, trying to figure out how to be supportive without succumbing emotionally to Karen’s ailment. Equally complicated emotionally and mentally, Bergman proves yet again why he’s one of the greatest directors of all time.
Pee-wee Herman’s bicycle gets stolen. So he goes on an epic journey across the US to retrieve it.
Is the Main Character Yankee Swappin?
Pee-wee’s bike is rad. No way, Jose!
Why this movie’s a gift…
A Pee-wee Herman adventure was never going to hit the brilliance of Ingmar Bergman. But what it lacks it introspection, it makes up for with zaniness and joy. Think the Muppet Movie but for younger kids mostly. Paul Rubens at this point in time knew Pee-wee inside and out, so he built a world totally around the character. The tone of this movie hits just the right note as Pee-wee does an early scripted Borat impression learning about what life is like in Middle America. It’s totally goofy and fun, and has a surprisingly excellent chase in the middle for a movie that doesn’t seem to be aiming very high. But a young Tim Burton showed how his career was about to skyrocket with the off kilter world of Pee-wee.
A Serbian immigrant to New York City finds herself romantically involved with a boy. However, she’s worried her ancient family curse might complicate the relationship.
Is the Main Character Yankee Swappin?
In the 1942 version, Irena absolutely Yankee Swaps. In the 1981 soft porno, maybe not…
Why this movie’s a gift…
The tricky part about old movies is figuring out of their stories last over time. Though the romance is old fashioned, this story has aged splendidly. Sexuality is a deeply personal, passionate act. There’s no brain involved here, just pure raw emotion. The feelings/actions that come out of that, for someone like Irena who’s usually quite reserved, scare the bejesus out of her. This horror allegory turns those fears into a worst case scenario. In addition to the inspired allegory, director Jacques Tourneur has a couple really scary scenes, especially a late night pool swim, that work because of his excellent use of shadow and dark places.
A comedy of mishaps and dancing, surrounding Fred Astaire’s entertainer and Ginger Rogers wealthy traveler.
Is the Main Character Yankee Swappin?
Double No. Astaire does not give up his top hat. Rogers keeps her lifestyle. And both would never ever EVER give up their dancing abilities.
Why this movie’s a gift…
Welcome to the grandfather of the dance flick! Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers might seem quaint by today’s standards, but it’s still pretty cool, so you can imagine what a revelation they must have been at the advent of the sound based motion picture, tap, tap, tapping away. Top Hat’s story has aged terribly, relying on an old timey humor that doesn’t work like it used to, but the minute the dancing comes back, the movie comes alive with lavish sets, beautiful clothes, and wonderful dance numbers that are a delight if that’s your sort of thing.
Young police detective loses his gun, and goes into the depths of Japanese society to get it back to try to save face.
Is the Main Character Yankee Swappin?
I’m pretty sure detective Murakami would choose to house a stray dog over the ordeal he goes through to cover up his own mistake.
Why this movie’s a gift…
I’m certain Spike Lee watched this movie in film school, because, like Spielberg and George Lucas before him, all their great ideas were inspired by the legendary Akira Kurosawa. Kurosawa sets Toshiro Mifune’s descent into hell on the hottest days of the summer (see?). While not a legendary piece of filmmaking, it’s still dripping with sweat and tension as Mifune goes deeper and deeper, and uncovers sicker, more cruel actions as society breaks down for the poor. Mifune is excellent, but so is Takashi Shimura, Kurosawa’s other muse, as the elder wisened detective helping be the light in Mifune’s darkness.
Two shoe shining best friends get roped into a scheme that lands them in juvy, where the police pin them against each other for a conviction.
Is the Main Character Yankee Swappin?
If this were the NBA, the boys would put restrictions on their trade. They’d keep the horse, but trade away shoeshining and shady family members.
Why this movie’s a gift…
Vittorio de Sica, director of the working class, turns his focus onto the plight of the poor children in post war ravaged Italy. Giuseppe and Pasquale grow up best of friends, sharing a dream of getting a horse and riding away to the beach or country somewhere. However, being poor, one of their older relatives drags them into something shady…and shows what the justice system can do. It’s an unfeeling, uncaring machine, only responding to money and systemic knowledge, so, basically these Dickensian, naive boys are screwed. de Sica heartbreakingly shows how one bad decision leads to another, and another, and another, tearing apart friendships and hardening boys into full blown criminals. At times it’s a tough sit, but if your heart doesn’t break for the unfortunate boys here, then you’re probably at the top of the systemic chain, and should do some deep soul searching.
