Two Holiday Takes: Trolls Holiday And A Tim Burton Classic

Ever notice how a “holiday classic” can feel like a warm blanket to one person and a paper-thin ritual to another? We put that tension to the test with a brisk takedown of Trolls Holiday and a lively, good-faith clash over The Nightmare Before Christmas—covering what makes a film feel truly seasonal, how music and mood can carry a story, and when expectations sabotage the watch before the opening song finishes.

We start with the quick hit: Trolls Holiday promises glitter and good vibes but largely forgets to be about Christmas. The verdict is swift and unsentimental. From there, we step into Halloween Town to unpack the central debate: is Nightmare a Halloween movie, a Christmas movie, or both? Tomas argues it’s decisively Christmas based on its ending, message, and snowfall-fueled shift in spirit. Nathan pushes back, calling the plot slight, the moral muddled, and the charm overhyped, even while nodding to Danny Elfman’s unforgettable soundtrack and the singular stop-motion craft often linked to Tim Burton’s creative stamp.

Across the conversation, we explore how nostalgia, aesthetics, and ritual rewatching turn films into cultural anchors. Does seasonal cinema need narrative depth, or can tone, world-building, and memorable songs do the heavy lifting? You’ll hear split ratings—high seasonal marks from the believer, tough love from the skeptic—plus a frank look at why some stories become annual musts while others fade after one spin. If you’ve ever argued over where Jack Skellington belongs on your calendar, you’ll feel right at home.

Hit play, weigh in with your take, and help settle the score: essential Christmas comfort or stylish one-and-done? Subscribe, share with a friend who has strong holiday-movie opinions, and leave a review telling us where you land.

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Transcript

Welcome And Holiday Setup

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Couch critics, turn the holidays up, get the Google Holiday from the naughty list to the night one, two couch critics, Christmas, unwrapping films for you.

SPEAKER_01 0:12

Hello everyone and welcome to a brand new episode of the Couch Critics. I'm your host, Nathan, and on today's episode, I am talking to my good friend Tomas. Haven't talked to him in forever. It's good to it's good to hear from you, Thomas. How are you?

SPEAKER_02 0:25

Yeah, doing good, Nathan. Good to see you as well. Uh filming from my car. I'm just about just about home, heading home uh from North Carolina to Virginia. Um, basically every weekend I go, uh, I'm going to school in Virginia. So it's my my Sunday or sometimes Monday morning drive.

Improv Roots And Reunion

SPEAKER_01 0:42

Good times.

SPEAKER_02 0:43

Good times.

Quick Take On Trolls Holiday

SPEAKER_01 0:44

For those of you who don't know, who haven't heard Thomas on the show before, Thomas and I know each other. We were part of an improv troupe that I am still a part of. We actually just had a show yesterday as this episode is dropping, and it went really, really well. Great audience, great cast of people. It was really a good time. And we miss Thomas very much. And so it's good that him and I are able to use this podcast as a way of keeping in contact. So let's get right ahead and talk about the two movies that we're talking about. It's still on this Christmas movie journey. One movie Thomas did not watch, and the other he did watch. So let's talk about the one that he didn't watch first because this is going to be short, sweet, and to the point episode, I feel, at least on my side anyway. So the first movie we're talking about is actually not a movie, it's another TV special. We did Shrek the Halls before. Now we're doing Trolls Holiday. Dreamworks decided to make all these holiday TV specials with all the voice actors from the movies coming back to do these. I really enjoyed Shrek the Halls. I thought that was really cute. I thought it was cool that they had everybody come back, and the storyline was really good. Trolls Holiday kind of fell flat for me. I'm not that big of a trolls fan anyway. And so this one just wasn't that good for me. I don't know if it was because they didn't really focus on Christmas that much. It was more like literally trolls holidays that trolls celebrate in the universe of trolls, I guess. Yeah, it just wasn't fun to me. I didn't really like it. Again, it's one of those movies that I only watched because it's on my list. Thomas, I know you didn't watch it for this review, but have you ever seen Trolls Holiday?

SPEAKER_02 2:17

I've never seen Trolls Holiday or Trolls.

Enter The Nightmare Before Christmas

Is It Halloween Or Christmas

SPEAKER_01 2:20

Well, you're one of the lucky ones. Because the first one, the first movie, anyway, was pretty good. And then they kind of went downhill from there. And I guess this was made after the first one. I don't know. I'm not sure. But yeah, it just wasn't that good. So this is gonna be a really, really short review. Uh, if you're a trolls fan, you might like it, but yeah, it kind of fell flat for me, especially since it didn't really have anything to do with necessarily Christmas, it was just strictly just different types of holidays, and yeah, it was dumb. So I'm gonna give Trolls Holiday for a Christmas movie a 0.5 out of five, because again, didn't have anything to do with Christmas. And for general, this is not a movie I'd watch again, so I'll probably give it a 0.5 out of five as well. And because Thomas did not watch it, don't feel obligated to give it a review. And we can move on to the second movie, which is a very well-known. I would I I mean, I don't know how this movie did when it came out, so I don't know if it would be considered like a cult classic. It it kind of gained a following after it came out. I don't know. Probably should have done my research before doing this episode. But we're talking about the nightmare before Christmas, and this is kind of like a debatable movie because it takes place during like in between Halloween and Christmas. And so some people are like, this is a this isn't a Christmas movie, it's a Halloween movie. And some people are like, no, it's not a Halloween movie, it's a Christmas movie. So, Thomas, that's the first question I want to ask you. Where do you lie on that debate? Is this a Halloween movie? Is it a Christmas movie, or is it both?

Nathan’s Overhype Argument

SPEAKER_02 3:46

So there's elements of Halloween, but this is definitely a Christmas movie. And the reason it's a Christmas movie to me is the way it ends. Um, is what what's the message of it? Is the message that they stay Halloween and they just go on this little adventure to Christmas town and then they have no Christmas spirit? But it's actually the opposite. It ends with basically everyone in Halloween town suddenly has Christmas spirit and it snows and um so so it ends with Christmas. So it makes it a Christmas movie, even if it has Halloween themes.

SPEAKER_01 4:16

Okay, so I'm gonna be the downer of this episode. I think this movie is overrated, I think it's overhyped. It's one of those movies that everyone's like, oh, it's just so good. It's just such a great I watch it every year and all this stuff. And I I just I don't think I've ever watched it all the way through. I obviously I know the songs. I mean songs are very popular, the soundtrack is popular. I get it. I just don't see the appeal though. I I didn't really enjoy it that much. Uh Thomas mentioned the ending. To me, it's like one of those movies where the main character, Jack Skelton, doesn't feel like he fits in in his own world. And so he travels to Christmas town and falls in love with Christmas and the Christmas spirit and wants to bring that to Halloween town, but then realizes that Christmas doesn't really fit in at Halloween Town. And Oogie Boogie, the main bad guy, tries to kidnap Santa himself and tort try to torture Santa for some reason. That's not really explained why. And the end of the movie that Thomas alluded to is basically that Jack Skeleton basically figures out that Halloween town shouldn't have Christmas, and Santa should be in charge of Christmas, and then it starts randomly snowing. That's the ending that I got. So Thomas made it sound all you know warm and cozy. I was just like, this movie didn't have a point at all. Like the whole point of the movie was just thrown away. And well, we I don't need Christmas when I have my girlfriend. That's that's the moral of the story.

SPEAKER_02 5:46

Well, hold on. So all right, so this is gonna be a debate episode. Um, but that's the Christmas spirit, right? Like he learns what really matters is his true love and his friends and happiness and joy. So the whole point is that Halloween Town gets the Christmas spirit.

Plot, Themes, And That Ending

SPEAKER_01 6:03

No, because to me that's not the Christmas spirit. Like, I'm not saying it had to have, you know, everyone celebrates the birth of Jesus or anything, but when I think of Christmas spirit, if you're not gonna talk about Jesus, I I think like, you know, family and togetherness, which I guess they kind of do with the true love stuff. The it's snowing. Ooh, it's snowing. That doesn't equate Christmas spirit to me. And I just it's one of those movies where it's like the whole plot was pointless because at the end of the day, Halloween town stays Halloween town, Christmas Town stays Christmas Town, and they the only thing that I guess connects them is the snow. I I yeah, I I found myself almost falling asleep a lot, and I really tried to like it, I really did because I know I have a lot of friends. Mitch is one of my friends who was supposed to be on this episode too, and I'm sure he probably would have said a million and and a half great things about this movie as well. And if he's listening to this, Mitch, next time just show up and you can have an opinion too. I just thought it was boring. I thought, I mean, I'm not saying it was a terrible movie, don't get me wrong. It has its place in the catalog of classic Tim Burton movies, which he did not even uh direct. A lot of people, I think, have this conception, misconception that he directed it, but he didn't even direct it. I think he produced it, and I'm pretty sure he wrote it. I think I could be wrong. But yeah, I mean, it's it's classic Tim Burton feel, stop motion, all that fun stuff. But it just, it just yeah, it was all right. It was okay for me. Thomas, you obviously really enjoyed it. Were there any other things about it that you're like, Nathan, you're dumb. Why don't you like it?

Expectation vs Experience

SPEAKER_02 7:39

I think you're being a uh Grinch about this one. So I was a Grinch about it before watching it. I will say that. So for a long time, my wife has said, we gotta watch this movie, we gotta watch this movie. And actually, Christmas time, because she's she's this was like one of her movies that you know has a warm place in her heart, like watching it around Christmas time. And I was like, it looks dumb, I don't want to watch it. Um, but when you said we're gonna do this one for the podcast, I was like, okay, Morgan's been asking me to watch this anyway, so let's let's bite the bullet, let's sit down, I'll suffer through it. Um and I loved it. Like, like I felt the emotion, like when he's singing the song about it's so dumb, but it's so dumb, but that's what so many Christmas movies are. And I don't know, it tugs at the heartstrings a little bit. Um I didn't but but I think part of it's expectations. So I went into it with zero expectation to like anything about it, and I think maybe that's also why I just thought it was really charming. So maybe if you go in expecting a lot, and you know, it's a 1993 stop-motion animated film. Like I think it might a lot of it might be the expectations you have going into it.

Ratings And Final Verdicts

SPEAKER_01 8:45

No, I don't think I had that that high of expectations going into it. Obviously, I know there are people in my life that really like this movie, and I was curious to see why they liked it so much, but I don't think that necessarily means that I had like high expectations for it. I just I just don't get the hype around it. Like I don't understand why it's such a such a big deal. But obviously, the songs are classic, so that's probably what it is. I think it's mostly the soundtrack. The soundtrack has very catchy songs in it, so that could be it. I don't know if it's necessarily the story that people are necessarily in love with, but that's just my opinion, that's just my observation. As someone who has never really watched it all the way through before, that is what I got from it. So let's go ahead and rate the nightmare before Christmas because I know I have however many listeners are listening. I'm sure majority of them are very probably very upset at me. And you know what? That's what opinions are for. You know, you don't have to agree. So, Thomas, since you really enjoyed this movie, I'm gonna let you rate it first. What would you give it as a Christmas movie?

SPEAKER_02 9:44

Ooh, um, I'm gonna give it a four and a half out of five stars as a Christmas movie. I have to know your reasoning. So I agree with you. I don't know why I like it because the premise is so dumb. Like it's so goofy, the characters, the puns, the but I think that's what makes a Christmas movie. I think if it's if it's not a little corny, is it even a Christmas movie? Um, so I I I give it a high rating. I don't quite give it a full five stars because, like you said, it's kind of a Halloween movie for the first 20 minutes and then it kind of transitions to a Christmas movie. So I give it a four and a half.

SPEAKER_01 10:21

All right, and what about for a general rating?

SPEAKER_02 10:24

For a general rating, I and that's where I was teetering. I'm gonna give it only a three and a half for a general rating. Um soundtrack's amazing. It it kind of warms your heart. It's a fun movie, but it's nothing profound. It it's not thought-provoking at all. And I I don't I don't think you can reach a four um with that plot.

Teaser For Next Week

SPEAKER_01 10:44

All right, folks, get ready. You're gonna hate me. If you really love this movie, you're gonna hate me so much right now. So, for a Christmas rating, I'm gonna give the night bear before Christmas a two out of five. The reason I give it a two is because it has it has Christmas in it, you know, has Santa Claus and Christmas presents and Christmas is celebrated. And I guess you can have some kind of warm feeling. And so that's why I gave it a two. And then for my general rating, this is this is gonna be a harsh one too, folks. This is not a movie that I feel like I would watch again. It's like a one and done movie for me, which I know those of you who watch it every year are shocked that I'm saying that. But to me, it's a one and done. So I'm gonna give the night before Christmas a one out of five stars for general rating because it's not a movie that I see myself watching again. I I guess I'm glad I watched it. I can say I watched it. Check, you know, check the box that I watched the nightmare before Christmas. So, yeah, folks, short, sweet to the point review, probably not what you were thinking for nightmare before Christmas. You probably thought we were all gonna love it and just say wonderful things about it. But no, no, not today. But maybe next Sunday with the movies we're gonna be talking about. So, next Sunday, we're gonna be talking about You've Got Mail with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan and Love Hard, which I don't think I've ever seen, and I don't even know what it is. So that's gonna be interesting because Noel was a movie I'd never seen before, and that movie was a bucket of stock. So let's see if Love Hard is a bucket of stock. I don't know. You'll find out next Sunday on The Couch Critics, where every movie gets its close up.