Many understand that as the calendar shifts to December, TV lineups will be filled with recognizably classic movies like It’s A Wonderful Life, Home Alone, and Miracle on 34th Street, among many others.

They’re labeled classics for a reason: They have original plotlines, appropriate soundtracks, and they are even appreciated for the rare tear-jerker factor.

More recently, though, those with an elevated sense of humor have been subjected to “classic” holiday movies that just aren’t that good or funny. This Christmas season, let’s be honest: Certain newer “classic” holiday movies are actually terrible.

One of the prime examples of this is Elf, starring Will Ferrell, a movie that follows the comedian-turned-elf’s journey outside of the North Pole.

How funny is a grown man acting like a childish mythical Christmas assistant after an hour and a half? Not very.

Several parts of this movie make it the absolute worst: the recognizably horrid comedian, the predictable plot, and the exaggerated acting.  

Other notable movies, like The Santa Clause series starring Tim Allen, feature similarly unamusing stories, and they all have their own unique element of just plain bad cinematography.  

But out of all holiday films, Elf reigns supreme for its low cinematic and comedic value.

If main character Buddy experienced any dynamic transformation for the sake of a Christmas miracle, the movie might be saved. Alas, from start to end, Buddy’s ignorance and awkwardness ruins any chance of salvation.

The movie begs a question: Are audiences supposed to find humor in a character’s childish antics when the supporting characters find him just as irritating?

Whether it’s these films creating an unattainable view of Christmas, or generating annoyance for those forced to watch them with family and friends, it’s OK to dislike them.

The holiday season and break should be a time of reuniting, love and quality Christmas movies. This year, everyone should stop pretending to like these “classics” for the sake of family and friends, and most importantly, for ourselves.

It’s not just the exaggeration of dramatic scenes and events in these movies, but the blatant disrespect of what makes the holidays so joyful — which is talent