_**Cute creatures morph into hellions during Christmas**_ A traveling inventor (Hoyt Axton) brings home a cute animal he bought at a shop in Chinatown for a Christmas gift, but the rules for the animal’s care are broken and all hell breaks loose. Zach Galligan plays the son and Phoebe Cates his girlfriend. “Gremlins” (1984) mixes Christmas movie with Comedy, Fantasy & Horror for an entertaining popcorn flick. The mogwai creatures are cute and you’re not sure how safe the movie is going play out but, thankfully, it turns amusingly edgy. The inclusion of cutie Phoebe Cates helps. The film runs 1 hour, 46 minutes and was shot at Universal Studios, Universal City, California. GRADE: B-

**Clever, creepy, Christmasy, and loads of fun! Gremlins should be a part of everyone's Christmas traditions!** Gremlins should be at the top of everyone's favorite Christmas movie list. It's full of the 80s teenage adventure cheesiness, cute cuddly creatures, and creepy monsters. Gremlins radiates the same classic spirit and tone as other films of the time, like The Goonies or E.T., but Gremlins adds a little horror flavor. Admittedly, the film isn't particularly scary as it seeks to poke fun at more serious alien critter movies of the time. Still, its creepy atmosphere and twisted little monsters, mixed with the holiday cheer and quaintness of the quiet small town of Kingston Falls, set it apart from other 80s creature features. For many, sitting around the Christmas tree, sipping hot chocolate, and watching Gremlins is a yearly tradition. It might be a little dated, but Gremlins is a fun, adventurous film unlike any other Christmas movie.

"Billy" (Zach Galligan) is given a special gift and three very important instructions. So long as he obeys them, then all will be well. Of course, though, he doesn't and next thing we know the entire town is being over-run by an outbreak of the eponymous, and not always so friendly, furry creatures. They spread exponentially and so "Billy" and friend "Kate" (Phoebe Cates) have to figure out a way of getting the toothpaste back in the tube! It's quite good fun this, at the start, but as it progresses the joke wears a bit thin and the mayhem just a little too slapstick for me. It's dated a bit now, but I quite enjoyed the ending, even if it did tee up a sequel and doubtless provides the marketing folks with a wet dream or two.