20 non-traditional Christmas movies to watch this year

9. Bridget Jones’s Diary

Watch if: You tend to eat your feelings, especially around the holidays.

What it’s about: The perennially single Bridget Jones (Renée Zellweger) makes a New Year’s resolution to transform her life: she’ll keep a diary, lose weight, quit smoking, stop drinking, and finally find a boyfriend who’s worthy of her. Things don’t quite go according to plan.

Connection to Christmas: Moderate. Bridget Jones takes place over a little more than a year, so New Year’s and Christmas play a part, as do idyllic scenes of snow falling on a London street. More importantly, Bridget’s love interest Mark Darcy (Colin Firth) would fit right in at an Ugly Sweater party because he’s a nice person who wears the gifts his mother buys him.

Why it makes for good holiday entertainment: Bridget’s grand, romantic, pantsless gesture at the end of the movie is lovely. And what better Christmas comedy is there than watching someone run through a blizzard in her underwear and a pair of sneakers? But, let’s be honest, the dynamic between Bridget and Mark is what makes Bridget Jones. He’s uptight, she’s a mess, and they both need lessons in social etiquette. But they are perfect together. Even a proud cynic like me can’t help but be charmed by Mark’s very English, slightly awkward, extremely heartfelt speech to Bridget, which he delivers after she’s humiliated at a dinner party full of “smug married couples.” Really, what better gift could you receive this Dec. 25 than someone telling you they “like you very much — just as you are”?