The 5 best moments from ‘A Very Murray Christmas’

Move over, Scrooged. There’s a brand new Bill Murray Christmas classic in town.

Just in time for the holidays, Netflix has released Murray’s A Very Murray Christmas. It’s got singing, it’s got dancing, it’s got a trippy dream-sequence, and Amy Poehler. It’s got everything it needs to become a go-to Christmas classic for when you’re putting up the tree, or opening up presents underneath it.

The set up for the special is simple: Murray is hosting a live Christmas special, a throwback to live Christmas specials of the past, but there’s a blizzard in New York City and no one can make it — not even George Clooney! Because of this, Murray looks like he just got back from a vacationon the Island of Misfit Toys. Trying to find some holiday cheer, Murray mopes around the hotel, kidnaps Chris Rock, and after a few drinks, saves a wedding and starts to get into the spirit of everything. It’s Christmas, after all. There’s going to be a happy ending.

Clocking in with a run-time of an hour, all of A Very Murray Christmas is actually the best part of A Very Murray Christmas. But picking just five? Here are the top reasons you should check it out this weekend.

Best use of seating charts

Murray has grand plans for his Christmas special. He’s invited all of his friends over to the event, so they can sit back, relax, have a few drinks, and mingle with one another while he entertains them all. Too bad none of them show up, because it would have been the greatest collection of people all in one room. Who knew Pope Francis and Iggy ran in the same #Squad?

Best musical number

There are lots of musical numbers. The best one has to be Phoenix’s “Alone on Christmas Day.” This song is already on repeat for me, plus, there are a few amazing things about all of this — thing #1 about this: director Sophia Coppola is married to Phoenix’s front man; thing #2 about this: Coppola cousin Jason Schwartzman slides in to play the drums; thing #3 about this: I miss Schwartzman’s own band, Coconut Records, so this is a nice treat; thing #4 and the biggest thing: do you realize this is a Rushmore reunion for Schwartzman and Murray? I’ve been waiting my whole life for this.

Best argument for Maya Rudolph to get a Very Rudolph Christmas next year

Second runner up for best musical number goes to Maya Rudolph, who absolutely slays “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” At the very end of the special, we see Rudolph sitting alone, in the bar… just waiting. Please let this be the set up for her own special next year.

Best use of George Clooney

Spoiler alert: Clooney shows up. He’s not going to let his Monuments Men co-star hanging! He also gets in on the fun, and manages to contribute one simple verse to “Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin‘.” How do I make this my ringtone?

Best reminder that Miley Cyrus has serious pipes

It’s been a few weeks since we were last treated to Cyrus singing. Let this be the monthly reminder that when she does, she completely knocks it out of the park. Here, she gets not one song, but three. I’m not going to say I teared up during her rendition of “Silent Night,” but I’m also not going to say I didn’t.

So what are you waiting for? Grab a glass of ‘nog and settle in for A Very Murray Christmas. It’s streaming on Netflix right now.

(Images:American Zoetrope/Netflix)