There's no denying it's holiday movie and television special time. And while holiday movies aren't necessarily the best source for great filmmaking or high quality entertainment, there's just something about even the most cheesy of Christmas movies that really bring smiles to people.

But recently I got pissed at Christmas movies. Now obviously you can't throw a huge amount of criticism at Christmas movies. They have all the wonder and the magic and the Christmas spirit stuff for family fare. But there's a huge almost universal theme in Christmas films in the way that they represent Santa's workshop, and I constantly find myself distracted by it, taking me out of the otherwise enchanting experience that comes from Christmas movies.

I don't mind that Santa's workshop looks like an old-fashioned sort of workshop, or anything coming from production design that truly separates the North Pole from any other place on the planet. My beef stems from the fact that the toys that we generally see the elves making and packing up to send of to boys and girls around the world are from the 1920's. Mechanical drumming monkeys, porcelain figures, handwoven dolls, etc. These aren't necessarily awful in every sense, because at some point in time these were real toys for children. But for today I think that Santa's workshop products should be a little more representative of the times.

This is where I give one film a huge amount of praise not only for quickly becoming a modern Christmas classic, but for it's realistic portrayal of the toy culture of today's children. Jon Favreau's Elf has all the signature traits of the North Pole and Santa's workshop and then some ("Thanks, Mr. Narwhal"). But one key element is subtle but strikes me as brilliance. Nearly all of the toys within Santa's workshop are real and at least somewhat popular toys sold in stores today. Monopoly, Etch-a-Sketch, even a Bob the Builder doll are all part of the elves product line, and I think, especially for kids, this makes the magic of Santa Claus and the Christmas movie all the more magical. Whereas in The Santa Clause (Tim Allen) this workshop does nothing but manufacture antique toys to fit along with their old-fashioned, carefully crafted classic world, but they still have the means and know-how to add all these technological upgrades to Santa's suit and sleigh, but not know that a kid wants an iPod for Christmas.

My Dad made the commercial observation to me that the reason that happened, is because those are the companies that paid enough to get their product in the movie. And as cynical as that is, it's definitely correct. But product placement is something that happens anyway, and happens in mostly every film, so why not place it in a movie that's perfect for product placement, and have it truly fit in as part of a movie and not a "Well, I know James Bond loves Coca-Cola! Especially after having sex with a lady!"

All I know is that, despite Christmas movies not necessarily being a great source for realistic representations of the world, I think that it adds to the whimsical nature of the Christmas movie for kids and adults alike.

MeanRider is a regular installment of The Screen Rider and is basically an editorial piece on various loves and hates of different aspects of film and television. They are meant to critique, and provoke thought amongst the pop culture community