Alas, all that Christmas spending has left you too poor to attend any overpriced New Year's Eve events. No problem: Just hold your own New Year's Eve party in the comfort of your own living room. Armed with a DVD player, you should have no problem getting into the spirit of the night with these five "Party" picks:
The Party (1968): In Blake Edwards' madcap yarn, Peter Sellers is hilarious as bumbling Indian actor Hrundi V. Bakshi, who's accidentally placed on the guest list for a swanky Hollywood party and ends up all but destroying it. There are many memorable set pieces and lines, although I've always had a soft spot for "Birdie Num Num."
House Party (1990): The "remember them?" '90s team of Kid 'N Play (Christopher Reid and Christopher Martin) first hit the screen in this extremely likable comedy about the efforts of one grounded teen (Kid) to attend the title event. Robin Harris (who passed away the same year the film was released at the age of 36) handily steals the film as Kid's no-nonsense dad.
24 Hour Party People (2002): What's a New Year's Eve without music? And there's plenty of music to be heard in this look at Tony Wilson (a great turn by Steve Coogan), the man largely behind the rockin' music scene that emerged from Manchester, England, during the 1970s. Needless to say, the soundtrack is packed with tunes by the likes of New Order and Joy Division.
Bachelor Party (1984): Remember the era when T.J. Hooker's Adrian Zmed was popular enough to share above-the-title billing with Tom Hanks? This film is proof that such a time existed, as a groom-to-be (Hanks) attends a bachelor party organized by his best buddies (including Zmed), with circumstances eventually getting out of hand. Not an especially good film per se, but it does offer a chance to see Hanks in the movie that, along with the same year's Splash, helped jumpstart his powerhouse career.
The Horror of Party Beach (1964): A staple on any serious list of the "Worst Movies of All Time" (it was also featured on Mystery Science Theater 3000), this turkey finds radioactive sea monsters terrorizing beach parties and slumber parties alike. The dancing by the teenagers is easily more frightening than the laughable monsters, but downing that bottle of champagne while watching this so-bad-it's-awful endeavor will help start the new year in an optimistically giddy mood.