Christmas Movies? Bah humbug

I was browsing through Christmas movies the other day and came to an interesting conclusion about them. Most Christmas movies have to do with a father (or mother) who has become so consumed with work that they have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. Mostly, it means they ignore their kids and neglect their wife.

Usually the movie starts out with the dad making a promise he doesn't keep, or worrying about the "big meeting" he just has to do well in. Then there is usually an adorable, heartbroken kid who spends half the movie pouting and saying something like "but daddy, you promised."

Of course, the end of these movies always end on Christmas day with dad hugging the kids and mom looking on thoughtfully at her now attentive husband. I find myself morbidly curious what the day after Christmas looks like at their house. As they put away the decorations, and nuke the leftover turkey has the Christmas euphoria worn off? Has dad really turned over a new leaf or does just he wake up with a wicked Christmas hangover and a briefcase full of work that has to be done?

Is it really possible that there are so many neglectful parents that there is literally a Christmas movie stereotype about them? I find it hard to believe. I also am wildly curious what it is about Christmas that creates the need for change. Is it really that they need to find the true meaning of Christmas, or that they just need to make their family a priority?

I mean, I'm all for Christmas movies but I am looking for something more than just a recycled Dicken's Christmas Carol premise.