***Advanced access to the film was provided, but opinions are my own.***
It’s tough to replicate greatness.
It is nearly impossible when such an attempt involves one of the most beloved, nostalgic, and iconic Christmas movies EVER. And, even if you’re not the biggest fan (ie: my wife) of the original “A Christmas Story” (from 1983), you MUST admit that it checks all of the Christmas movie boxes: family-centered, funny, and heart warming.
Rebooting these Christmas institutions can be dicey – the reason I tried to quell my excitement for watching Ralphie make a comeback in “A Christmas Story Christmas” (coming to HBO Max on November 17th).
Nearly forty years later, would Ralphie “the Dad” hit a bullseye with his Red Rider, or, will he shoot his eye out (again)?
The Good
(1) The old cast is back. Even better, each appears in an adult role that fits their on-camera persona from the original film. Other than the role of Ralphie’s brother (more of a cameo appearance), characters such as Flick and Scut Farkus are still in town for Ralphie’s Christmas visit. His old friends had me harkening back to the “tongue on the frozen pole” scene of the first film and even rekindle the infamous “triple dog dare”. As an added bonus, I found that Ralphie’s mom (played by Julie Hagerty) played a larger role, adding great emotional and comedic moments to the movie.
(2) The portrayal of Ralphie as a father, returning to his childhood home after the passing of this father could have quickly become overly cheesy. It was not. In fact, the storyline was better than the first movie – still funny, but deeper, more poignant to parents, with a bit less easy, slap-sticky humor.
(3) A Christmas Story Christmas is set in the 1970’s (the original’s time period was the 30’s/40’s), enabling the new movie to feel innately nostalgic from the jump. The timeframe worked for me – especially because we did not have to deal with the potential impact of cell phones and social media on the story. I was glad that Ralphie was not taking selfies and posting to Instagram when reunited with his old pals and classmates (Note: the opposite of the Hocus Pocus reboot approach). A modern day version would have cheapened the franchise.
(4) The new plotline used flashbacks to the first movie appropriately as well as additional “dream like” side scenes akin to that of the original. For example, when Ralphie the dad is arrested in A Christmas Story Christmas, there is a parody of an disheveled, imprisoned prisoner facing his wife and kids in handcuffs. I love those quick, creative breaks from the story – there is even a “Black Bart” reappearance in one such side-scene.
The Not So Good
(1) No lamp and no pink bunny suit? What? I mean, the infamous “fra-gee-lay” leg lamp shade and pink bunny suit do make a brief appearance in Ralphie’s mother’s attic, but these props are largely ignored. I would have loved to see Ralphie coerce his kids into donning the costume, or there be a scene focused on his father’s adoration for that hideous fishnet stocking leg lamp in the front window.
(2) Fans of the first movie will love the voiceover in the second. I, however, did not think the narration did much for the story this time around. The narrator is supposed to be Ralphie’s own conscious. The fact that he is now a grown man with children had me finding less reason to insert a voice-over during poignant moments.
(3) The ending was great for me. My kids, though, found it fairly meh. There was no coveted gift (like the Red Rider BB Gun) and no conclusion to a monumental issue or conflict they could identify with. The ending is more emotional and did not resonate with my children as much as it did for me.
Watch it or Pass?
A Christmas Story Christmas is a MUST WATCH for holiday season 2022. It does not, though, rise to the iconic, 24-hour Christmas Eve marathon level of the first.
That bar is far too high.
The film does absolutely do the original justice in continuing the story in a dignified way, by bringing back the OG actors, recreating the loveable town of Hammond, Indiana, and leaving the audience loving Ralphie “the dad” as much as Ralphie the nerdy kid with glasses.
GBD Rating
A Christmas Story Christmas totals a 3 out of 5, calculated as the average between the very high marks I’d give (4/5) and the lower ones of my not-overly-impressed little ones provided (2/5).
Is the movie better than the original?
Of course not.
Does the movie create a quiet, two-hour block of time to gather the family together during the holiday season this year?
Of course it does!
A Christmas Story Christmas is certainly worth the watch beginning on November 17th on HBO Max – even if the film does not supplant its predecessor as one of the greatest Christmas movies to ever exist.
But, let’s face it, how could it?
After all, expecting a sequel to be better than a classic is “fra-gee-lay” at best, and will leave you feeling like you could have shot your eye out at worst.
A Christmas Story Christmas Interview with Peter Billingsley:
Official Movie Trailer, A Christmas Story Christmas:
Official Movie Synopsis:
A CHRISTMAS STORY CHRISTMAS debuts November 17, 2022 on HBO Max
Family Comedy: Ralphie is all grown up in this sequel to the annual holiday favorite in which he must deal with Christmas and all that comes with it, this time as a dad. Peter Billingsley returns to the role that has made kids of all ages anticipate Christmas morning like no other.
