I first saw A Christmas Story as an 8 year old in 1984, watching as it played on heavy rotation on HBO. You’d think as a child I would have become bored after seeing it for the 32nd or 100th time, but no, I found it completely entertaining every time. I saw it every Christmas after that at the local theatre, which played it on Christmas day for $0.25. I think it was some kind of parental conspiracy to get the kids out of the house while drinking eggnog and spicy rum- not such a bad idea, eh? Anyway, even now at 26 I still find it entertaining, even laugh out loud funny, let’s be honest now.

So on with the review:

Details First
Directed by Bob Clark (of Porky’s I and II fame) I’m pretty sure this is the only film he really has worth mentioning in his career, unless you consider Rhinestone a masterpiece. All judgments aside, Clark does a great job in this narrated tale, especially in creating an appeal for all ages. Clark also co-wrote the script, which is perhaps why the film flows so well, there do not seem to be any editing errors or storyline gaps. The cast is made up of virtually unknowns, which gives A Christmas Story it’s campy feel. Peter Billingsly plays Ralphie. He is just perfect in this role, but I have a hard time picturing him in any role other than Ralphie, which is perhaps why he never really made any other noteworthy films. He reminds me of that kid Marvin, from the Hershey’s Syrup commercials.

Plot Summary
We follow our hero, Ralphie, as he pines away for the one toy that would just make his Christmas, a Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot, range model air rifle (incidentally, my father is a proud owner of said Red Ryder). He pleads his case to his parents, his classmates, his teacher, angry elves, and a drunk Santa. Unfortunately for Ralphie, everyone but himself is convinced that he’ll “shoot his eye out”.

Set in 1940’s Indiana, we watch Ralphie as he and his friends struggle with a local bully, Farcus, and his henchman, decode Little Orphan Annie clues, and figure out how to get a tongue unstuck from a metal pole in the dead of winter. All the while, his father battles with the furnace and the neighbor’s pack of dogs, and his mother battles with the “fraa-gee-lay” (fragile) major award, her husband’s leg-lamp. Leg lamp, you may ask? Yes, a tall, sexy, ceramic leg that has a light bulb and lampshade.

We are brought through the ups and downs of a family in pure dysfunction: the BB gun obsessed hero, his younger brother, Randy who hasn’t “eaten voluntarily in over three years”, Mrs. Parker who has a fondness for washing mouths out with soap and Mr. Parker, aka “the old man” who has a fondness for turkey. Doesn’t seem to have too much Christmas spirit though, does it?

Well, that’s the beauty of A Christmas Story. While it is lacking in Christmas spirit, it makes up for that in the humor that we all know all too well. Who hasn’t wanted something for Christmas that no one thinks you should have? Who hasn’t been teased by a bully or been embarrassed by their family? Who hasn’t been stressed out at least a few times during this “festive, joyful” season? And so I give you A Christmas Story to relieve you of feeling like the only one going through hell in this “season to be jolly”. Young or old, Scrooge or not, this is one film everyone will be able to relate to and embrace!

Final Thoughts
If you can find it in your heart to spend a little money (you Scrooge, you!) and buy this film, you, too can watch A Christmas Story on Christmas, or the day after and realize that your holiday probably didn't go as poorly as little Ralphie's.

Thanks to MFunk75's Spwan of Scrooge write off!
***Update***
Because this is my first "w/o", I think I may have jumped the gun and left out some important details:
Welcome to the "Spawn of Scrooge" write-off (my first as host), named for the patron saint of bah-humbuggery(!). As an antidote to end-of-the-year cheeriness and treacle, you, the participant, shall review any film in which Christmas takes a royal beating. I don't care if the whole thing has a happy ending, as long as sometime, somehow, somewhere during the course of the proceedings, the Christmas spirit is taken down a few notches, raked over the coals, and/or left for dead. If you want, feel free to review a CD, or a book, or, if the spirit moves you, a particularly vile bottle of green-and-red hand cream (if such a thing exists). As long as the [anti]-sentiment is there, I don't mind

And the other current participants are (thus far):
dedemw
Kidnykid
st_patrick
lisaffire
mfunk75
beckytcy
millinocket
Simply_Crispy
ingysdayoff
Vormancian
weirdo_87




Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8