Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. Adapted from humorist Jean Shepherd's hilarious memoir In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash, A Christmas Story has climbed the ranks of the annual list of holiday classics and earned its place among the genre's hallowed elite. If you've ever tried to lick a frozen telephone pole or found yourself in a ridiculous bunny outfit on Christmas Day, then A Christmas Story is one comedy you don't want to miss.
A Christmas Story focuses on one central character, fifth grader Ralph i e (Peter Billingsley), and his all-out quest to get a Daisy Brand Red-Ryder BB rifle for Christmas, though I don't think he realizes that he could get one of them. The things that thwart Ralph i e at every turn are his mother (Melinda Dillon) and father (Darren MC Gavin) who seem to be completely oblivious to their young son dream.
Unable to come out and say what he wants, Ralph i e drops subtle hints around the house, such as placing cut-out magazine ads for a gun in the reading room on his parents' nightstand. When pushed for his true Christmas wish, Ralph i e blurts out that he wants a Daisy Brand Red-Ryder BB gun, but his mother just replies, You don't want one of those. You'll shoot your eye out!
A Christmas Story is full of memorable scenes and moments that have helped build a cult following around the life of a young boy obsessed with Christmas surrounded by a diverse cast of eccentric friends and family members. As Ralph i e s father beams with pride at his ability to win a newspaper contest, he proudly displays his prize in the front window of the family home, a three-foot lamp with a long female leg covered in a stocking as a base. Ralph i e s embarrassed mother accidentally violates it and starts a war of words with her husband. Meanwhile, Ralph i e dreams of saving the whole family with his Red-Ryder BB gun, earning the family's undying gratitude.
One of the best sequences in the film involves a family trip to the local department store, where Ralph i e and his little brother Randy encounter Santa Claus just before closing time. After a long, long wait to get to the front of the line to see Santa, Ralph i e is so brimming with anticipation that he can't speak to tell Santa what he wants. So Santa convinces Ralph i e that he wants football. But before Santa's helper can push Ralph i e down the slide at the North Pole, Ralph i e says his true wish, only to hear Santa's reply: You're gonna shoot your eye out, kid!
One of the best Christmas comedies ever made, although few come close to National Lampoons Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story is an unforgettable holiday classic that the whole family can enjoy. Much like It is a Wonderful Life, the film's popularity only grew in the years since its release. The timeless nature of its subject lends itself well to annual holiday viewing, and remains one of the few must-see films during the Christmas season.
You must be logged in to post a comment.