A Christmas Story

Rating:
Summary: Full of warm characters and genuine humor!
Review: "A Christmas Story" is a warm holiday movie filled with memorable moments and genuinely funny circumstances set in a time that has ceased to exist in America. It's a simple child's tale of the all-American Christmas, capturing a picture-perfect portrait of holiday warmth and zest through its delectable combination of laughter and touching moments. Most importantly, the film recalls the pleasures of childhood during the Christmas season, and that can provide as much joy as any other film.

The story is based on a segment of Jean Sheperd's novel "In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash," a personal memoir of his experiences. It helps that Sheperd collaborated in the creation of the screenplay, as well as lending his narration as the adult voice of Ralphie Parker (played by Peter Billingsley), who wants nothing more than to wake up on Christmas morning and find a "genuine Red Ryder 200-Shot Carbine Action Air Rifle" under the tree. Ralphie doesn't merely want this gift, but yearns for it with every fiber of his childhood being. His convictions that an English paper on what he wants for Christmas, as well as putting in his request to Santa Claus, stand as his assurance that he cannot fail in his quest.

Of course, there are obstacles, made whimsical and witty by director Bob Clark's wonderful knack for situational humor. His mother's words, "You'll shoot your eye out," seem to echo from the mouths of everyone around, including his would-be alibi, Santa Claus, who is seen in a most frightening light by the children who line up to sit on his lap. Even Ms. Shields, his teacher, is a dead end, granting him a C+ on his "All I Want For Christmas" theme paper with a small note toting Mrs. Parker's infamous warning.

The film is a very warm and inviting Christmas story, capturing the holiday season of yesteryear in an authentic and gleeful manner. Set in Indiana in the 1940's, Clark captures small vignettes of the time period through Ralphie's life experiences, from his eager anticipation of a secret decoder machine sent by the radio show he listens to every night at 6:45, to his punishment for using foul language by keeping a bar of Lifebuoy soap in his mouth for a prolonged period of time ("Over the years, I got to be quite a connoisseur pf soap...").

What helps the movie in the long run are its characters, who never overstay their welcome or lose the appeal they possess. Ralphie's parents, known only to us as Mom and the Old Man, are the perfect parents: his mother, played with supreme charm by Melinda Dillon, is a warm and caring woman, as shown in her methods of getting younger brother Randy to eat by referring to him as "Mommy's little piggy," and in her protective yet nurturing nature in regards to her children. His father, a stern yet gentle man, is the ideal working-class family man who sits at the table, reads his paper, but still exudes a great deal of caring for his family. Darren McGavin's performance as Mr. Parker deserves high praise, especially in his childlike glee over winning a table lamp in the shape of a woman's leg.

Billingsley is the most notable of these actors, instilling Ralphie with all the emotions and thoughts a normal child experiences. His run-ins with neighborhood bully Scut Farcus provides a truly satisfying scene of turning the tables, while his daydreams of getting an A+ on his English paper and his going blind from "soap poisoning" are filled wit merriment and humor.

I think what "A Christmas Story" captures most effectively is the unbearable countdown to Christmas Day, which, for a child, can be the most excruciating twenty-four days of the year. Here is a movie that is guaranteed to bring back wonderful memories of childhood, with something that everyone from all generations can relate to, whether it be the joys of the long-awaited Christmas morning, or the shared pleasure of reliving the time and place, and the painstaking accuracy with which it is portrayed.

Rating:
Summary: Charming Little Christmas Movie.
Review: A Christmas Story is nothing but a charming and cute movie. The plot is good, and everything else is about good also. Otherr then a few flaws, including the dogs next door thing [which is stupid and unfunny at the same time], the movie is extremly enjoyable and worth a look on Christmas.

Rating:
Summary: Gotta love it
Review: I have always liked this film since I saw it when I was in 6th grade....almost 10 years ago. It's funny. It relies on actual dialogue and not special effects...so it's obviously for children and adults old and mature enough to have an attention span that doesn't need computer generated effects to keep them from wandering off. It doesn't glorify owning a gun (gosh, it isn't a semi-automatic weapon, Ralphy is NOT a gang banger!) He's just a little boy who wants a BB gun. It doesn't promote violence, it promotes children standing up to a bully, and finally, all children who can speak cohearantly KNOW what naughty words are, and that's why they put that in the film. If people today just aren't teaching their children about life, BB-guns, and that swears are bad...it isn't this movie's fault :) and they could just stick to the cartoon version of the Grinch :) This film, however, is fun, cute, and you can watch it over and over and over again without getting sick of it :) It's why TBS has a 24 hour marathon of it ever christmas eve! It's rewatchability :)

Rating:
Summary: The Best Christmas Story ever
Review: This is my all time favorite Christmas movie. I know the entire thing by heart and make my family mad by reciting all the lines everytime i watch it. Watch out when the 24-hour marathon comes on TV, Dec. 24. :oÞ
Everyone needs to have, or at least SEE this movie. Even the book (In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash) is great! I highly recomend this movie to all ages, for all times of the year. "Happy St. Patrick's Day! Let's watch A Christmas Story!"

Rating:
Summary: Best Christmas movie any time of the year !
Review: Anyone who looks forward to the annual "A Christmas Story Marathon" - 24 hours straight of this incredibly realistic and comic view of a boys' life at the age of 9 during (what I'm guessing is) the early 50s. A hallarious movie for everyone!

Rating:
Summary: The Christmas noose beginning to tighten?
Review: Lighten up the holiday season with this hilarious and heartwarming holiday classic. An almost magical story based on narrator Jean Sheapard's childhood adventures, this one is a classic in my family and should definately be one in yours. If you don't know the fear of a triple dog dare or the embarrassment of a young boy in a bunny suit you are MISSING OUT! It just isn't the holiday season without this movie. This film features great performances from Peter Billingsly as young cynic Ralphie, who only wants one thing for Christmas: A Red Rider BB Gun and Melinda Dillon as the American mom not to mention the father and Ralphie's hysterical little brother ("Show Mommy how the piggies eat!"). It also makes great use of the 'Peter and the Wolf' symphony. The film just stands out as a holiday classic because it's nostalgic air is so realisticly dreamy. There are charming and understanding moments (when the Mom sticks the soap in her mouth comes to mind) and all of Ralphie's daydreams are whimsical childhood fantasies. So this holiday season get in the spirit and habit of watching this flick.

Rating:
Summary: You'll Laugh Your Head Off
Review: Normally, I go for sweet high fantasy Christmas shows with plenty of fairies and singing reindeer. But "A Christmas Story" is an awesomely funny story. As a blind person, I find the made up profanity hilarious, the narration refreshing in a world of sight gags and visual cues. My sighted kids were glued to the show. The stereotype of mother or teacher as witch may seem surrealistic to adults, but this movie is dead on accurate in its portrayal of the distorted reality of a child's world. Miss Shields in ecstasy is a funny portrayal of all kids' longing for approval, especially when something as important as a BB gun is at stake. We used the Scutt Farkus affair as an object lesson for our son: not that it's okay to beat up others, but Scutt Farkus was experiencing the consequences of his bullying. I loved the slightly exaggerated acting of the parents, especially in Ralphie's revenge fantasy, where he goes blind as a result of soap poisoning. I think that is the first time my kids have seen a blind character on the screen. And who hasn't said, One day they'll be sorry? Without being stereotypical about it, The movie's motifs are easily recognizable as being universal. lines are quotable, the characters and plot easily recognizable. Our family love this movie, particularly the adults, who were pleased to note that the tongue in cheek humor wasn't geared only for the sighted. A wonderful multisensory jolt of humor: a delightfully dysfunctional family Christmas. You'll laugh yer head off.

Rating:
Summary: not for KIDS?
Review: This movie is one of the best christmas movies.. My mom and dad always said i was Ralphie.. WE kinda looked a like lol... THis movie is DEF. for kids.. I loved it! and i think your kdis would too!

Rating:
Summary: An absolute classic!
Review: Just to debate ANYONE who said this movie was inappropriate for kids...this is NOT a movie for kids!! They wouldn't get all the wonderful humorous scenes anyway. However, I would have no problem letting my daughter watch it because she'd be bored after about 20 minutes. Again, it's NOT A KID'S movie! This is such a terrificly written and well put together movie, it deserves more than 5 stars! There's a reason why it has become a modern classic people!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent, funny, well-done film
Review: This movie remains so fresh with each viewing, it is easy to forget that it is almost twenty years old. Told from Ralphie's viewpoint, these are the Christmas reminiscences of an adult whose pre-teen Christmas wish is a BB-gun that adults discouraged with the phrase "You'll shoot your eye out."

In his quest to convince his parents that he is old enough to have a BB-gun, young Ralphie hatches several plots, including writing the best "What I Want for Christmas" essay in his class, being leaving BB-gun ads in conspicuous places, and, as a last resort, asking Santa Claus. (Parents with young sons, beware: you may want to delay purchasing this film until you are ready to deal with a similar request.)

Told in episodic fashion, there are many vignettes which stand out: Ralphie wearing Aunt Martha's Christmas present, visiting Santa Claus and helping his father change a flat-tire come to mind immediately. Exaggerated acting, distorted camera angles, and day-dream sequences all enhance the child's viewpoint, but do not detract from the film's excellent portrayal of 1950's small-town Christmas ritual.

Melinda Dillon and Darren McGavin have a tongue-in-cheek style as Ralphie's parents. Peter Billingsley has just the right pre-teen balance between adorable and obnoxious, and Ian Petrella is downright irritating as baby brother Randy. Among the smaller roles, Zack Ward is perfect as the clay-footed bully and Tedde Moore excellent as Ralphie's kind, but practical teacher. (Jean Shepherd, the author and narrator of the film makes a cameo appearance standing in line, waiting for Santa.)

This is one to enjoy each Christmas.