Review of A Christmas Story (1983) by Brandan W — 02 Jan 2011

This may come as a shock to some of you but Christmas has never, not even at its root been about the birth of Christ. Truth is, Christ was born sometime in the Spring, his birth was just celebrated on the 25th because that was the date of a pagan holiday called Saturnalia and claiming he was born then helped some heathens more easily make the transition to "civilized" Christianity. So it makes sense when Christianity stopped bothering with Pagans because well, being a Pagan became more of an open act of attention seeking and rebellion that Christmas sort of lost its way and somehow became more about childhood greed and materialism than anything remotely spiritual. And yet, cynical as that may seem I wouldn't have it any other way, it leads to some fantastic childhood memories and some treasured moments with family I love Christmas for all the good times its brought and this movie understands that. It's not trying to preach, it's not trying to get wrapped up in sentimentalism or the Christmas mythos it simply is presenting the cherished childhood memories of one boy and his quest one Christmas to get a pump action, Red Ryder BB Gun. So how does it add up, not just in the pantheon of Christmas movies but the far more demanding pantheon of film itself? Let's take a look, careful not to shoot your eye out.

The movie focuses on young Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley who's a good if subdued child actor) growing up in the Burbs of Indiana in the 50s, who is hell bent and determined to receive this Christmas a pump action, Red Ryder BB Gun, with a compass in the stock and "this thing that tells time" despite his over bearing mother (Melinda Dillon, who gives a surprisingly human and emotionally satisfying role considering the subject matter) is insistence he'll shoot his eye out. He becomes obsessed and seeks out other adults to aid him in his quest including his father (Darren McGavin, who more or less steals the show), his Teacher and even the big man himself in one of the most iconic and telling scenes in Christmas movie history. However being based on the short stories of Radio Personality Jean Shepherd who narrates as older Ralphie, the movie is more or less propelled by its many humorously named subplots including The Scott Farkus Affair, the tongue on the flag pole gambit and of course the legendary Battle of the Lamp none of which I'll ruin on the off chance you don't see this every Christmas.

I don't know what makes this movie so special and funny and interesting, but my God it does it well. I've seen movies with about the same level of humor, same caliber of directing and even superior acting that I suppose without being infused with the Christmas spirit didn't work nearly as well as this one. It touches a raw nerve and manages to put a smile on my face every Christmas long after most specials, mostly those awful C laymation ones started leaving a bad taste in my mouth. Like the finer points of spending the Holiday with your family even doing the most mundane things this movie grows with age and even if you're young and can't imagine yourself ever liking it, barring a few circumstances you most likely will.

I'd like to wow everyone with words and speak at lengths about why this is the perfect Holiday movie like an instruction guide for would-be Holiday classic makers but I have very little else to say in regards. It's a successful Holiday film because it focuses on the family not an ethereal Santa or Jesus or any of that and it doesn't compromise or sweeten its view of childhood. Ralphie is selfish, materialistic and at times down right unlikeable even abandoning his friend out at the flagpole but he's human, he's a kid, he's not the hero he's the hero's past being fondly remembered and this coupled with the fact most of us can see ourselves doing the silly and selfish things done here makes this such a brutally honest and beloved film. Plus the imagery is so wonderfully and nostalgically Christmas from the snow, to the lights to the trappings at the mall it's truly just a wonderful timeless film that should be enjoyed by all.