I still remember the first time I watched A Christmas Story. One of my aunts told me about it and proclaimed it as the best Christmas film. It has been a regular film this time of year for over twenty years now and there’s no sign in it stopping. This juggernaut of a Christmas story is small and relatable, full of quotable lines and iconic imagery, that managed to overcome its box office failure as a cult classic holiday movie. A Christmas Story has earned its Must See rating.
A Christmas Story is one of my favorites
Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) has to try and convince his parents and Santa that a Red Ryder B.B. gun is the perfect Christmas present. He has to navigate normal teenage life while awaiting Christmas and his hopeful present.
Ralphie is such a likeable kid with his big cheeks and huge, blue eyes. He earns my sympathy from the first moment he’s on-screen looking through the big window display. The sense of wonder in their eyes as the look really nail the tone. In the film, the kids move through their world hoping for the best but often finding the worst. Scut Farkus (Zack Ward) plays an intimidating bully with yellow eyes that torments Ralphie and his friends. Every time things seem to be going okay Farkus shows up to wreck their day. They’re always looking through the window with hope and excitement, but often finding only disappointment. It takes their action to really impact their world and a lesson Ralphie slowly learns.
The day he’s at his lowest and Farkus pegs him with a snowball is a major turning point. He decides not to be the victim anymore and takes an active approach to his life. While there are consequences, they’re not as severe as he expects and things start to look up. Of course, Christmas morning doesn’t look as promising after being forced into a pink bunny costume. There’s no B.B. gun to be seen at first. Luckily, his dad (Darren McGavin) went behind his mother’s (Melinda Dillon) back and got Ralphie what everyone else said he couldn’t’ have. It’s such a touching moment as Ralphie gets what he has sought.
It’s a tradition of mine for many years, that at 8pm on Christmas Eve this film begins the 24-hour loop. The channel doesn’t change and it doesn’t matter that I’ve seen this movie dozens of time as it is what makes Christmas feel real for me. I’m sure the movie isn’t perfect, but I don’t see the imperfections. I just see Christmas and a story of a boy with a dream.
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