Viewed in
2008
Premise
Based on the novel 'In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash' about a 1940's American boy's attempt to get the Red Ryder BB air gun for Christmas.
Who should watch
People who believed or have kids who celebrate Christmas.
Thoughts
I thought it was nice and quirky. The title might be a misnomer, because the film felt like a collection of short anecdotes about childhood life in 1940's suburbia and the author's family.
Even though the stories had an small-scaled, 'slice of life' vibe to it, there were quite a few memorable and hilarious scenes. The first scenes that come to mind would be the infamous tongue on the frozen flagpole scene, and when Ralphie says 'fudge!', only not that word. My favorite was the herky-jerky scene of mall Santa and the slide.
My childhood and Christmas experience was atypical. So while I enjoyed 'A Christmas Story', I did not feel that the film reached the 'must-see' pantheon. Nevertheless, I could tell that it had a universal appeal to American youths, and I can understand why so many of my friends loved this film.
What I would change
Nothing.
