I decided to add yet one more streaming service to my monthly bills (at least temporarily), subscribed to HBO MAX, and watched A CHRISTMAS STORY CHRISTMAS the other night.
As a fan of movies and protective of the original holiday classic. For this reason I’ve never watched MY SUMMER STORY or A CHRISTMAS STORY 2.
I went into this legacy sequel with a fair amount of trepidation.
Yet, with so many people returning from the original cast, I gave A CHRISTMAS STORY CHRISTMAS a chance. I’m happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised.
There was something sweet and touching about this new movie that makes it work.
Yes it’s full of call backs and nostalgia from A CHRISTMAS STORY. Wouldn’t we be upset if it didn’t? Yet it is its own story on its own.
More importantly, this new movie respects the source material and though Ralph Parker is now a grown man, a husband and father in his own right, he remains an optimistic as well fatalistic day dreamer, to our comedic benefit.
Ralph’s adult day dreams are as much fun to watch as the ones he had in his childhood.
And breaking with Hollywood trends of emasculating male protagonists and making dads looks like bumbling idiots, this doesn’t happen in this movie.
In fact, one of the most touching scenes is after disappointing his son, Ralphie takes him to Flick’s bar to help his spirits recover by helping him feel like a man.
The only real disappointment in this movie is the fact that Melinda Dillon did not return to play Mrs. Parker.
But she retired from acting some years ago and Julie Hagerty fills the part well, even if not the same way Melinda Dillon did.
If you’re a fan of A CHRISTMAS STORY, should you watch A CHRISTMAS STORY CHRISTMAS?
It’s totally up to you.
Not much will be added to your appreciation of the original, nor will you hate the fact that they revisited the characters in this one.
I may or may not watch this new movie again.
It’s a movie made to be streamed, not experienced in a theater. I’m glad I watched it. And I’m glad those responsible for this understood why people love A CHRISTMAS STORY so much — and didn’t try to destroy that.
In the end, A CHRISTMAS STORY CHRISTMAS has heart. It doesn’t necessarily have the same movie magic of A CHRISTMAS STORY, but then again how could it?
Tap this link to see my complete list of Christmas movie recommendations.