A Christmas Story Christmas

Starring: Peter Billingsley, Erinn Hayes, River Drosche, Julianna Layne, Julie Hagerty, Ian Petrella, Scott Schwartz, Zack Ward, R.D. Robb, Ian Porter
Directed by: Clay Kaytis
Rating: PG
Genre: Comedy
2022

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Ralph Parker (Peter Billingsley) returns home to Cleveland Street to give his kids the kind of Christmas he remembered from his youth.

Review:

Tim: I was really excited to get a proper sequel to the Christmas classic, A Christmas Story. 39 years later, we get to check in with Ralphie Parker once again. I think going into this, there was no chance the film would rival the exceptional quality of the original. The big question is whether it would be a worthy sequel or a disappointment. Fortunately, it's the former. A Christmas Story Christmas doesn't get everything right, but it's an entertaining, funny look into Ralphie's adult life. It connects well to the original story while trying to branch out on its own. Clay Kaytis didn't have an easy task bringing this film to life, but it works more often than it doesn't.

I'd only rate A Christmas Story Christmas (what's up with that title?) as a good movie, but I still felt pleased by this. It strikes the right balance of connecting to the original while being funny in its own right. So many comedy sequels just recycle the jokes of the original (Anchorman's sequel, for example) and fail. This movie tells its own jokes and they connect more often than they miss. I can't stress how important this is. It has to be so frightening for the writers, but you have to take some chances. This film does that and it had me laughing at various points. The snowball fight is a perfect example of this- not connected to the original film or its humorous moments, but genuinely funny in its own right. That helps the movie immensely. The film also tries hard to tell a new story about characters we knew from decades ago. I loved the inclusion of the previous cast, but the new additions worked well, too. It felt like life feels- it's never the same that it used to be, but it feels connected. That's a big reason why this movie works.

I love that Peter Billingsley returned to his role of Ralphie. I don't think Billingsley is an exceptionally gifted actor, but he recognized the responsibility on his shoulders and he tackles the role with enthusiasm. His adult Ralphie is exactly the kind of man you'd expect young Ralphie to grow into. I thought Erinn Hayes felt a bit out of place as his wife. I just never quite bought her or their relationship. River Drosche and Julianna Layne are solid as their kids, although they are young and their acting wasn't always great. I thought Julie Hagerty did a good job stepping in as Ralphie's mom. I was sad to hear that Melinda Dillon retired from acting over a decade ago. The movie really needed her return. Hagerty is more than game, though, and she adds greatly to the film. The movie also misses Darren McGavin greatly. McGavin sadly passed away in 2006, but I thought the film did a beautiful job of centering the story around this. McGavin's legacy looms large in this world. It was nice to see Scott Schwartz, R.D. Robb, and Zack Ward return to their roles, as well. They all have small supporting roles, but it was wonderful to reconnect with them. It was great seeing Ian Petrella as well. They aren't the strongest group of actors, but it lent some authenticity to the film. They each try their best in their roles.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed the movie overall. Yes, some of this is due to the nostalgia factor, but this is a genuinely funny movie on its own. There's solid jokes throughout the film and a few truly hilarious scenes. The plot has a few unexpected twists, even if the broad story is fairly predictable. The movie is messy, like most family get-togethers are. It also works hard to tug at the heartstrings and to tell a story that feels authentic and human. Those are all strengths of the film.

Now, while I enjoyed A Christmas Story Christmas, it's clearly not in the same ballpark of the original. It relies on nostalgia for its success, it doesn't build anything especially new. There's nothing classic about this film. And, while it might have some rewatchability to it, it pales in comparison to the original. No one will be begging to watch this movie come next Christmas. It's a good movie, but it's never great. And, that's probably okay. Sure, I'd have loved for this to become a new Christmas classic, but how likely is it that lightning would strike twice? I think the expectations for this film needed to be lower. It wasn't to reach the heights of the original, but to not tarnish the original's legacy. And, I believe this film absolutely succeeds at that.

So, you have to celebrate A Christmas Story Christmas. It's a good film- it's entertaining, funny, and heartfelt. It allows us a chance to see these wonderful characters again and mostly enjoy our time with them. That's not quite a Christmas miracle, but a success story nonetheless.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: A Christmas Story, It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, Spirited