This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 11th, 2007 at 3:25 pm and is filed under A, Christmas Movies, Comedy, Family. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Director: Bob Clark
Starring: Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, Darren McGavin, Ian Petrella, Scott Schwartz
Director Bob Clark, whose career both before and after this film, consisted of forgettable TV work and movies that we try to forget, somehow put it all together, like a Christmas miracle of his own, when he took this Jean Shepard semi-autobiographical screenplay (Shepard also wrote the novel and provided the film‘s narration) and turned it into a Christmas classic. The wonderful story, brimming with gentle authentic, humor and a mood that is sure to remind viewers of their own Christmas memories, combines with excellent acting and appealing Wonder Years/Stand By Me narration to make this one of the best Christmas movies of all time.
The year is 1940, and Peter Billingsley is Ralphie Parker, a nine year old with a desperate Christmas wish for a Red Rider 200 Shot Range Model Air Rifle. His mother (Melinda Dillon) quickly dismisses her son’s request to begin weapon training with the curt response of mothers everywhere; “You’ll put your eye out”. Ralphie doesn’t give up, though and tries to come up with a plan that will result in his cherished dream appearing under the Christmas tree. What follows is some amusing writing, a ballet of bullying, a long-legged lamp and the most elaborate winter scene of a tongue-metal meeting that i have ever seen. The whole thing is pretty entertaining.
This film is all over television every December, so if you have managed to miss it all these years, it won’t be hard to find it. All of your channel surfing efforts will be rewarded with a charming seasonal flick that will guarantee that you have something to discuss at your next boring Christmas party.
