Now I remember what it was I truly hated about this movie ... about 60% of it is devoted to voiceovers, ala The Wonder Years. I truly, utterly, and in all ways DESPISE that. It works in small doses, ala Princess Bride. It worked in The Wonder Years because back then it was the only show to really incorporate it as a regular theme. Plus it was a well written show masterfully targeted at a certain age segment.
But nevermind that for a moment. I wish to point out that this movie is the most blatant peice of rightwing agit-prop that ever surfaced on celluloid. The whole basic story is that a kid wants a gun. A NINE YEAR OLD KID! His mission over the Christmas buildup is to pester his parents for same. He goes so far as to insert propagana into his mom's reading material in order to accomplish this goal. He incites a rucus with a Department Store Santa in order to reiterate his strong pro-gun sentiments. And when its all said and done, he really does shoot his eye out, which is what EVERYONE (save for Dad) has been telling him. And to top it all off, in Ralph's gun-fantasy sequence, who do you think dies first? Mmm Hmm ... the black guy. How stereotypical.
Violence is the theme of the entire movie, of course. On top of Ralph's desiring of a gun, he whomps all over the local bully. A fact which gets glossed over by his parents, nevermind that they expressed outrage when Ralph uttered an F-bomb and blamed one of his friends for teaching him that word. The hypocrisy is rampant in this screed of a film. I'm sure Richard Mellon Scaife is behind this in some form or another. I'll save that witchhunt for someone else, though.
Seriously, though ... this movie is cute, but it blows. That's good enough for prom night, but not a Christmas movie. Maybe its designed to target a younger, far less cynical audience. If it is, then the time period of the movie is a little perplexing. My hunch is that it was designed to make adults reminisce for a more innocent time in their own lives ... apparently so innocent that they NEEDED GUNS! But innocent nevertheless. Its not quite a coming of age movie, cuz Ralphie is only 9. So the movie really gets lost in the middle of a lot of genres. I still think its mediocre as far as movies go. The fact that Peter Billingsly followed on the success of this movie by starring in The Hoboken Chicken Emergency really speaks volumes on the careers this movie wasted.
Since there is an apparent need for a more extensive list of Christmas movies in the hope of playing something better than this (and I'll reserve Its a Wonderful Life) as a pre-weekend charity thing. But that one, clearly, is the far superior frontrunner of Christmas movies. Here's a few ideas for replacements, though:
6 Comments
How about "Christmas Evil"? I mean, the whole premise as to why the main character is so screwed up in that movie really does it for me. Besides, it predates SNDN by 4 years.
Or there's "Santa Claws", which is very similar to a SkinaMax Saturday Night special. This movie is all about the boobs.
And then there's the topper to them all. "Jack Frost". No, not that piece of drek that Michael Keaton was in a few years ago. I'm talking the horror movie by the same name. There's a scene in there that's just about as disturbing as the tree rape scene from "The Evil Dead". Let's just say it involves Shannon Elizabeth, a snowman come to life, and his displaced carrot nose...
I think A Christmas Story is funny. That's how kids act. Yes, there's a lot of hypocrisy, but isn't there always when you butt heads with a parent?
K -
I was 10 times smarter than that kid when I was 9 and I was more than happy with a football! I also don't recall having the voice of a 60 year old serving as my own personal narrator.
U -
See you in hell, my friend.
I can imagine the voiceovers of your life when you actually are 60, Greg. You will wind up mocking yourself and calling your younger self "that dumb little shithead" or something of that nature.
Personally, I'll opt to not relive my "husky boy" years. I swear on many an occasion I would love to go back and kick my own ass...
I agree with Kassi. I like the film. Not enough to watch it the 239 times they will show it on cable this month, but enough to catch it once every year.
Also, just a note here, without a single iota of hyperbole: When I was 7 years old, I resembled Peter Billingsley to an uncanny degree. I will fianlly bring a picture to Webster this evening to validate.
Uber, you are correct to note that I would mock my own younger self in such a setting. I think that would be a funny movie. Almost like Statler & Waldorf come to life ... to pick on themselves.