The first time I saw A Christmas Story was during the summer after my senior year of high school. It was one of those few films that made me laugh until I was crying and gasping for air. This one works whether it’s Christmas or not because it deals with such a timeless theme: kids want stuff.
I still laugh every time I watch it and since it’s in constant rotation around this time of year, it’s hard not to miss. Sometimes I try to just catch the best parts, but that’s like trying to assemble a best of CD by the Beatles. Can’t be done. Although, I think the whole episode concerning Ralphie’s use of the F-word around his dad (“a master who worked in profanity the way other artists might work in clay”) is a priceless bit as is the image of Ralphie sitting there with a bar of soap in his mouth while he hears his buddy take a beating for his crime over the phone. So I watch it every year. Several times.
The other ones I never miss are How the Grinch Stole Christmas because, let’s face it, the Grinch is cool. And of course, A Charlie Brown Christmas because we all need to be reminded from time to time about the importance of selecting the ugly tree. Besides, the scene in which Linus explains to Charlie Brown what Christmas is all about is just fine filmmaking.
James Brush is a teacher and writer who lives in Austin, TX. He tries to get outside as much as possible.
Happy Christmas to U and thanks for your comments….
I stumbled across those claymation Rudolph stories, and just as my daughter began to get interested, I realized it was an entirely different story with an evil bird instead of an abominable snowman. Hopefully the Grinch and Chuck haven’t changed (at least, not any more than they’re supposed to each year).
Here is a suggestion for a new Christmas movie released last year. “The Happy Elf” is an animated story that follows an elf trying to bring Christmas to a sad town. Check it out.