“A Christmas Story” sequel, “A Christmas Story Christmas,” makes its debut for the holiday season, thirty years later.
The iconic fishnet leg lamp is back and ready for viewing on HBO Max. Nearly 30 years later, “A Christmas Story” fans were given the best early Christmas present: a sequel to one of the most iconic movies. “A Christmas Story Christmas” appropriately takes place nearly 30 years after the original.
The original “A Christmas Story” tells the tale of nine-year-old Ralphie’s woeful Christmas, set in 1940s Indiana, dramatically narrated by his adult self. That Christmas, all Ralphie, played by Peter Billinsley, wanted was the Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun, against his mother’s adamant wishes. The movie details the tragedies and power struggles of childhood, when you don’t get the present you want. In the end, everything comes together in a heart warming conclusion, as it is Ralphie’s father who grants his son’s wish and brings home the BB gun.
This movie runs rampant with nostalgia for the previous generations, depicting many hysterical moments that just wouldn’t happen in the 20th century. This relatability of a dramaticized suburban American Christmas is what makes this story so powerful for viewers.
“A Christmas Story Christmas” follows Ralphie as he returns to his childhood home in Indiana for the holiday season, despite a recent loss in the family. In a coming-of-age archetype, Ralphie now must take charge of orchestrating an elaborate and festive Christmas, to combat the sadness of the recent passing. As the movie continues, you slowly witness Ralphie’s rewarding character development–getting into the Christmas spirit in order to plan the best Christmas that his kids could ever have, just as he once had. Overall, he learns the difficult life lesson that not everything comes easily, especially in times of hardship, but that with perseverance one can overcome many challenges.
Both movies depict the rowdy friendship between Ralphie, Flick and Schwartz (played by Scott Schwartz and R.D. Rob respectively), from the times where they were each other’s backbone to the double and triple dog dares. Watching them still act as if they were still nine while they were in their forties made me laugh uncontrollably. That gave me the feeling of a strong brotherhood between them, a strong bond that I had always wanted.
As a big fan of “A Christmas Story,” I was excited to hear that there was going to be a second movie that showed Ralphie as an adult. Seeing many original cast members in the second movie makes me so happy because I grew up watching Ralphie, Flick and Schwartz. While watching, you can see numerous little easter eggs from the first movie that makes the whole experience so much richer.
Both the original and the sequel are packed full of stomach-aching laughs that are sure to brighten up your holiday movie nights. While both give you the best laughs, the second movie pulls on my heart strings. The film brings out the more emotional side of the holiday due to the loss of a family member and showing the way the family tried to cope by making Christmas the best it could be. This shows that even in hardship and loss, one can overcome any challenge and everything will turn out okay in the end.
Growing up my Christmas revolved around sleeping in my parents’ room while watching “A Christmas Story” on repeat, waiting until Christmas morning. Staying up until almost midnight continuously watching this movie was what I grew up on and I will certainly be continuing this tradition while adding “A Christmas Story Christmas” to that experience as well.
By Mikayla Moscatelli
mamoscatelli@vwu.edu
