"A Christmas Story", I don't get it, Explain why this is a "Classic"?

Megamicrofish

Megamicrofish

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OK, I watched this a couple of years ago, Didn't enjoy it but it was on again this morning and nope, I still didn't get it, I tried!

I love a classic Christmas film, "It's a wonderful Life", "Miracle on 34th Street", "Die Hard" but to me, This seems like one of those terrible "Hallmark" TV movies

Perhaps it's because I'm British?
 
I personally enjoy it because it highlights, what I view, as a more stereotypical American family during the holidays, and not the “perfect” families you see in other holiday films. A cursing father, the mother who is holding everything together behind the scenes, the annoying little brother, the bully at school... A lot of it just reasonates very closely with me.

But I think the best part is the overarching story of a boy who wants a very specific toy for Christmas. He explores every avenue to make sure it happens...his mother, Santa Claus. And in the end, it’s his dad who gives him the “greatest gift.”

Sean
 
I agree it's not a very good movie at all.

I think that movie came out when a lot of folks were just young enough to think it was a subversively funny movie. The basic premise is fine and looks good on paper but the execution is just predictable and amateurish.

For me it's not a "classic" at all.
 
"A Christmas Story" is an 80's movie about Christmas in the 40s... but could literally be set at any decade, and for me that's it's problem. It's a generic movie set through the rose tinted goggles of a man looking back on his childhood. Of course, then, Mall Santa is gonna be creepy (what kid didn't think the mall Santa was creepy?), and there's going to be shenanigans that are funny in hindsight, but if you look at it the jokes are really just lame, and land like a drunk man with a broken leg. They're just awful. I mean, really, who thought the idea of a leg lamp would be funny? It's a tacky decoration. The movie as a whole evokes nothing of the 1940s. I've watched the movie several times now, and it's just lame to me. Bad jokes, no spirit, nothing. It's a perfect 1980s style ode to commercialism with it's arc of the kid wanting a BB gun for Christmas. In "It's a Wonderful Life", the family ain't perfect either. In fact, the family is downright about to fall apart of George Bailey storms out into a cold Christmas Eve night after his **** for brains uncle loses all their money. THAT'S relatable. Couples fight. Their kids are annoying, sometimes. Families have dumb uncles who are always losing things. Old houses are drafty. Teachers send kids home when they've got a cold. That's all relatable. There's nothing in "A Christmas Story" that's relatable to me. Sure, I had a dad who swears, who doesn't? Sure, my Dad got me a BB gun for Christmas, what little boy in America hasn't received one? Sure, I had a bully at school, who hasn't? But my childhood wasn't filled my my Dad getting goofy "prizes" from work. Or embarrassing onesie pajamas. I've never had to go to a Chinese restaurant because the dog ate the Christmas turkey. Nothing about the character dynamic is relatable for me. My parents fought when I was a kid, that's why "It's a Wonderful Life" is relatable. I'm sure I annoyed the **** out of my parents. That's why "It's a Wonderful Life" is relatable to me. My Dad has stormed out of the house in a huff. That's why "It's a Wonderful Life" is relatable to me. My teachers have sent me home without a coat. That's why "It's a Wonderful Life" is relatable to me. In "A Christmas Story" they're having turkey for dinner... I've never had turkey for Christmas. My parents always have made a ham Christmas Eve, and then raviolis and lasagna for Christmas.
 
It just doesn't work for me. Peter Billingsley's performance (or his direction), and ESPECIALLY the narration, is WAY too precious. It is DROWNING in forced nostalgia and contrived saccharine golly-gee.

I am not so cynical as to be immune to wistful looks back, but this is way, way too on the nose.
 
I watched this as a kid when it came out & I’ve never liked this film. I do know people who really do. My original beef was with the evil santa & elves and the boot scene, and the Dad seemingly being a d—-. So after reading this thread, I just pulled it up on on-demand and now that I am much older I guess I sympathize with the dad and his basic needs. I also can sympathize with the Santa and Elves wanting to go home exactly at 9pm.

What I absolutely still cannot stand however is every sound being seemingly being screeched out. It is a total ear assault.

That said, I think I like it now, but have no need to see it again.
 
I've always been a big fan of Jean Shepherd. And while ACS is OK IMO, Shepherds original radio monologues (and the short stories he cobbled together from them) are harsher and more poignant. Other movie versions of his stories (Ollie Hopnoodles Haven of Bliss for example) are also OK adaptations of Shepherd stuff, but adapting them to movies means the his sardonic edges be smoothed for a larger, more inclusive, less discriminating audience.

I think the worst thing about Xmas Story is that it oozes nostalgia. Jean Shepherd hated nostalgia. Most of his stuff -- memoir-stories and just plain subject monologues -- deliberately deflate nostalgia and the "rosiness" of looking back. Many of his stories are pretty scathing about "oh wasn't childhood/growing up/the past just wonderful" and show, no it really sucked, we were all mislead or lied to but never knew it -- and we only remember the good stuff.

And never forget what happened to the Jean Shepherds "old man" in REAL LIFE. Pretty harsh. Shepherd's stuff was always pretty anti-nostalgia.
 
CT1138 said:
"A Christmas Story" is an 80's movie about Christmas in the 40s... but could literally be set at any decade, and for me that's it's problem. It's a generic movie set through the rose tinted goggles of a man looking back on his childhood. Of course, then, Mall Santa is gonna be creepy (what kid didn't think the mall Santa was creepy?), and there's going to be shenanigans that are funny in hindsight, but if you look at it the jokes are really just lame, and land like a drunk man with a broken leg. They're just awful. I mean, really, who thought the idea of a leg lamp would be funny? It's a tacky decoration. The movie as a whole evokes nothing of the 1940s. I've watched the movie several times now, and it's just lame to me. Bad jokes, no spirit, nothing. It's a perfect 1980s style ode to commercialism with it's arc of the kid wanting a BB gun for Christmas. In "It's a Wonderful Life", the family ain't perfect either. In fact, the family is downright about to fall apart of George Bailey storms out into a cold Christmas Eve night after his **** for brains uncle loses all their money. THAT'S relatable. Couples fight. Their kids are annoying, sometimes. Families have dumb uncles who are always losing things. Old houses are drafty. Teachers send kids home when they've got a cold. That's all relatable. There's nothing in "A Christmas Story" that's relatable to me. Sure, I had a dad who swears, who doesn't? Sure, my Dad got me a BB gun for Christmas, what little boy in America hasn't received one? Sure, I had a bully at school, who hasn't? But my childhood wasn't filled my my Dad getting goofy "prizes" from work. Or embarrassing onesie pajamas. I've never had to go to a Chinese restaurant because the dog ate the Christmas turkey. Nothing about the character dynamic is relatable for me. My parents fought when I was a kid, that's why "It's a Wonderful Life" is relatable. I'm sure I annoyed the **** out of my parents. That's why "It's a Wonderful Life" is relatable to me. My Dad has stormed out of the house in a huff. That's why "It's a Wonderful Life" is relatable to me. My teachers have sent me home without a coat. That's why "It's a Wonderful Life" is relatable to me. In "A Christmas Story" they're having turkey for dinner... I've never had turkey for Christmas. My parents always have made a ham Christmas Eve, and then raviolis and lasagna for Christmas.
Click to expand...

I agree a lot of the stuff in the film was sanitized and made more palatable. ACS was cobbled together from about a dozen Shepherd stories. The "turkey story" was one from his original monologue about a Easter HAM, which the Bumpus hounds attacked and hailed off. They had to go out to eat on easter sunday.

The Leg lamp incident was also real. IIRC It was a contest prize his dad won from the soft drink Nehi (nehi - knee-high, a product placement prize) but focused on the HUGE fight/argument his parents had about that damned lamp and how they gradually coolled off let it pass because, well, you let it pass, you're married, let it go.

The BB gun story was prompted by Shep's reading an article about how kids' toys are too violent these days, and we need to return to simpler, less violent toys like the "good old days". Shep thought that was hogwash.
 
Birdie said:
It's largely unknown in the UK. We like to watch The Great Escape at Christmas :D
Click to expand...

That’s awesome. I appreciate any excuse to watch that film.

I feel the US culturally seems to have lost an appreciation of classic films - films that deserve reverence. The majority of folks in their 20’s and 30’s have no interest in older films at all. As a result many seem too easily impressed by modern films that, no doubt, will be forgotten next year. A film like The Great Escape (or Lawrence of Arabia, or The Good The Bad and the Ugly, or Casablanca etc.) is loved by scattered individuals in the US but is not celebrated as part of our existing cultural landscape. When I lived in the UK in the 1990’s it struck me that, say, 2001: A Space Odyssey would be broadcast in letterbox uncut in prime time and was a television event. I don’t know if that’s still the case ... is it? That’s how things used to be in the US in the 1970’s but now, in order to watch the classics, you’d pretty much have to take the initiative to look for these movies or discover them on “classic channels” which carry the stigma of being “old.” Classics aren’t just any “old” movies - they are key films that’s really eternally relevant.

But back to the subject - Christmas Story isn’t a classic.
 
Is too a classic! What's relatable is subjective, we never had turkey for Christmas either but some do. And while we never had the dog eat our holiday meal, we did once have the dog pull the Thanksgiving turkey off the table onto the floor. A Christmas Story was certainly relevant to my family members who lived through the 40s, but I also appreciate the humor, I love it.
 
Speaking of great escapes; we would go out for Chinese on Christmas to an amazing place called Lotus Garden. Nothing was open, it was peaceful and tasty. As I get older and experience “the magic of Christmas” die during remote family gift exchanges; I see the wisdom in a neutral Chinese restaurant contingency plan. Unfortunately Lotus Garden moved on, so I need to find a replacement.
 
dascoyne said:
When I lived in the UK in the 1990’s it struck me that, say, 2001: A Space Odyssey would be broadcast in letterbox uncut in prime time and was a television event. I don’t know if that’s still the case ... is it?.
Click to expand...

Not so much, sadly. We still have channels that have film seasons of classic movies and genres (BBC2, Film 4 etc) but I think the onset of Netflix and other streaming services has made it difficult to promote anything as 'special'. The focus on availability over presentation and quality seems to makes it hard for terrestrial TV to compete and appear relevant. I've noticed an increasing intolerance for anything without ADD pacing over character development and story telling wherever you go. Mention it anywhere the young people congregate and you just get called grandad :lol

Perhaps we are becoming our parents....
 
To me, the enjoyment is relative to your age.

I loved "A Christmas Story" when I was a kid. As an adult, I can't make it through the first 1/2 hour no matter how hard I try.

Now, "It's a Wonderful Life"....I didn't care for it as a kid. Now, as an adult, it's easily in my top 10.
 
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