 |
Year
: 1983
Director:
Bob Clark
Starring:
Darren McGavin, Melinda Dillon,
Peter Billingsley. |
A Christmas Story
Here
it is the the ultimate film guaranteed to may you
feel Christmassy - A Christmas
Story. What
else could it have been other than a Christmas
Story for making you feel Christmassy (although Its
A Wonderful Life pushes it close).
The
film itself is a charming and sentimental tale
set in the early 1940's and centres around Ralphie,
a young boy agonising about whether he will get
a BB Gun for Christmas. Not just any old BB Gun
- a
Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-Shot, Range Model Air Rifle
(you know the one with the compass in the stock - so you when you shoot something
you can check its relative bearing to where you
are standing I suppose). But despite the longing,
nobody seems to share his enthusiasm for Ralphie
getting the gun - indeed they all say the same
phrase "You'll shoot your eye out with that thing".
Deterred but ever hopeful, Ralphie carries on wishing
his time away hoping that on Christmas Day his
dreams will come true. Perhaps a trip to see Santa
would help?
A
Christmas Story really does have a certain air
of magic about it. It reminds me very much of the
TV series The Wonder Years, as we get
the action narrated by the young boy once he is
grown up and looking back on this part of his younger
life. Where the film really excels is it's skill
in managing to encompass all the hopes and dreams
of a child's Christmas and then mixing this with
a bittersweet look at a child's take on his family
and surroundings.
As
a film it was never going to win awards for being
the best made film in cinema history, or for the
best writing or acting, but that really isn't the
point. What the film does capture (better than
any other) is the magic of Christmas (which really
that is the point after all). This is no mean feat
in itself. It is an undeniably
absolutely charming film, and at this time of year,
we can all appreciate the sentimentality in this
universal story. Aaah.
A
Christmas Story is
a wonderful film, and a perfect choice
for our Christmas
movies guide (USA edition) and sits proud on top
of the (Christmas) tree in place of honour at December
24th.
We
hope you enjoyed our guide - have a very Merry
Christmas.
Buy
this film and more from our Christmas
DVD store in association with Amazon.com