Directed By Clay Kaytis

Starring – Peter Billingsley, Erinn Hayes, River Drosche

The Plot – Follows the now-adult Ralphie (Billingsley) as he returns to the house on Cleveland Street to give his kids a magical Christmas like the one he had as a child, reconnecting with childhood friends, and reconciling with the passing of his Old Man.

Rated PG for adult language and some rude material/behavior

A Christmas Story Christmas | Official Trailer | HBO Max – YouTube

POSITIVES

“A Christmas Story Christmas” isn’t the first sequel of this franchise to decorate its cherished original, but it is the first that feels like it’s offering something legitimately substantial and original in the justification of its conception. For starters, it’s anything but a carbon copy of the first film, this time fleshing out a story and corresponding conflict full of the same meaning and sentimentality of its original, but this time from the parental perspective of Ralphie’s dreaded disposition to not only pick up the pieces from his fallen father, but also orchestrate a legendary Christmas for his children in the same cherished memories that he reflects upon with nostalgia. Because of such, the material itself lends itself to many insightful observations, this time from the other side of the tracks, which not only makes this feel like an entirely different movie, but one that expands upon the knowledge and experiences of our protagonist that instills with him a newfound respect for the difficulties of the holiday season. Besides this, in the same manner as its 83′ original depicting the 40’s, this one is a period piece emulating the essence of the 70’s in ways that permeate effortlessly, despite its obvious budgetary hinderances. Aside from the fashions and interior designs, the evolution of the town of Hohman feels very lived-in and full of economical consciousness, with a lower-class emphasis on the consistency of the setting that feels more apparent through a parental captivity than it did in viewing it as a child. Equally respectable are the shadow-swallowing transitions that offer a reflective homage to the presentation of the original, and here maintain the drive and consistency of the pacing that keeps the story moving throughout 93 minutes of well-maintained entertainment value. Likewise, the decision to assemble as much of the original ensemble as possible is much appreciated, especially in the depths of Billingsley’s Ralphie and R.D Robb’s Schwartz, who each envelope their respective roles seamlessly with the same subtleties and nuance that feel like grown up representations of their once chaotic childhoods, instead of parodies. Billingsley’s overhead narration here wonderfully takes the mantle from Jean Shepherd in ways that audibly echo the tone and consistency of the late great voice actor, but never in ways that feel like an impression of his warming exuberance, instead maintaining a natural charm and longing sentimentality that actually enhance the scenes instead of audibly echo them. Likewise, the addition of Julie Haggerty as Mrs Parker is one that faithfully channels the legendary work of Melinda Dillon, but this time with a tenderness and doubling down of humor that works tremendously well with the integrity of the character, all the while echoing the elevating dependency on alcoholic drinks that have since worked hand in hand with the holiday season.

NEGATIVES

While there are more than enough pleasantries to recommend this film as a free watch on HBO Max, the unfortunate reality is that everything that I feared from an underwhelming trailer persists in the execution of the film. For starters, this film’s humor can’t hold a candle to the work of the original. Most of this reason is in the tonal consistency, with the original transcribing a mature essence to the gags and jokes, but here the material feeling so overtly hokey and almost cartoonish with its deliveries. To be fair, there were sometimes when I did laugh, but a majority of the instances fall directly flat on the growing number of returns that come back unfulfilled, leaving this a difficult watch to remain captivated, despite much of its pacing lending itself to those punch line a minute formula that often drive these kinds of movies. Likewise, the film is overflowing with sequelitis, in that it not only revisits scenes and familiarities from the original film in ways that are completely unnecessary to such a dedicated fanbase, but also momentarily halts the progression of this original narrative to deliver whole scenes or overhead lines of dialogue as a shameless wink and nod to the fanbase. In this aspect, the film isn’t so much a sequel as it is a descendent of its superior movie, often embarking on comfort food in nostalgia to cleanse its pallet once the aforementioned new material doesn’t meet its mark, leading to a film that shamelessly uses the first film as a crutch to undercut the growth of its potential in evading the tremendously imposing shadow of its original. Finally, while the film’s set designs do a mostly remarkable job of overcoming budgetary hinderances, the cinematography for the film alludes the cinematic transformation with clarity that colludes the sentiment. Because this is a film that is supposed to take place in the 70’s, a reflective canvas of such, complete with cigarette burns and weathered color correction, could’ve done wonders for the integrity of its capture, but instead feels relegated to attack the visual circumference in a manner that feels like a nostalgic Super Bowl commercial, instead of a consistent scope for a particular place in time.

OVERALL
Nearly forty years after its iconic predecessor solidified its own legacy, “A Christmas Story Christmas” delivers just enough yuletide warmth and heartfelt sentiment to keep it free from the depths of other inferior sequels failing to inspire just what made the first film a staple of holiday splendor. Though the nostalgia factor overwhelms in the most shamefully pandering kind of smothering, and the material isn’t as effective in generating consistent laughter, the film is nonetheless worthy of its conception, with Ralphie, now a grown adult with kids, treading through his own desire for the perfect Christmas, and like the film, eventually finding it in the familiar faces that remind us of what the season is all about.

My Grade: 6/10 or C+