Number 218 on the top 1000 films of all time is the Christmas comedy film 'A Christmas Story.'
Told through a series of vignettes, 'A Christmas Story' follows a day in the life of nine-year-old Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley.) It is narrated by his adult self, voiced by Jean Shepherd, looking back on his childhood. All he wants for Christmas is a special air rifle. Meanwhile, he has to fend off school bullies and his father is locked in an eternal battle with the family furnace.
As well as earning a spot on the top 1000 films of all time, 'A Christmas Story,' is also regarded as a holiday classic. I'm not sure it deserves either honour. it isn't necessarily a bad film, but I don't think it is one of the 1000 best of all time. It is entertaining enough - there are a few great gags, the department store Father Christmas is one that comes to mind - their Father Christmas evidently hates children and hates it more when they sit on his lap and asks for presents. This was hilarious, but these type of funny gags were few and far between.
A Christmas Story is also paced very slowly. It takes a long time to get going. We're immediately introduced to our MC and told about his desire for his air rifle. And I was thinking, is that it? Is this the whole film? Also a 9-year-old kid wanting a gun for Christmas is the most American thing ever. No wonder you have 6-year-olds shooting their teachers, but I digress.
Even when things did get going, the film remained slow. Rather than speeding along it hobbled from one cheesy, over-the-top joke to another. And when Ralphie was on-screen with all his nine-year-old friends, it became a hubbub of kids screaming over each other. That made things very difficult to follow.
For what it was, it was an entertaining and watchable film. But certainly not one of the best 1000 of all time.
It was ok. Some funny scenes, especially a child hating Father Christmas. And the maniacal father was quite amusing. But I wouldn't want to see it again.
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