‘A Christmas Story Christmas’ Review – Holiday Sequel Honors The Legacy Of The Original Classic

Directed By: Clay Kaytis

Starring: Peter Billingsley, Erinn Hayes, R.D. Robb, Scott Schwartz

Plot Summary: Follows the now-adult Ralphie 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 the passing of his Old Man.

There is something so interesting about 1983’s A Christmas Story from a pop culture standpoint. While the movie made a nice chunk of change upon its release, earning over $20 million on a $3.3 million budget, it was not the mega-hit you might have imagined. This would all change when TNT began doing a 24-hour marathon of the movie every Christmas starting in 1997 which continues to this day. Since that time, the movie has gained a huge cult following with a mountain of merch and so many quotable moments for devoted fans. Ignoring the spiritual sequel My Summer Vacation and the awful A Christmas Story 2, director Clay Kaytis attempts to recapture the magic. But, does it work?

For the most part, yes. To be fair, this is a tough act to follow. Even if you think the original film is overplayed, you cannot deny Bob Clark’s film is a masterful balance of sardonic wit mixed with levity, endearing charm and relatability, and sentimentality. Its homespun charms never feel too sickeningly sweet, though it never tries to be too edgy either. Frankly, the only other filmmaker to get this mix just right was John Hughes. It is impressive how Kaytis is able to perfectly capture the original film’s tone and charms but with an added twist.

This time, it’s firmly from adult Ralphie’s perspective. Wisely, they did not just re-cast Darren McGavin’s Old Man Parker character. Instead, they use his death as a way to bring Ralphie back home. This setup is a simple yet ingenious one, and it adds an emotional weight to the piece that doesn’t feel cheap. Having also lost my father, who was also very big on Christmas, I know all too well that this can be such a bittersweet time of year. The movie captures this in a way that feels incredibly real. The movie has a lot of hijinks and fun, yet Kaytis doesn’t undercut the beautiful sadness. It gives its audience the respect that they can handle both aspects without sugarcoating it.

The spirit of McGavin’s Old Man Parker truly does haunt this film. It’s not only a fitting tribute to his character but the actor himself. The legacy characters that return feel extremely well utilized within the narrative. They really do feel like your childhood friends that never left town. It was great to see that Zack Ward returns as Scut Farkus, an especially nice surprise seeing how in the past Ward has not been very happy with how Warner Bros. had been handling merch with his likeness. Kaytis gives Farkus a nice character arc which never feels like it’s out of nowhere. There are also a lot of little details like Ralphie’s military service that are sprinkled throughout the background which helps give the world a real lived-in feeling.

The movie pays fan service to the original by way of callbacks and use of clips. However, even this is done in a way that feels organic to the story. Kaytis certainly shows restraint in this area. When Ralphie finds the top of the infamous leg lamp in the attic, the filmmakers don’t make a big deal about it. This film makes its own standout moments. A highlight of the film is the carolers vs Mother Parker (played by Julie Hagerty) which is fun in both absurd concept and execution. The only complaint is the movie feels like it wades into some filler material that never really pushes the story or its themes along. Even this can easily be let go because it never wrecks the overall pacing.

The ensemble cast really does bring this movie to vivid life. Peter Billingsley returns as Ralphie, and you can sense that he truly loves and understands this character. He brings the same magical charms and endearing qualities that he did as a kid yet with a slightly more cynical adult viewpoint. Erinn Hayes is a nice new addition and brings her own warmth and depth to the mix. R.D. Robb, Scott Schwartz and Zack Ward all return and add a great flavor to this holiday punch. Julie Hagerty takes over the role of Mother Parker, and the character suits her perfectly. 

If you want a prime example of how to do a belated sequel right, you need look no further. A Christmas Story Christmas delivers Clark’s same wry humor, joy and most importantly, its beating heart.

A Christmas Story Christmas is currently streaming on HBO Max, and it is available to own on Digital courtesy of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. 

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZILRPjsaew]