I assumed this was a Christmas movie because I recorded it at Christmas but I didn't watch it because the familiar title made me think I had seen it. In fact, if I saw a movie with the title, it was another one. Had I seen the correct title, I would have realized it was new to me and watched it then. After all this time, I went ahead and watched hat I thought was going to be a Christmas movie. I quickly realized it wasn't I(though it did have "Hallelujah Chorus"), but it was a good experience anyway.
I don't know that it's necessary to see "A Christmas Story". I've seen two versions. Because I had to get cable when digital TV became a requirement and a dependable signal was no longer a guarantee, I had the channel the movie always airs on, though I wasn't supposed to. Somehow I picked up a signal comparable to the channels that had a poor signal in the days of analog TV, so I had snow. The other version was a TV presentation where adult Ralphie appeared on screen and even interacted with the family.
With all this out of the way, I can say this was a crazy experience and not at all your conventional family movie. In fact, I would say some of the content was naughty. It may have had to be cleaned up for broadcast.
Ralphie is basically a good kid but not too good. He's fun to watch and always having problems.
Ralphie's Dad was more appealing and more friendly to his sons than one might have expected from a movie set in an era where dads were strict and distant. I don't even know what the man did for a living, even if back then fathers were always working. And yet when the situation called for it he could get angry. He certainly was in his first scene.
Ralphie's Mom wasn't quite as warm and caring as one would expect, but she could be both. And one scene late in the movie, related to an incident at a movie theater, was great. I've always liked Mary Steenburgen, even if she was a little edgier than in most of her roles.
Even Randy has his moments. He's an annoying little brother but realistic instead of overly intelligent.
Pulaski the storekeeper is what one might call a Scrooge if this were actually a Christmas movie. You're not supposed to like him and he's not around long, but he's enjoyable briefly.
The overly dedicated tax assessor is another fun character who appears briefly.
And don't forget the gypsy fortune teller. Really good.
The Bumpus family is fun and not really dumb even if they seem kind of ignorant about modern ways. I did like their hillbilly music but would I get annoyed with it if I heard it too much? I did see one of the Newhart Darryl brothers listed in the cast but forgot to look for him. I assume he talked.
The Chicago exposition looked great, especially the fortune teller's shop.
This movie was set at a time when cars looked good. I don't think the year was ever specified but some people were still driving cars that looked like the Prohibition era or Bonnie and Clyde. And yet other cars looked like they were from the 50s.
I think I had a good time.
