8-Bit Christmas

When rating a holiday movie, you have to throw the usual grading tropes out the window. Cinematography, plot and Oscar winning be damned. What makes a great Xmas movie is the ability to weave sentiment into a holiday setting without feeling forced or fake.

This movie does this extremely well. Not only does it integrate the 80s aura but it gives the actors decent material to work with.

The jokes for the most part land. The sight gags are just strong enough that you don't feel stupid for laughing at them.

The plot isn't contrived and simple. No need for "Inception" here folks.

The ending is a chefs kiss to finish off the Xmas feeling one expects in a Xmas movie.

This has been in my rotation for the last 3 holiday seasons, and it will stay there permanently.

An underrated film that deserves to be shared w all generations.

I love the iconic Christmas movies like Home Alone, Elf, the Santa Clause, and even National Lampoon's Christmas vacation. However, this Christmas, I started to get a little tired of seeing the same movies over the last 10-20 years. The problem was, there hasn't been a recent Christmas movie of any quality in the last decade....until now. The movie feels a lot like a current "Christmas Story", but instead of the Red Rider, the lead tells the story of his childhood pursuit of a Nintendo. High quality child actors mixed with a classic, yet current feel. It was cute and wish they would put more out like it.

Thank God it wasn't what I thought it would be: a Jingle All the Way reboot.

Actually, for about the first two-thirds of this, I saw basically a remake of A Christmas Story. Almost beat-by-beat. But, I didn't mind it like I normally would. They made it their own and more importantly, I was laughing out loud quite frequently.

Normally, this is where I'd give you the synopsis, but I just did. This is a retelling of 1983's A Christmas Story and you'll have to replace the sought out Red Ryder BB gun with the sacred OG Nintendo. Also, it's about 40 years after when A Christmas Story was set and narrated about 40 years later, present day.

Again, I didn't mind this version of the story and luckily, they made the last third completely original and 100% touching. I can really see this becoming a classic on its own. It's sweet, funny, nostalgic - WITHOUT it being forced down our throats and, in the end, lessons will be learned.

Highly recommended. This was my first Christmas movie of the 2021 Christmas season and I'm happy it was.

***

Final Thoughts: Oh, boy. I can RELATE. I wanted a Nintendo, or heck ANY game system when I was their age. In fact, *I* WAS their age when this movie takes place. I didn't get one, but I did make a lot of friends who had all the systems. So, compromise.

What an amazing film, brought back so many memories watching this. I was born in 1973 so the 80s was a massive part of my childhood. I fell into computers going through the BBC Micro, Spectrum, Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64 computers and experiencing several more. There's a fashion reference which instantly made me think of the bright fluorescent socks and you'd never wear matching pairs.

There's going to be several parts throughout the film that's going to trigger some great memories for most that watch it who experienced those wonderful years. The music sets the scene in many places and the use of Obsession by Animotion is extra magical for me.

I went in not knowing what to expect with a cast I've never heard of, wondering if I'd be switching it off half way through but was hooked until the end.

This is one of those films that's going to be a classic with the whole family.

Some funny lines regarding today's technology generation and they are all true. Good little actors. Great ending! A bit sentimental but that's the whole point! What's missing from this social media generation and the gamers before them is the sentimentality of life (and a work ethic). It's worth a watch.