A Christmas Story Poll

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

It's that time of year again, when TBS runs "24 Hours of A Christmas Story."

I've always had a warm place in my heart for this classic, so I love it. I also like that I can go anywhere and flick the on TBS and be able to catch it. However, I don't fault anyone for thinking it's not the greatest thing ever. Just curious what my fellow badmoviephiles think.

An instant classic! 

And, the way that the adult Ralphie narrates the story in such a reverent and fond manner for his childhood experiences, is just pure comedy gold.  It makes the story.

It's that very narration that makes the story even funnier than it is, while reminding the viewer of their own youth and perhaps, some of their own great capers from that bygone time of childhood.

Any remake of this movie would be one of the Holy Grails of sacrilege in Hollywood.

[Couchtr26]

I enjoy and usually watch it at least once around this time of year. 

[Hammock Rider]

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

I enjoy and usually watch it at least once around this time of year. 

Interestingly, I was one of the kids who DID get a Daisy Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas when I was a kid.  My father and I spent the day plinking away old cans and bottles on the fence, as well as the rest of the holiday when weather permitted.

We looked just like Johnny Unitas and his son Ken, on the back of the old 70's era comic books in their little ad for Daisy BB Guns, lol  From what I hear, the old Red Ryder models are somewhat of a collector's item nowadays.

[trekgeezer]

anyone who doesn't like it if  a poo-poo head!

[Rev. Powell]

Hard to believe this sweet, funny holiday masterpiece was directed by the same guy who directed PORKY'S I & II and BABY GENIUSES I & II. 

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

Hard to believe this sweet, funny holiday masterpiece was directed by the same guy who directed PORKY'S I & II and BABY GENIUSES I & II. 

Bob Clark, you mean? 

If that's who you're referring to, let us also not forget that he taught us that Children Shouldn't Play With Dead Things and told us to have a Black Christmas.

And yeah it's hard for me to believe too.

[Mr. DS]

To elaborate on my love of this film, it truly takes you back to a kid's frame of mind at this time of year.  Everything, although minor to an adult, is a major catastrophe and/or concern to Ralphie in this film.  Is he getting his BB gun for Xmas?  Is he going to survive another encounter with the school bully?  What does Little Orphan Annie want to tell him with a decoder ring?  The older man narration really hits these plot points out of the park.  He puts the inner voice into Ralphie but very subtly (and brilliantly might I add)  reveals this silliness of Ralphie's dilemmas.

Although remembered for it's comedic moments, it is often forgotten for what I think are two of the most touching moments in movie history.  The first one being Ralphie's mom getting him off the hook with his father after his big fight.   I can recall many times where I did something bad as a kid waiting on pins and needles for my father to get home to whip my @ss.  The fact Ralphie's mom responded to this by diffusing the situation is a beautiful moment in film history.  And of course Ralphie ending up with the big gift he wanted all season long.  Of course we all know his dad got it for him.  His father, up until this point, kind of comes off as preoccupied with fighting heaters, Oldsmobiles and celebrating winning a leg lamp.  However, he reveals how he was paying attention to Ralphie all the while which is inspiring.

This kind of movie I often consider a "moment of time" flick.  Its where the dialog and characters outshine the plot.  Someitmes it works, sometimes it doesn't  however in this film it shines. 

[Raffine]

The fact Ralphie's mom responded to this by diffusing the situation is a beautiful moment in film history.

Another great moment for Melinda Dillon is when after washing Ralphie's mouth out with soap (Life Bouy! Yeech!) she gives herself a taste of the same medicine.

[Mr. DS]

The fact Ralphie's mom responded to this by diffusing the situation is a beautiful moment in film history.

Another great moment for Melinda Dillon is when after washing Ralphie's mouth out with soap (Life Bouy! Yeech!) she gives herself a taste of the same medicine.

Ha!  The whole "soap poisoning" fantasy that follows is probably one of my top 3 most hilarious moments in the film.

[Umaril The Unfeathered]

The fact Ralphie's mom responded to this by diffusing the situation is a beautiful moment in film history.

Another great moment for Melinda Dillon is when after washing Ralphie's mouth out with soap (Life Bouy! Yeech!) she gives herself a taste of the same medicine.

I got the treatment when I was around 6 or so...I said the same dreaded F word, and my mom went into action.  She got on top of me after pinning me to the floor, and said "what did you say?"

And me, the defiant little fu*ker I was, said it again. She took a bar of a certain yellow soap and forced it in my mouth after pinching my nose to cut of fmy air.

She rubbed it against my teeth and the flakes hit the back of my throat and I thought I would die.  And to add insult to injury, she said to me, "now, aren't you glad I used Dial?"  Now that was fun....NOT.

So yes while this is just a movie, the soap part brngs home the memories for me in a big way 

[Raffine]

The fact Ralphie's mom responded to this by diffusing the situation is a beautiful moment in film history.

Another great moment for Melinda Dillon is when after washing Ralphie's mouth out with soap (Life Bouy! Yeech!) she gives herself a taste of the same medicine.

Ha!  The whole "soap poisoning" fantasy that follows is probably one of my top 3 most hilarious moments in the film.

Another great 'smaller' moment is Swartz's mom's voice over the phone and her reactions to the news of the "F-word".

[Mr. DS]

The fact Ralphie's mom responded to this by diffusing the situation is a beautiful moment in film history.

Another great moment for Melinda Dillon is when after washing Ralphie's mouth out with soap (Life Bouy! Yeech!) she gives herself a taste of the same medicine.

Ha!  The whole "soap poisoning" fantasy that follows is probably one of my top 3 most hilarious moments in the film.

Another great 'smaller' moment is Swartz's mom's voice over the phone and her reactions to the news of the "F-word".

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT......WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT...."      I can actually picture her strangling him because he says little after he says "what did I do mom". 

[HappyGilmore]

I literally watch the ENTIRE 24 hour span of it every year.

Despite having the dvd.

Great movie.  I hate Christmas but LOVE the movie.  The father is hilarious in it.

[akiratubo]

I've never been able to watch the whole thing.  It's not even remotely funny or heartwarming.