Review: A Christmas Story Story

Holiday movies are often especially horrible, tired with flat characters forcing appropriate happy endings…sequels to film even more so. I was never such a fan of A Christmas Story set in the 1950’s after seeing it featured on 24-hour marathons so when I saw the original actors had made a sequel shot in Bulgaria, I was skeptical…but a free 7 day trail for HBO+ found me watching it last night with great pleasure and honest emotion.

It is a writers story. Ralphie taking off a year from his job in Chicago to write the great American novel, set in the Christmas season of the early 1970s, waiting for his parents to join his young family when he receives a call that his father has passed away. On arriving back to his childhood home Ralphie finds his mother’s wish is for him to produce the Christmas that year in memory of a holiday his old man so loved…and to write his father’s obituary. Sounds corny and stupid…but, using almost all the original characters, it unfolds as a heartwarming, laugh out loud funny new story of writer’s block and the role of authenticity of emotion in finding success unexpected.

I give it an A+ for newness, honesty, keeping the best of the old film while making this story brand new. Loved it…a must for writters struggling to be published.