When I was a kid, my brother and I would have a sleepover every Christmas Eve. Neither of us did a very good job sleeping- we were both too excited for Christmas! So while we dozed and tried to patiently wait for morning, I would always play the A Christmas Story marathon on my TV.
Every time I woke up throughout the night I could tell how long I’d been asleep and how much closer I was to Christmas based on what part of the movie was on- and admittedly sometimes I didn’t go right back to bed because I wanted to watch more of the movie!
Clearly, the original A Christmas Story means a lot to me- it’s one of the biggest memories I have from Christmases growing up. So when I heard that A Christmas Story Christmas was coming out I have to admit that I was both excited and a little bit nervous!
Would the sequel live up to the original? Would Ralphie as a dad be what I expected, or would he feel like a totally different person? And what are all of the other characters up to?
Well I am happy to report that the new movie, A Christmas Story Christmas, truly delivers. It’s heartwarming, witty, and a whole lot nostalgic. It’s also a little sad, and deals with navigating grief during the holidays. It has something for everyone- and yes, it’s appropriate for the kiddos {with a few light curse words notwithstanding}.
Do you need to watch A Christmas Story to watch A Christmas Story Christmas?
Not really- the movie is good enough to stand up on it’s own for sure. But there are SO many amazing tie-ins, call-backs and cameos that mean so much more if you are a fan of the original.
There are a lot of things you’ll understand directly, and some things you might not catch- there are dozens of Easter eggs. Stay tuned during the credits- you’ll see a bunch of side-by-side shots that were callbacks to the original- I’m betting you miss some of them during the movie!
Is the original A Christmas Story cast in the new movie?
Most of the cast of the original came back with a couple of exceptions.
Ralphie’s Dad {“The Old Man Parker”} was played by Darren McGavin, who sadly passed away in 2006. He was not recast, as the movie’s storyline has to do with the family reconciling losing him just a few short days before Christmas.
Ralphie’s mother was recast, with Julie Hagerty taking over for Melinda Dillon.
I don’t want to ruin every cameo for you, but suffice it to say that Ralph and his friends are all grown up. The movie does a great job of showing Ralphie’s memories of his friends and acquaintances so it kind of shows some “then and now” comparisons right in the movie.
What is A Christmas Story Christmas about?
Ralphie is all grown up in this sequel to the annual holiday favorite in which he must deal with Christmas and all that comes with it, this time as a dad. Peter Billingsley returns to the role that has made kids of all ages anticipate Christmas morning like no other.
Watch the trailer:
Is A Christmas Story Christmas worth watching?
Hands down, yes. If you haven’t seen the original I do recommend watching that first just so you can fully get every reference, but if you don’t want to you don’t have to. But whether you’ve seen the first one a million times like I have or you have never seen it before, this movie is worth a watch this holiday season.
It touches on so many things that we all deal with as people, as parents, and as adults- from frivolous things like dealing with crowds at the mall to big things like losing a parent, and so many other things in between. From trying to figure out when it’s time to give up on your dream to struggling to get the kids what they want for Christmas, there are so many relatable moments for anyone in the movie.
Interview with Peter Billingsley {Ralphie}
I recently had the opportunity to interview Peter Billingsley, who plays Ralphie in A Christmas Story and A Christmas Story Christmas. Watch the video below to see what he had to say about stepping back onto Cleveland Street!
A Christmas Story Christmas is streaming now, exclusively on HBO Max.
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