The reveal at the end is quite good, tying things back to the original and, truly, the original(with its amazing prose) was a masterpiece compared to this one.
A Christmas Story Christmas is a 2022 American Christmas comedy film directed by Clay Kaytis from a script he co-wrote with Nick Schenk, from an original story co-written by Schenk and Peter Billingsley; it is a legacy sequel to A Christmas Story (1983). Billingsley reprises his role as Ralphie Parker alongside Ian Petrella, Scott Schwartz, R. D. Robb, Zack Ward, Yano Anaya, Erinn Hayes, River Drosche, and Julianna Layne.
A Christmas Story Christmas (2022, dir. Clay Kaytis) - review by Rookie-Critic
I'm not going to lie, A Christmas Story Christmas had me worried at first. It already had some tall shoes to fill in following up what has always been my favorite Christmas movie, A Christmas Story (a lot of that is probably fueled by nostalgia, but I don't care it brings me so much joy every Christmas). I watched it on Christmas day with my family (most of whom had already seen it), and for the first 20 minutes of the film the vibe felt off. I can't put my finger on it, but it didn't seem like what the sequel to A Christmas Story should be. Peter Billingsley was there, and he was for sure acting like Ralphie, but it wasn't clicking for me. That was, until they brought in Flick and Schwartz (Ralphie's two best friends from the original film). After that it was like a switch flipped. I was laughing almost the entire time, and when I wasn't I was at least grinning. The whole experience made a complete 180 from where I had started the film at.
I want to really take a moment to applaud this movie for knowing the difference between homage and unoriginal retreading. A Christmas Story Christmas could have easily slid by on taking the events of the original and copy/pasting them into the events of this movie, and while there are moments that are similar in the sense that the same thing is occurring (bargaining for the Christmas tree, children getting bullied by the neighborhood menaces, a "triple-dog dare" situation), it's always either flipped on its head or framed in a way that gives it new relevance. The film adds in a handful of its own, original gags as well, and adds some welcome new pieces of Parker family Christmas lore (their attitude towards carolers being chief among them). All the returning characters are played expertly by their original actors, with the exception of Mrs. Parker, who is being played by Julie Hagerty (who you might know from Airplane) instead of Melinda Dillon this time around. Hagerty does a pretty good job of stepping into Dillon's shoes, and the change is barely felt at all. The main new additions to the cast, Ralphie's wife, Sandy (played by Erinn Hayes), and children Mark & Julie, don't quite fit right in with the eclectic cast of characters surrounding them, but the film does this intentionally and uses it as a further vehicle for humor. Hayes plays a great "fish out of water" character among the residents of Hohman, Indiana, and deserves just as much praise as the legacy cast members do for her performance.
Outside of the film's humor, there's a surprising amount of great emotional moments, as well. I found myself on the verge of tears multiple times and even allowing a full cry during a particularly emotional scene towards the end of the film. The movie pays massive homage to the late Darren McGavin, who played the father in the original film (or as he is referred to in both the original and this one, The Old Man), and it's in those scenes that the movie finds its heart. Is A Christmas Story Christmas actually as good as I'm making it out to be? Possibly not, it could be that I'm tying my nostalgic love for the original Christmas Story to this one and can't look past it, but at the very least this should be a relief and an absolute treat to those who love the original film like I do. Just make sure not to discount it based on the first handful of scenes.
Another big happy birthday shout out to Yano Anaya! Have a wonderful day 🥳💛☮️ #yanoanaya #achristmasstory #achristmasstorychristmas #happybirthday #actor #birthday
'A Christmas Story' House Beef Squashed Between Owner and Actor
‘A Christmas Story’ House Beef Squashed Between Owner and Actor
It’s a ‘Christmas Story’ miracle — the red-hot tension between the flick’s actor Yano Anaya and the owner of the on-screen home is cooling down … after their explosive confrontation. Yano, who played Grover Dill in the 1983 film, tells TMZ ……
from TMZ.com https://www.tmz.com/2023/01/04/a-christmas-story-house-beef-squashed-owner-actor-yano-anaya/
In the 1940s, a young boy named Ralphie attempts to convince his parents, his teacher and Santa that a Red Ryder BB gun really is the perfect Christmas gift.
'A Christmas Story' House Owner Curses Out Actor Yano Anaya at Iconic Home
‘A Christmas Story’ House Owner Curses Out Actor Yano Anaya at Iconic Home
“A Christmas Story” actor Yano Anaya is no longer welcome at the iconic home from the movie … the homeowner made that more than clear in this video of an expletive-laden tirade. Yano, who played Grover Dill in the 1983 film, was taking photos…
from TMZ.com https://www.tmz.com/2022/11/27/a-christmas-story-house-actor-yano-anaya-cursed-out-owner-video/