Totally Over-rated

Am I off?

I really hate A Christmas Story...and I can't help it.  Is it over-rated by being considered a "classic"?  The film has endured a long time and is loved by millions, it is even parodied in television commercials. 

What I want for Christmas is for Ralphie to shoot his damn eye out this year.

Re: Am I off?

LOL.

Although I do really enjoy this movie, I believe the popularization of it comes from various scenes throughout the movie.   I think as a movie in whole you might be right... it's not a master piece.  But if you extract from that key lines, or scenes, this is probably what people use as reference that it is a good movie.  I bet if you poll half the people who say they love Christmas Story, they'll be able to recite a few key scenes, but probably couldn't even tell  you what some of the main plot  lines are.

- Chris

Re: Am I off?

Truth be told, Indie, it's really only gained its acclaim in recent years.  When it first came out, I don't think it was very successful.  But now TNT makes an annual tradition of playing the hell out of it, which may explain the recent explosion in Christmas Story fame.  I don't know if it can be called overrated, per se, because it was one of those cult classics until only recently.  It may well be overused, though.

Though "you'll shoot your eye out" has become a highly recognizable pop culture reference, whatever you may think of Ralphie and the gang.

Re: Am I off?

Re: Am I off?

I think A Christmas Story is charming - it takes us back to a more innocent time when getting a BB gun for Christmas was the pinnacle of joy.  Having said that, I think after the first few viewings it works better as background material -- something to have on while you eat or open gifts.

My favorite Christmas-themed movie would have to be Scrooged. Bill Murray is great throughout, and Carol Kane is divinely loopy as the Ghost of Christmas Present.  I love the line "That bitch hit me with a toaster!" 

The ultimate Christmas movie for everybody, whether you love or loathe Christmas. 

Re: Am I off?

Re: Am I off?

I love A Christmas Story. It is one of those movies that my family just has to watch in order for it to feel like the holidays. Although it is not a masterpiece, it really had some hilarious movies and I think is a film that many can either relate to or enjoy watching together. The characters are also very likeable. I think it is somewhat of a cult-classic and should be. I don’t think it is over-rated at all.

Re: Am I off?

Re: Am I off?

I thought I'd add to this thread because it fits even though it doesn't continue the Christmas Story discussion.

I officially give up on two french phenomenons loved by the critics : Godard and Tati. Godard must a matter of preference because I have seen plenty of his work and I remain underwhelmed. I bring Tati up because I just watched Traffic, which has been fawned over by the likes of Ebert and Vincent Canby, and I found it neither funny nor clever. This is the third Tati feature I've seen ( Mon Oncle & Mr. Hulot's Holiday) and I just don't get it. Now, I've come to realize that comedy is a matter of personal taste ( I no longer get upset when people say that Arrested Development or the BBC's The Office is not funny because of this realization), but Canby's claim that this film is hilarious and Tati has taken his place with Keaton and Chaplin is wildly off base to me. Keaton and Chaplin did much more than dress up in a trench coat and smoke a pipe while walking in to trouble.

I should say that in all other ways I am a film francophile - I love Clouzot, Chabrol, Renoir, Melville, Bresson, Ophuls, Polanski, etc., but these two filmmakers have appeared on way too many "best of" lists for my taste.  

Re: Am I off?

At first, I thought you were referring to the Charles Dickens story ... Bah, Humbug; etc. ... But then I saw the reference to Ralphie---'Oh yeah!'

It's just like Christmas Carols (which--I think I remember ... I think--was the name of the Dickens story: A Christmas Carol ... but I could be wrong). They're all really cool until you grow accustomed to their source; then they're just interesting-on-occasion ...