Part Twenty-two of A Very Merry Christmas Challenge.
Simultaneously a glistening piece of nostalgia and a free-wheeling work of Christmastime charm and cheer; A Christmas Story is an utter masterpiece that explores the life of a child named Ralphie as well as visualizing a period of vibrant happiness and Rockwellian beauty.
Directed by Bob Clark, the film flows like a constant stream of memories. Some good, some embarrassing, some bad, and some venturing into the surreal and the fantastical; the state of mind of Ralphie makes up the bulk of the story, as does his quest for his ultimate present of a Red Ryder Air Rifle. However, the film never becomes a character study, always finding ample screen-time for the…