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…

This is one of those somewhat legendary movies that I never got around to watching even though it plays on television a couple hundred times a year and has been since I was a little kid. It's a shame I waited until director Bob Clark's recent death to finally view it but I'm certainly glad I did. I'm sure everyone knows the story so there's no point of me going into that.

The four-star rating is certainly being kind since the film has several flaws but who cares? I thought the film had so many great moments that I can easily overlook the flaws and add this to one of my holiday favorites. I think what I loved most is…