A Christmas Story: All I want for Christmas

If there was something you wanted more than anything else in the world, wouldn’t you try everything you could to get it? Especially if it was Christmas and you felt that you have been nice enough to deserve it! But as a child it becomes difficult to convince your parents to buy you that exciting toy you really want. Such is the case in the 1983 film A Christmas Story which was directed by Bob Clark.

Ralphie is a well behaved nine year old boy who has been a good kid all year long and wants only one thing for Christmas: a Red Ryder BB Gun with a compass in the stock and “this thing which tells time”. Unfortunately for Ralphie, he faces strong objection from everyone he tries to convince to get him the gun which includes his parents, his school teacher and even Santa Claus at the mall, and all this because they are afraid that he will shoot his eye out. Ralphie is adamant to have his Red Ryder BB Gun and tries his level best to convince his parents to get it for him by being a good kid in the days leading up to Christmas. Unfortunately for Ralphie, a few incidents involving his friends’ mischief, a run in with a couple of bullies and a handful of episodes where he is heard cursing dent his hopes of ever seeing his beloved Red Ryder BB Gun. Somehow Ralphie must try and rescue the situation if he is going to have his wish fulfilled this Christmas.

The film is riddled with creative styles in the execution. The film has been made to seem as a live-action cartoon film with the use of sound effects which are native to cartoon shows. There is also use of cutaways and transitions in the format that is witnessed in a cartoon show, thus lending to the intended style. There are many subplots in the main story which bring about comical effects for example Ralphie’s fathers winning of a lamp shaped like a leg which his mother disapproves of or the ‘triple dog dare’ which is known among Ralphie and his friends and eventually leads to one of his friends freezing his tongue to a lamppost. Overall, there are plenty of instances of comedic relief during the course of the film.

The film is considered a classic Christmas movie. The only problem which is always overlooked when it comes to this film is the reinforcement of materialism. The story portrays a child who is desperate to receive a desired present in the holiday season which unfortunately reiterates the idea that getting gifts are crucial for someone to be happy during the festive season. It is abysmal that a film which encourages materialism has been hailed as a great especially after it wipes out all the good work that other films and documentaries do in highlighting the idea of giving back to those in need which should be the true message sent out for the festive season.

Albeit the film has plenty of creative inputs and a unique style, a major problem with the film is that it lacks a good entertainment value; and a film doesn’t even need a good, deep message for that!