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Christmas Story, A
Warner Bros.
MPAA RATING: PG adult language
Starring
Peter Billingsley,
Ian Petrella,
Melinda Dillon,
Darren McGavin,
Scott Schwartz,
R.D. Robb,
Zack Ward,
and
Tedde Moore
This delightfully funny holiday gem tells the story of Ralphie Parker a 1940's nine-year-old who pulls out all the stops to obtain the ultimate Christmas present. (Warner Bros.)
| GENRE(S): |
Comedy
|
Family/Kids
|
| WRITTEN BY: |
Jean Shepherd (& novel In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash)
Leigh Brown
Bob Clark
|
| DIRECTED BY: |
Bob Clark
|
| RELEASE DATE: |
DVD: October 7, 2003
Theatrical: November 18, 1983
|
| RUNNING TIME: |
94 minutes, Color |
| ORIGIN: |
USA / Canada |
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
100
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Noel Murray
The affection audiences feel for A Christmas Story is related to the holiday spirit, yes, but specifically to Clark and Shepherd's awareness of how the true meaning of Christmas manifests in the real world, where a warm meal on a cold, dark day—and a surprising moment of parental grace—can ease a troubled mind.
100
TV Guide
Staff (Not Credited)
The cast is wonderful--especially McGavin, Billingsley and Petrella--the laughs are nonstop if rarely subtle, and the whole thing deserves to become a Christmastime classic.
100
Boston Globe
Jay Carr
In short, A Christmas Story isn't just about Christmas; it's about childhood and it recaptures a time and place with love and wonder. It seems an instant classic, a film that will give pleasure to people not only this Christmas, but for many Christmases to come. [19 Nov 1983, p.1]
88
ReelViews
James Berardinelli
It's those moments and others and the way they are tied together by Shepherd's tongue-in-cheek narration that cements A Christmas Story as one of those rare must-see holiday movies, even for those who don't celebrate Christmas.
75
Chicago Sun-Times
Roger Ebert
It is pitch-perfect, telling the story through the enthusiastic and single-minded vision of its hero Ralphie, and finding in young Peter Billingsley a sly combination of innocence and calculation.
60
The New York Times
Vincent Canby
Though Mr. Billingsley, Mr. Gavin, Miss Dillon and the actress who plays Ralphie's school teacher are all very able, they are less funny than actors in a television situation comedy that one has chosen to watch with the sound turned off.
60
Chicago Reader
J.R. Jones
Director Bob Clark teamed with nostalgic humorist Jean Shepherd for this squeaky clean and often quite funny 1983 yuletide comedy, adapted from Shepherd's novel In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash.
50
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
Stephen Godfrey
Needless to say, what's refreshing about A Christmas Story is subversive to the sepia-toned and loving references to the forties which director Bob Clark has provided for the film. The fictional Parker family that Shepherd has written about for 20 years is not as gentle or gauzy as they first appear. It's possible to imagine them so preoccupied with their own problems, whether dealing with the neighbor's dogs or winning a mail- order contest, that they could forget Christmas altogether. [25 Nov 1983, p.E5]
 The average user rating for this movie is 9.2 (out of 10) based on 7 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
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