Oh Fudge, It’s a Belated Sequel to “A Christmas Story”

A Christmas Story is one of the most beloved holiday movies of all time. It has aired in marathons on cable every Christmas Eve. Its merchandise has adorned many houses over the years. Its quotes have become part of everyday speak. Yet it wasn't a massive hit at the time, only becoming a staple through numerous home video releases and broadcasts. But it's endured, even becoming a Broadway musical. Still, multiple sequels have come and gone with little fanfare, at least until now.

Peter Billingsey, who has spent much of the last two decades behind the camera, reprises his role as Ralphie in the oddly titled A Christmas Story Christmas. Now a grown man with a family of his own, he returns to his hometown to celebrate Christmas with his mom (Julie Hagerty, who replaces the retired Melinda Dillon). Unsurprisingly, a lot of his childhood anxieties - including a run-in with his actual bully - put a damper on the festivities. But will he find a way to ignore the stresses of holiday obligations and celebrate what really matters? It's a straight-to-streaming holiday movie. What do you think?

A Christmas Story Christmas will stream exclusively on HBO Max starting November 17.

About Kip Mooney

Like many film critics born during and after the 1980s, my hero is Roger Ebert. The man was already the best critic in the nation when he won the Pulitzer in 1975, but his indomitable spirit during and after his recent battle with cancer keeps me coming back to read not only his reviews but his insightful commentary on the everyday. But enough about a guy you know a lot about. I knew I was going to be a film critic—some would say a snob—in middle school, when I had to voraciously defend my position that The Royal Tenenbaums was only a million times better than Adam Sandler’s remake of Mr. Deeds. From then on, I would seek out Wes Anderson’s films and avoid Sandler’s like the plague. Still, I like to think of myself as a populist, and I’ll be just as likely to see the next superhero movie as the next Sundance sensation. The thing I most deplore in a movie is laziness. I’d much rather see movies with big ambitions try and fail than movies with no ambitions succeed at simply existing. I’m also a big advocate of fun-bad movies like The Room and most of Nicolas Cage’s work. In the past, I’ve written for The Dallas Morning News and the North Texas Daily, which I edited for a semester. I also contributed to Dallas-based Pegasus News, which in the circle of life, is now part of The Dallas Morning News, where I got my big break in 2007. Eventually, I’d love to write and talk about film full-time, but until that’s a viable career option, I work as an auditor for Wells Fargo. I hope to one day meet my hero, go to the Toronto International Film Festival, and compete on Jeopardy. Until then, I’m excited to share my love of film with you.