The true charm of the original lies in the fact that it is seen through the childhood memories of Ralphie. Jean Shepherd was a true genius.

Repeating the same jokes as in the original is an insult to the audience. When Flick got his tongue stuck to the frozen pole, it was due to a "triple dog dare." Per schoolyard code, he couldn't back down from a triple dog dare. It was matter of having to defend his honor, otherwise he'd look like a coward. But in the sequel, by sticking his tongue in that suction tube, the joke is ruined. It's no longer about charmingly stupid things that kids do. Instead, the nonsensical implication is that Flick sticks his tongue on/into things because that's just what he does.

I always thought that the "Official Sequel" tag on the trailer was to reassure audiences it wasn't a parody. Never a good sign.

Proof that not everything needs a freaking sequel.

"...for starters the actors are doing their best" Boy, we're beginning on a high note... "well, they tried..."

I remember a few years ago my grandmother wanted to watch A Christmas Story 2 because she had it on her DVR. Thankfully the power went out and it deleted off her DVR. God was watching over us that day. We ended up watching the original instead. I should also point out the original is her favorite Christmas movie.

I think one of the reasons why "A Christmas Story" does so well on TV is its episodic nature; you can have it on in the background while you are trimming the tree, wrapping presents or baking cookies, stop and enjoy a scene and then get back to what you were doing. Having Ralphie expect his parents to buy him a car for Christmas is absolutely ridiculous. They're a working class family in the midst of the Great Depression.

Fun fact: it was an endorsement from Jean Shepherd on his radio show that helped beloved filmmaker John Cassavetes fund his first movie !

Every time you cut away to the old man's shocked reaction with how terrible the sequel was I lost it. hahahaha. Great editing.

You know, there WERE several of Shepherd's stories that dealt with Ralphie as a teen/young adult. My favorite appeared in In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash like the bulk of the ACS plotlines, and was about fourteen-year-old Ralphie (described as a high school sophomore...did they start high school younger back then?) getting talked into a blind date by his friend Schwartz, who claimed that his girlfriend's dad felt better with another couple along on their dates. So Ralphie makes the gesture in the name of friendship...and finds out that his date is a knockout. He's quite pleased, but the girl won't respond to any of his attempts at conversation. It suddenly hits poor Ralphie that HE is the blind date--that Schwartz was just blowing smoke with that story about his girlfriend's dad and that he'd arranged all this to give Ralphie a break, but that the girl considered this a dud. He suddenly sees himself as she must see him...overweight, dorky, and ridiculous. Now why couldn't they have incorporated some of THESE stories into ACS2? (And, for that matter? Shep also wrote a story about Ralphie driving a car for the first time...and putting a scratch on it, only to have it passed off as a mistake by a parking attendant.)

Christmas Story 2 is like seeing a tik tok influencer trying to tell a rodney dangerfield joke

I don’t know if this analogy will make sense but the aesthetic of the movie and the cheap lookalike actors remind me of those porn parody films that are purposely made to look like a joke.

They had Daniel Stern, voice of the Wonder Years, and yet they find a shabby Shep imitator to use instead. Tells me every i need to know about the decision making of this production

Those lips will haunt my dreams

2:07- "Christmas Story da T-shoit, Christmas Story da lunchbox, Christmas Story da breakfast cereal (marshmallows of leg lamps and bars of soap), Christmas Story da flamethrower... you'll burn ya eye out."

A Christmas Story and Scrooged are the 2 Christmas movies I watch EVERY holiday season.

11:20 In fairness that wasn't a set, they actually filmed it in the Higbees department store in Downtown Cleveland. It looked real because it WAS real.

This Failure is Remembered, Felt, & Dreaded

Even with it being over saturated, I never grow tired of the original. I remember watching it over and over Christmas Eve night until it was time to open presents because I couldn’t sleep.

Just think back in 2012 this film was released right under our noses and none of us even noticed.

Well, you got to do Christmas Vacation 2 for next year now! :D

This can’t be worse then Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddy’s Island Adventure

I honestly had no idea this existed, and now I am kind of sad that it does. Great episode, though. Always appreciate your work.

Daniel stern as the old man comes full circle. The wonder years was inspired by a Christmas story and he was the narrator on that show

My wife and I just finished watching a Christmas Story Christmas. That’s how you do a sequel that honors the original. It was great, and carried all the same heart. Highly recommend.

Haven't seen all of A Christmas Story Christmas but I'm gonna call that film the true official sequel to A Christmas Story.

Personally, I would've cast Bryan Cranston as the Old Man, and Daniel Stern could've been either the narrator or the mall Santa.

I really could’ve done without the repeated showings of Flick’s tongue being sucked through the vacuum tube. Once was enough for me.

As a Playboy magazine subscriber (back-in-the-day), I had read the original "A Christmas Story" therein. I so identified with the incessant maintenance of coal-fired furnaces & the delight of owning a BB gun. (Mine was a Daisy Eagle, not the Red Ryder, but still a marvel for a pre-pubescent lad.) Far and away, ACS is my favorite bit of holiday nostalgia.

Watching 24 hours of a Christmas story is my tradition. Every year I will watch the entire movie after stitching together clips over the 12 airings.

Yes he does sound like a Young Adam West.

You said the magic words: 'Adam West.' If Adam West had a role in the movie--hell, if he actually WAS the narrator--it'd be better.

A Christmas Story was genius never replicated. Shepherd was the Norman Rockwell of film!

10:53 "These are landmarks in growing that everybody remembers." Perfect editing.

One of the best things about the book was hearing the voice of the movies narrator as you read.

The hard cut after 3:39 was absolutely perfect. Had me dying. Oh fudge!

I'm still waiting for "Die Hard Story" Ralphie vs Hans Gruber!

in the first movie, my grandpa is the clown during the parade that gets a few seconds of screen time lollll

Glad you mentioned Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss and My Summer Story/It Runs In The Family. (The latter even started off with the last shot of A Christmas Story.) At least they've got more credence as sequels...they are based on Shep's writings and feature his narration. In fact, My Summer Story incorporates a story I wish had made it into ACS...the Great Orpheum Gravy Boat Riot.

I think Darren Mcgavin is the underappreciated MVP of the first movie. Due to heavy repetition most of the clips from the first movie here didn't do much for me, but I LOL at McGavin's delivery at about 12:25.

*The original is honestly one of the best things about Christmas. We litterally keep TNT locked the minute it comes on to the minute it stops*

Jerry O'Connell or as so many of us still refer to him 'The fat kid from Stand By Me'. I wonder if he still hears that.

Ironically enough, before I even heard of A Christmas story, I had seen one of its actual sequels. It was a made for TV movie called Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss that featured Jerry O'Connell portraying a teen Ralph in a film that gave summer vacation the same comedic treatment given to Christmas in the first film. It was honestly well done

I remember seeing the sequel on an airplane thinking, "How the heck did I never hear about this."

while this is for the most part a cheap cash-in, I still contend that the main reason that Christmas Story is so beloved is due to the cast (which is pitch-perfect), especially Melinda Dillion and the great Darren McGavin. Proof: look no further than the actual sequel It Runs in the Family - same creative but different cast. the magic is simply not there.

You're one of my favorite channels, I learn so much about things that aren't as well covered.

The original is like the original Star Wars trilogy, the Jean shepherd sequels are like the animated shows and the Mandalorian, a Christmas story 2 is like the sequel trilogy. Just a fair analogy for any Star Wars fans and fans of a Christmas story

Daniel Stern is also the voice of you Kevin Arnold on "The Wonder Years" which always reminded me of "A Christmas Story". Its like falling into a 20th Century American nostalgia wormhole!

If you really like Daniel Stern where’s the video on BUSHWACKED ?!?!?!

I hope you review 8-Bit Christmas as the right way to pay homage to A Christmas Story. It's pretty much flown under the radar. I think it has the potential of becoming a cult classic.

Seriously love your channel, very nostalgic; gives life to movies a lot of us cherish or may not know of!

if I remeber correctly wasn't "My Summer Story" actually originally titled "It Runs In The Family"?

This movie deserves to have been forgotten. It should never have been made in the first place.

When this originally came out, I heard a rumbling sound. Eventually discovered it was Darren McGavin spinning in his grave.

Glad to be back to this channel, its one of my favorites. Hats off too you

Daniel Stern was born to play an irritated movie father.

I would absolutely love to see you do a video on Daniel Stern's career. I've always thought he was great and should have gotten more recognition after Home Alone.

I absolutely love this channel. Enormous thanks.

11:23 There were no Shopping Malls (as we know them) in the late 40s/early 50s, the first in the US would be built in the mid-50s near Minneapolis. The scene is set in a stand-alone Department Store.

Sequels, remakes & reboots......I can't think of too many that HAVEN'T ended up leaving me disappointed. That's IF I've even bothered to see them at all.

"my summer story" is the only real sequel to "a christmas story". Bob Clark and Jean Shepard even returned. Same house, similar music but the same "coming of age" charm.

Ollie Hop Noodles is a fun old movie, great interpretation of how your first job feels. Btw love your channel, great work and happy holidays!

This movie was the reason my family got together during Christmas and we all sat on the couch and were happy eating loving being a family.

You know something is bad when it's most known because it was on the Nostalgia Critic

How could you forget Jean Shepherd's "The Great American 4th of July"

Yoooo! More content is always great, man! Discovered you from Steve Martin's RT with the article on your video and I've fallen in love you with you since! Happy holidays man and keep the vids coming!

*In the 80's, "It's a Wonderful Life" played all day on the networks* . It was the "go to" Christmas movie at the time, and all parents viewed that movie as the ultimate Christmas movie. To a kid at the time, anything in black and white was so old-fashioned. But, my dad insisted it was the best Christmas movie. (I only watched it once.) I saw "The Christmas Story" in the theater when it came out. We loved it. But, I have no doubt within the next few decades another movie will take its place. That's how it goes.

Little known Jean Shepard adaption: American Playhouse: the Great American Fourth of July, with Matt Dillon as a teenage Ralphie. Produced in 1982, 2 years before A Christmas Story.

Since you feel this way about this sequel, you should look at 'A Christmas Story Live' (the musical version - which aired on TV - with Matthew Broderick narrating)...

Watching A Christmas Story every year is a family tradition of my mind and many other people. Its crazy

My family would watch the first film every year. We love the film. In more recent years, my mom and my brother would do the Santa race (dress as Santa, start the race at the house in the film if I remember correctly). Entering the race, you would get a medal (at least one year's medal had the leg lamp on it). My brother has had a few items with the leg lamp on it. Edit: I remember the scene in the Summer Story of the neighbor family thinking the Old Man was inviting over to party with his music. I had forgotten the film but I remembered that scene. Thank you for reminding me of that film.

I watched this when it came out. Main problem was lack of new material. They just relied on nostalgia and not much else, which is insulting. It also lacked the subversive mild cynicism that made the first one funny as hell.

As a huge fan of the first film, I'm ashamed to say that I never even heard of this sequel. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

I watch A Christmas Story 1&2 every year on demand during the holiday season.

Jean Shepherd's narration is what makes the movie, the delivery and the genius behind them is a character all its own

I'd love to hear you'd thoughts about Christmas Vacations 2! 🤣

My summer story is pretty good.

I'm glad you showed it like five times, cause that image of Flick's mouth and tongue in that tube will haunt me for the rest of my life...😶

Shepherd did a few other Ralphie films as well, all of which were made-for-tv movies: -The Phantom of the Open Hearth (1976) -The Great American 4th of July and Other Disasters (1982) -The Star-Crossed Romance of Josephine Cosnowski (1985)

Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss was preceded by The Star-Crossed Romance of Josephine Cosnowski.

Excellent video man. Though I’d like to point out that A Christmas Story came out in 1983, not 1984. Just a small thing I noticed when you began the video.

Thanks for taking on this thankless task, Joe. So I guess it's not so thankless. ;-) Merry Christmas to you and yours.

A Christmas Story is a classic My family still watches it every year during the 24 hour tv marathon. Mom makes us all hot chocolate when we watch :3

For me, it stunk for 2 reasons: #1: Everyone is over-acting and it feels deliberately comedic where the first movie felt accidentally comedic, if that makes sense. Now #2: The first movie was a simple examination of americana during the 1940s, with all of the concerns and predicament revolving around the 1940s. It was a period piece, basically. The sequel just feels like someone from the 2000s trying to pretend to remember the 40s, but just admitting defeat and re-treading the exact same scenarios laid out in the first movie.

The original movie should've spawned a franchise like the Vacation movies.

Glad you are covering this one

i liked my summer story i love listening to sheperd's wor radio broadcasts that man could tell a great story

The first movie is so satisfying because just when you think it's gonna end....then something else comes along. You get three parts that reprieve you from an ending and by the time the ending DOES come....your finally ready. That Chinese food story is so friggin accurate today's people have no idea. It TRULY was the only place open on Holidays

a real sequel coming soon

That movie will always be a tradition to watch in my family on Christmas lol

Dude you nailed it! The narrator sounds just like Adam West!

*how it should've gone down* "Another Christmas story" Set in the 80s. And...get really good writers!

Having just seen the new Christmas Story sequel that came out on HBO Max and honestly it wasn’t bad, it did what this movie couldn’t do, it took a movie that’s highly beloved and respected it, not as funny as the first but the movie had a lot of heart and didn’t do typical cliches we see in sequels such as Ralphie’s marriage struggling or Ralphie having trouble connecting with his kids, and everyone did a wonderful job reprising their roles especially Zach Ward who had little screen time, overall it respects the original unlike this movie

My mother reliuctently took me to the original movie in theaters, and it ended up being one of her favorite movies of all time. I also remember everyone at school talking about how funny it was, and I think both Siskel and Ebert like it. So I was surprised to find out years later that the movie had flopped.

I never knew that any sequel existed in any form, let alone several. Great video, and great channel. Oh yeah, 7:02 LOL

WHY didn't they get Daniel Stern himself to narrate the film? After all, he was the voice of narration in The Woner Years, a series partially inspired by A Christmas Story. Seems like a completely wasted opportunity!

The great thing about the other follow-up's, particularly "Summer Story" is that they take place at other times of the year. The spirit is there, but they were careful not to copy the original perennial classic. They could be viewed on their own or at different times of the year. A Christmas Story 2 is nothing but a cash grab.

Just discovered this series/KZfaq channel. So good!

Good stuff. The original was a staple on my tv at my house during xmas. Never even knew they made this

The father from Malcolm in the Middle would have been more on point as the narrator.