'A Christmas Story' (1983) | First Time Watching | Movie Reaction | Commentary | Review

[@MrValentineReacts]

Merry Christmas! I got a kick out of this narrative and execution. Always delighted to stumble upon such gems hitherto unknown. Happy New Years! Cannot wait to enjoy films with you all in 2025 :) p.s - Apologies for the audio; copyright was being a real nuisance. A bona fide nincompoop I tell ya. A version of this reaction with better sound is available (for free) here: www.patreon.com/MrValentineReacts

[@PhoenixFit2024]

He had yellow eyes. So help me, God, yellow eyes.

[@lizardkingof1968]

Merry Christmas! And Happy New Year! Keep on keepin' on , Bro 🎉❤️

[@81BuzzyBoo]

I have watched this every year for decades now. Classic for a reason. There was actually a sequel made with most of the same characters. You may want to check it out. Also, the actor that played Ralphie was an elf in another Christmas movie, Santa Clause I think.

[@J.Marie2522]

You should see the newest sequel (actual sequel) You'll love it!

[@J.Marie2522]

​@@81BuzzyBooElf

[@gsquat]

The second I saw you uploaded this I said to myself, "Oh, he's gonna love the narration."

[@MrValentineReacts]

splendid!

[@PhoenixFit2024]

I saw this movie in an empty theater. But all by myself I just laughed the entire time. When she was feeding the piggie…😅

[@davehenry159]

So glad I'm not the only one who totally loses it over the Chinese Christmas caroling

[@MrValentineReacts]

so delightfully unexpected

[@BigGator5]

"No, no! I want an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle!" "You'll shoot your eye out, kid. Merry Christmas. Ho! Ho! Ho!" Merry Christmas! ✝️ 🙏 🎄 🎁 Fun Fact: Theatrical movie debut of Zack Ward. Historical Fact: Red Ryder was a character from comic books and radio in the 1930s/40s, akin to popular western heroes like Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and the Lone Ranger. Gun Enthusiast Fact: Due to this film's popularity, the Daisy Rifle Company has started producing Red Ryder BB Guns for sale during the Christmas season. It has become one of Daisy's best selling rifles. Movie Magic Fact: For the scene in which Flick's (Scott Schwartz) tongue sticks to the flagpole, a hidden suction tube was used to safely create the illusion that his tongue had frozen to the metal pole. Author Cameo Fact: Jean Shepherd (author of In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash (1966) which forms the basis of this movie) is not only the voice of a narrator, but is also the irate man waiting in the Santa line at the department store. The woman standing behind him is his wife, Leigh Brown. Toy Enthusiast Fact: The doll in the store window is NOT AN ANNABELLE DOLL! Raggedy Ann is a character created by American writer Johnny Gruelle (1880-1938) that appeared in a series of books he wrote and illustrated for young children. Raggedy Ann is a rag doll with red yarn for hair and a triangle nose. Her brother, Raggedy Andy, is similar to his sister, but he has a sailor cap and overalls. Automobile Enthusiast Fact: The people of Cleveland were incredibly cooperative during filming, donating antique vehicles from every corner of the city. These vintage vehicles helped to enhance the authenticity of the production design. During the filming in downtown Cleveland, the antique automobile club members whose cars were used were given a route to follow on Public Square. They were instructed to continue circling the square until otherwise instructed. Road salt was a major concern for the car owners and the cars were pressure-washed after each day's filming and parked underground beneath the Terminal Tower. Fixer Upper Fact: In 2005 the original home used for the exterior shots of the family home was put up for auction on eBay, and avid fan of the movie Brian Jones purchased it directly from the seller for $150K. Jones then spent the following year restoring the home to the way it looked on screen. The exterior was completely restored and the interior was renovated to match the interior of the home shown in the movie (parts of the interior were actually filmed in a Toronto studio). On November 25, 2006, the home finally opened its doors as a tourist attraction. Jones spent close to $500K in preparation for this grand opening. In addition, he also purchased a house across the street and converted it to a gift shop and museum dedicated to the film and the house.

[@0okamino]

Don’t forget about the director cameo. When the dad is admiring the leg lamp from the street, the neighbor who comes over and starts talking to him is played by Bob Clark himself.

[@0okamino]

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you, too! 🎄 Jean Shepherd certainly had a way with words. Very eloquent, while still keeping a colloquial feeling about it all. That storytelling talent was quite handy on more than just paper, as he was not only a writer, but a broadcaster as well.

[@ed-straker]

I wore my "You'll shoot your eye out, kid!" T-shirt to work today. Tomorrow it's going to be the "Nakatomi Plaza Christmas Party 1988" shirt.

[@theshadowfax239]

Too bad Die hard is not a Christmas movie.

[@mamahand9390]

The book is “In God we Trust, All Others Pay Cash” and if you enjoy Jean Shepherds voice you’ll enjoy it for sure. This movie holds such a place in the hearts of us Gen Xers. I grew up watching my parents relate to the story and tell their own stories which is priceless. Thank you for your charming and thoughtful reaction!

[@MrValentineReacts]

much obliged for your time! I'll have to make sure to check the book out

[@joegaspard9762]

“As you soap, so shall you reap” - so bad but so good…you got a grudging chuckle from me.

[@MrValentineReacts]

😬 😅

[@geoffreyfreebern9037]

The narrator of "A Christmas Story" was also the author of the story, Jean Shepherd. And the director, Bob Clark, also directed Porky's....an R-rated 50's teen romp (from the early 80's - that still blows my mind) 🤯

[@hotflesh66]

Bob Clark also did the 1970s film BLACK CHRISTMAS.

[@lanolinlight]

I was about Ralphie's age when this flick hit cable in the 80's. It knocked Charlie Brown's Xmas off the top spot. Fa ra ra ra ra.

[@MrValentineReacts]

😂

[@BeeWhistler]

I really don’t think of it as a children’s movie. When it came out, it was more suitable as nostaliga for the Silent Generation, my parents for example. You kinda got it as a kid, but not as well as an adult would, even if they weren’t kids in the 1930s. I appreciate it far better now than I did when I was young. But I knew you’d like it! The flowery prose (to humorous effect) seemed right up your proverbial alley.

[@QueenAstroParticle]

Definitely more for the generation who grew up in the 1930s and 40s than anyone else,. But still a film that all ages can appreciate and families can watch together.

[@clearsmashdrop5829]

I've seen this movie countless times but never noticed that Ralphie's mom is the same actress who plays Barry's mom in Close Encounters! Usually I'm good at picking out faces but did not make the connection until I saw comments in another reaction.

[@MrValentineReacts]

I need to watch Close Encounters. this comment settles it

[@Dylan_Platt]

"As you soap, so shall you reap!" 😂😂😂🤣🤣 Masterful, sir. I tip my pun hat to you on that one.

[@MrValentineReacts]

😅 🤙🏽

[@flarrfan]

I hope this delightful film's writing inspires you to read some of Jean Shepherd's short stories. For us boomers, it was an excuse to actually read Playboy. Everything he writes (or narrates) is brilliant.

[@MrValentineReacts]

I'm a Jean Shepherd fan; Magic with the pen

[@seawyatt]

I was planning on the the thumbs-up anyway, but when it drew-out tears of laughter during the singing scene, that's the moment I hit the button! Merry Christmas! I always enjoy your reactions!

[@MrValentineReacts]

Merry Christmas! Thanks :) that scene really buoyed me lol

[@gelsol]

I was fortunate to see this movie on Christmas day with my family in a beautiful old theater the year it came out. I knew you'd dig the dialogue /narration in this one!

[@MrValentineReacts]

A Christmas Story early adopter? Love it!

[@FrightFilmFan]

...there WAS a "Christmas Story 2", which depicts Ralphie as a teenager, and all the stereotypical troupes that go with that age. Recently, there was a movie called "A Christmas Story Christmas", which not only has Ralphie come back, albeit as an adult, raising his own family, but also brings back many of the same characters as the first film, also living in the same town, and raising their own families. They even managed to get many of the same actors to play the now-adult roles. If there was ever a movie that managed to, at least to some degree, recapture the fun and spirit of the original film, it would have to be the rarely seen and very under-appreciated summer-themed sequel from 1994, called "My Summer Story". All of the original film's characters were back, albeit with most of them recast...but done very well. And Bob Clark was once again the director for that one...and author Jean Shepard was also back, doing the eloquent narrative. If I was to recommend any of them, as a follow-up to the original classic, it would definitely have to be the latter film...Check it out...

[@ThistleAndSea]

Fun one, Mr V! Yes, the perfect Christmas movie for you, LOL! Thanks for sharing this one. Merry Christmas! 🌲 ⛄ 🎁 🎀

[@MrValentineReacts]

Merry Christmas :) appreciate you

[@jesterforhire]

Merry Christmas! I adore this movie and I just knew you would love it. It’s so funny and well written. Some people just don’t get it. Take care! ❤😂😊

[@randomchord]

That was fun but I've never really been able to sink into this movie. The guy who plays the father was the star of a tv series I used to watch when I was a kid and the roles are so antithetical that every time I see him, it jerks me out of immersion. In case you were wondering, Kolchak; The Night Stalker. Spoilers----> A small time reporter keeps running into creatures out of nightmare and science fiction done in an almost noir, Sam Spade style. . That SO doesn't do it justice but, there it is.

[@davidlionheart2438]

Darren McGavin was an actor of such depth of talent that for most, including myself, he is iconic both as Kolchak and as the Old Man. Those roles are his, he made them his, and nobody else could ever come close in them.

[@PhoenixFit2024]

Kolchak walked so that X-Files could run.

[@randomchord]

@@PhoenixFit2024 My exact thoughts when I was trying to describe it but I watched Kolchak when I was like 9 and X-files didn't start till I was post 25. 😁🍻

[@randomchord]

@@davidlionheart2438 Kolchak embedded itself because I would stay up past my bedtime (was like 8 or 9) and watch it in the dark, hoping not to wake up the adults. I trauma bonded with Karl. 😂😂🍻

[@lizardkingof1968]

​@@PhoenixFit2024...still watch Kolchak...it is on one of the local oldies tv stations 😁

[@terryconnelly484]

Twenty four hour marathon on t bs on christmas eve I believe for at least the last twenty years

[@floretion]

Merry Christmas Mr. Valentine! I remember watching the scene as a kid when the father opens the leg lamp and exclaims "Frahgeelay... it must be Italian!" thinking "haha, but everyone knows 'fragile' is (only) English...". It then became funny rewatching it years later as an adult, after having learned some Italian: I immediately realized "fragile" is an Italian word which he, more or less (accent is usually on the first syllable, not the second), manages to pronounce correctly.

[@MrValentineReacts]

Merry Christmas! You have inspired me to start Italian duolingo courses

[@floretion]

​@@MrValentineReactshaha, I would recommend Italki over Duolingo 😊

[@abc123tiktok]

This is just such a charming movie that despite being such a simple movie the narrator takes us on this fun ride that was clearly meant for adults to enjoy.

[@MrValentineReacts]

A scintillating journey

[@nergal9668]

I love the ending of this movie also because it implies that most if not all of the staff at Chop Suey Christmas Dinner are Japanese

[@mariannea.2140]

Having loved and seen this movie countless times (it used to play on TV for 24 hrs on Xmas Eve) , I have not looked forward so much than to see you react to this! The way it is so eloquently narrated and your eloquent reaction made it such a pleasure to watch!!! Happy Holidays to you Mr. Valentine and best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!!! ❤🎉

[@ChrisCollins068]

It still plays for 24 hours on tv

[@mariannea.2140]

@ Thank you!

[@MrValentineReacts]

Happiest of Holidays to you as well! appreciate your time and generosity 💙

[@ronsadventures2007]

“Is this bases on a novel” kind of its bases on a collection of short stories by Jean Sheppard who you can hear in the movie as the narrator

[@Sean-gj7vw]

In the book, the leg was the logo for the Dads brand of beer. That's where the leg lamp comes from.😄

[@MrValentineReacts]

superb lol

[@deeanna8448]

I thoroughly enjoyed watching this!! I'm glad you enjoyed the film. There is a reunion movie called A Christmas Story Christmas that came out a couple of years ago. Many of the characters, including the bully, are in it. It's a delightful film.

[@laurabrewes1422]

Sir, this reaction was wonderfully punny. Merry Christmas, & a very happy new year!

[@MrValentineReacts]

Merriest of Christmases and Happy New Year to you!

[@tonysplace9255]

This was the perfect movie for you to do a reaction. You're both very descriptive in the narration.

[@MrValentineReacts]

🙏🏾

[@Raven5150]

No thats not richard pryor, but richard pryor is the black man give to flick as a present, the toy, not to be confused with robin williams toys, i cant descrive that and i own the book this was based on its mentioned in the opening tittles

[@tammyford2357]

I got my mouth washed out with soap at least once a month as a kid… did it work? Apparently not. 😂😂😂

[@MrValentineReacts]

haha, yowza!

[@tammyford2357]

@ I still have a potty mouth…

[@rbjeans007]

While technically this is a movie geared towards kids, I think the narration is geared more towards the adults, adding to the nostalgia of their youth.

[@Kronicdice23]

My brother, I never thought of it like that lol he had time to run all the way home and get Mom❤️ and then come back and Ralphie , I don’t know how to spell Ralph I tried it three times ..but He was still whippin that ass 😂 he did clean his clock for a minute.

[@MrValentineReacts]

Ralphie unleashed 😂

[@crystalklar2606]

I definitely had soap in my mouth, pepper, hot sauce. I mostly learned to swear on the inside instead of the outside. 😆

[@MrValentineReacts]

haha Hot Sauce? now that is a doozy and a half. internal curses are the name of the game for sure

[@IChooseJesus9091]

It's not a Christmas movie. But I'd like to recommend the movie Delores Claiborne, with Kathy Bates. I saw you reacted to Misery, & though some might disagree with me, I think as opposed to Misery, Delores Claiborne is top tier acting for Kathy Bates. 👌

[@MrValentineReacts]

you've piqued my interest, thanks!

[@Raven5150]

To this day i own a leg lamp and about to buy another one just to piss off my room mate

[@J.Marie2522]

Hey Mr. V 💗 I can't wait to watch! I'm out so I'll be watching the replay

[@MrValentineReacts]

🧡

[@Raven5150]

I didnt get caught for half the stuff i did, and the stuff i did was i manifest too dam much, done messed around and ended up in time loop paradox, but i didnt realize brian johnson is in this movie

[@SueProst]

Leg of Lamp.

[@terryconnelly484]

I used to have a bb gun when I was about 10.I used to hell out of it. My brother-in-law gave me one at age 45 and it's the same red ryder and much more accurate.It's excellent i can hit a target from a hundred feet away at least maybe two hundred

[@evanirvana500]

That ugly lamp has sold for a pretty penny as did that house. I love how so many think thr mother could have told her husband no to putting the lamp where he did. It was the 40s when this was set. She'd have little to say about it. It wouldn't have occurred to her to say no and it wouldn't have occurred to him to even consider her opinion on it. This was post Ww2. The woman's job after theyd taken jobs while men were at war was to go back to the kitchen and start having babies, hello boomers. There were no seatbelts in cars, no one cared if boys fought each other and usually as a kid you ate what was given to you or it was an ass whooping. A word on ralphies defense for diming out Schwartz for the f bomb. More tbsn likely Schwartz had saud it at some point, but when it came down to it ralphie had to choose who to snitch on. Mom wasnt giving him an option to say no. So does he snitch on his dad who could whoop him or Schwartz who's dared a kid to stick his tongue to a flagpole. Coming from someone's who's dad was similar to ralphies who had a healthy fear oh the old man, I cant say I'd have chosen different.

[@Raven5150]

Dont quote me on this part i have read the book but been a while, but its much like the world if luc benson, yes thwre is s summer story not good didnt translate well from book its a bunch of short stories from the point of ralphie as through the times of his life but amaxing read for word smiths

[@Raven5150]

Bob corker is the director of this movie his previous movie loves use of language i know why they csll her lassie good luck editing your resction but i beleive everyone above the age of 12 should know why theu call her lassie

[@davidacord5579]

Was the soap effective? Fuck no 😂

[@MrValentineReacts]

😂 lol not for the lack of trying

[@stephaniemccarthy1676]

I had soap put in my mouth once. At 62 plus years, the smell of Ivory soap makes me gag....😵‍💫

[@MrValentineReacts]

geez louise!

[@Raven5150]

5 i got my daisy bb gun 10 pump at age 5 moved up to pelot gun soon then .22 riffle at age 10. Bang bang shoot is fun thats my pew pew arguement its fun, i dont hunt its fun to go pew pew and put s big hole im something life sucks now

[@khronotrigga2638]

There is a Christmas Story 2. It is no where near as good...

[@TheDivayenta]

I think the sequel is great as it has all the same actors except for Mom.

[@samwise1982]

I thought your Christmas tree joke was great. You should take a bough.

[@MrValentineReacts]

touchè my friend. color my cap doffed

[@randomchord]

The F word? Funicular Facetiae Certainly some form of falsiloquence 😁🍻

[@MrValentineReacts]

Facetiae is a phenomenal word; such utility! thank you

[@randomchord]

@@MrValentineReacts So its... facile? 😉😁🍻 Merry Christmas, my fellow cinephile and sesquipedalian!!

[@Raven5150]

Thats a throne of lies, thats not my santa, my santa is the big loboski thats my santa, kurt russle is maube the best santa in 20 years earnest is the best santa can retire santa, and narnia santa is the best santa, we need more krampus not enout representation foe krampus

[@kevin2400]

Why was smart ass bleeped.... other reactions leave that alone

[@MrValentineReacts]

I get flagged needlessly so I play it safe

[@Raven5150]

Excuse me you left out tesla did a lot for lamps, glow worms did a lot for lights, legs make great sorces of lamps especially if you won hot glowing electric sex, ive had s bb gun ive had a leg lamp, ive had japanese thanks giving but i never shot my eye out