Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
The original is one of my favorite movies. But without Jean Shepard or Bob Clark involved, it's going to be very hard for lightning to strike twice here.
I was a veteran traveler to Thailand. Loved the culture and it was my 'Buddhist home'. But at one of the shopping malls I would often visit for eating and shopping, for 2 years after this video came out there was a video store that ALWAYS had this movie playing on a DVD-tv in the store window, and there was always a small crowd of Thais standing there watching.
It was okay. As good as the original? No. Not even close. It has two big problems.
The biggest: It tries too much to be like the original, with Ralphie's absurd but charming fantasies. That works from a kid's POV. From an adult? It's just weird. If they wanted to do this, the movie should have been about Ralphie's kids. Or maybe it should have tried to be its own thing rather than trying to mimic its predecessor quite so much.
The minor problem: Peter Billingsley. He's a good actor, but he has some really bad scenes in this movie. I don't blame him so much as the director, because his acting in the moment is so bizarre that it takes you out of the movie. I think here is a case of a good actor getting bad direction.
I did love the ending. Just perfect. It leads right into the first movie.
We enjoyed it. It did a very good job of paying tribute to the original. It will never be as special as the original, but a worthy watch nonetheless.
I recently watched Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss with the Parker Family (A Christmas Story sequel of sorts with Jean Shepherd). It had the general feel of A Christmas Story. The VHS conversion is uploaded on YouTube, free to watch. I could not find it on a streaming service, at least when I watched it.
I recently watched Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss with the Parker Family (A Christmas Story sequel of sorts with Jean Shepherd). It had the general feel of A Christmas Story.
In terms of the writing, yes, I wholeheartedly agree. Of all the many sequels, this one most nailed the feeling of the original's story. Even though none of the original cast returned, the new cast is pretty good.
However, A CHRISTMAS STORY was filmed in Ohio and Ontario, so they were really able to convey the Midwestern winter look of the town.
OLLIE HOPNOODLE on the other hand was filmed entirely in Texas and looks it. Texas is a poor stand-in for Indiana. The landscape, houses, even the sky all look very different than the Midwest.
It was fine, a bit silly, but it followed the style of the original. The tributes to "the old man" were touching and it was nice hearing his voice (nadafinga!!).
I agree about Julie Haggarty, it didn't work with her. Melinda Dillon was the perfect mom and she wasn't nearly that boozy!
Also, the brief Randy storyline was dumb.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
