A Christmas Story, a masterpiece many would argue should never be touched, is getting a sequel this November that now has its first trailer. So does A Christmas Story Christmas look good? We really can’t say, because the whole trailer is a series of callbacks to great moments from A Christmas Story.
Anyone looking for hints about the plot will need a Little Orphan Annie Secret Decoder Ring to make heads or tails of this thing. There are callbacks to the leg lamp, aka “a major award!,” to Ralphie’s little brother Randy’s puffy, paralyzing winter gear, and why should should never lick an icy pole. We also hear “Oh fuuudge,” which is what Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) didn’t say in the 1983 original Christmas Story while failing to help the Old Man (Darren McGavin change a tire. As those words play, we see glasses rise over a familiar pair of blue eyes: Ralphie is a man now.
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The film, which airs exclusively on HBO Max starting November 17, reunites all the old gang: Besides Billingsley as Ralphie, the cast includes Ian Petrella as Randy, Zack Ward as the evil Scut Farkus, Scott Schwartz as Flick, and R.D. Robb as Schwartz. Joining the cast are also are Erinn Hayes, River Drosche, Julianna Layne and Julie Hagerty. You can watch the teaser here or above.
A Christmas Story Christmas is produced by Billingsley with his Wild West Picture Show partner Vince Vaughn, and is written by Nick Schenk, who also executive produces, and is best known for writing the Clint Eastwood films Gran Torino, The Mule and Cry Macho. Clay Kaytis (The Christmas Chronicles) directs.
The original film earned $19 million worldwide in its initial release, but became a holiday season staple, played almost round the clock on basic cable as the big day approaches each year. Loosely based on the Jean Shepherd book In God We Trust: All Other Pay Cash, the story of a little boy who longs for a Red Ryder rifle for Christmas might have seemed an odd fit for director Bob Clark, whose previous films included the grotesque sex comedy Porky’s and the holiday slasher film Black Christmas. But like It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story has a dark streak that separates it from saccharine Christmas movies and has made it one of the most enduring — it appeals equally to people who love Christmas and loathe the happiest time of year. A Christmas Story Christmas has a big shoes, or leg lamps, to fill.
A Christmas Story Christmas streams on HBO Max starting on November 17.