How did this lame comedy get ranked alongside "It's a Wonderful Life" as one of the greatest Christmas films? There are some amusing scenes, such as the kid's encounter with the mall Santa, but overall this film looks like a "Saturday Night Live" skit, with characters that are poorly drawn caricatures. McGavin and Dillon are not believable as husband and wife. The script is too episodic to sustain the narrative; the humor is forced. The scenes with the bully are way over the top. The direction is pedestrian, relying on stale gimmicks like daydream sequences and fast motion. The sets look cheap and cheesy, like a TV special.
Review of A Christmas Story
