What It's About:

Growing up in a loving but eccentric Indiana family, young Ralphie Parker (Billingsley) is obsessed with getting a very special air-gun - the Red Ryder - for Christmas. Initially, his bickering parents (McGavin and Dillon) supply precious little hope, fearing he'll shoot his eyes out. Will Ralphie's desperate yearning wear them down in the end?

Why I Love It:

Based on a Jean Shepherd short story, Bob Clark's irresistible, often hilarious 40's-era holiday tale benefits from an immense heart, rich period detail, and quirky comic characters. In certain scenes - such as Ralphie's nightmarish encounter with a department-store Santa and his parents' squabbling over an indecent lamp - Clark moves beyond nostalgia to lampoon the absurdity of the adult world. With note-perfect performances from the whole cast, Clark's "Christmas Story" is a latter-day holiday gem brightly wrapped with big laughs.