I am as die-hard a fan as anyone, and would never have declared a non-Jean Shepherd, non-Bob Clark sequel a good idea. This did exceed my expectations, but only because I had none.
Two things I hated outright: the narrator, and new Ralphie! New Ralphie just flat-out stinks. Too spastic, with none of Peter Billingsley's subtlety or charm. The narrator's great sin is simply that he is not Jean Shepherd. But since Mr. Shepherd is no longer with us, who is? Same complaint, if less vehement, for Daniel Stern. I'm a fan, but he's not Big Mac!
The plot kept me going long enough to see the payoff. The Old Man comes through again, but this time, so does Ralphie, his ONE AND ONLY improvement on the original!
Bear these things in mind, and the movie is not a total waste. But if you never manage to see it, don't let it bother you.
Two things I hated outright: the narrator, and new Ralphie! New Ralphie just flat-out stinks. Too spastic, with none of Peter Billingsley's subtlety or charm. The narrator's great sin is simply that he is not Jean Shepherd. But since Mr. Shepherd is no longer with us, who is? Same complaint, if less vehement, for Daniel Stern. I'm a fan, but he's not Big Mac!
The plot kept me going long enough to see the payoff. The Old Man comes through again, but this time, so does Ralphie, his ONE AND ONLY improvement on the original!
Bear these things in mind, and the movie is not a total waste. But if you never manage to see it, don't let it bother you.