A Christmas Story is one of the most enduring and relatable Christmas movies of all time. It tells the story of a child’s unique perspective on the trivial milestones in life that seem so important at the time, as well as obsession, eventual regret, and familial forgiveness. It also shows why you should never stick your tongue to a pole in the middle of winter. It’s important.
It’s also a movie that’s been played in 24-hour blocks for over 20 years. A Christmas Story can sustain an audience, even if it’s just background noise as the hustle and bustle of the holidays go on around its warming glow. It’s an institution now. That means any new version of the 1983 film based on the 1966 novel In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash by Jean Shepard will be met with plenty of side-eye and busy tweeting fingers and Fox’s A Christmas Story: Live was no exception.
The stage musical has been on Broadway since 2012, and the television broadcast version was joyfully intoxicating, mixing everything great about A Christmas Story with spectacular production value and catchy little numbers led by a brilliant Maya Rudolph.
Turn off all the lights and really let it shine. 👠✨ #AChristmasStoryLive pic.twitter.com/oBmQ9FMlde
— A Christmas Story Live (@ChristmasonFOX) December 18, 2017
The work put into the preparation for scene changes alone was astonishing. Each set was meticulously recreated to resemble the movie’s 1940s Indiana, but also worked perfectly for the live show. Ralphie’s little brother hides under the sink when he thinks that his dad is going to kill his brother and you could feel the cold coming off the snow piles as the family shops for a Christmas tree.
Maya to the rescue, woooah. @ChristmasonFOX pic.twitter.com/cuq5QgPdU1
— BroadwayWorld (@BroadwayWorld) December 18, 2017
Jane Krakowski sure knows how to make an entrance! @ChristmasonFOX #AChristmasStoryLive pic.twitter.com/wBlgeYeWdf
— BroadwayWorld (@BroadwayWorld) December 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/FOXTV/status/942570658801709056
HE DID IT! HE DID IT! WENT RIGHT FOR IT! 😱 #AChristmasStoryLive pic.twitter.com/1pHyVOGk1N
— A Christmas Story Live (@ChristmasonFOX) December 18, 2017
But, not everyone was pleased. Some couldn’t get past the songs or the dance, and others just wanted to watch the original movie rather than be thrust from the daydreams of a yearning boy that was constantly transitioning into highly-choreographed dance numbers. Jane Krakowski may have been incredible as Ralphie’s teacher, and people appreciated her performance, but overall, the show wasn’t getting an A+++++++++++++++ from people on Twitter.
The only way A Christmas Story: Live could’ve been more divisive is if it were written and directed by Rian Johnson. At least they got rid of that racist ending, which was divisive in itself.
Thank you for th re-do of Chinese restaurant scene. #AChristmasStoryLive
— Shannon (@shannon_deisen) December 18, 2017
#AChristmasStoryLive y’all really dropped the ball on the Chinese dinner scene. I get y’all don’t wanna be racist or whatever, but what made that funny in the movie was the singing!
— Nicole Gilbert (@tngilbert89) December 18, 2017
I was looking forward to "ra-ra-ra-ra-ra…but of course someone would pissed #AChristmasStoryLive
— Lette (@letlet0224) December 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/FRENCH83/status/942587616368758785
Okay this was so bad it was fun before but they completely ruined the Chinese restaurant scene. Not cool #AChristmasStoryLive
— Brandan Williams (@Brandan_WithAnA) December 18, 2017
Very classy way to address the Chinese singing scene in #AChristmasStoryLive. I like the meta feel to the whole thing!
— JackSquatJB (Go watch my music parodies!) (@JackSquatJB) December 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/Pikachu29876/status/942587115841507329
https://twitter.com/_AmericanAngel/status/942575537788043264
I'll reserve judgement until it's over, but so far #AChristmasStoryLive hasn't captured the 40s era nostalgia of the original.
— Mark Allen (@markallen1230) December 18, 2017
I don’t think I can watch #AChristmasStoryLive until the end. It’s well done, I’m just not into the whole musical aspect they are doing. 🤷🏻♀️
— Denise (@deniserenee) December 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/igor_s__/status/942575632357224449
https://twitter.com/ladymaree85/status/942570829304524800
Jane Krakowski is really stealing the show wow#AChristmasStoryLive
— logan ✨ (@starryxlogan) December 18, 2017
I love the original A Christmas Story. And while this musical isn't a great as the movie, I have to say I'm enjoying #AChristmasStoryLive
— Erin (@cbbeauty22) December 18, 2017
#AChristmasStoryLive is such a refreshing way to end 2017. This is filling my heart with so much hope and happiness. This is what television should be…finally, something that can be labeled entertainment for the WHOLE family.
— Ryan Brown (@instantnoodle22) December 18, 2017
Randy keeps looking at the camera 😂😂😂 #AChristmasStoryLive
— Jillian (@jillianjkiss) December 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/jamiegsell/status/942565881770594305
https://twitter.com/LongWayOut15/status/942565897406943233
Some movies should be left alone 😕#AChristmasStoryLive
— Sean Forney (@SeanForney) December 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/EddieBiggins/status/942558050837258241
If you are into musicals and the arts…this is beatiful!! #AChristmasStoryLive
— New Day 🎥 (@NellaStyles) December 18, 2017
Maya Rudolph is simply amazing in anything! #AChristmasStoryLive
— Travis Glover (@1975jetsfan4) December 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/megan_24601/status/942558360053932032
https://twitter.com/emma_terry15/status/942585250391130112
They keep dog things I didn’t know a live production could do and I’m so impressed. #AChristmasStoryLive
— Kodie Trahan Guay (@kodietg) December 18, 2017
