The Ending Of A Christmas Story Christmas Explained

"A Christmas Story Christmas" has the unenviable task of living up to the impossible standard of its predecessor, "A Christmas Story," without coming off as just another pale attempt at capturing the magic of that all-time holiday classic. Other follow-ups, like the PBS-produced films "The Star-Crossed Romance of Josephine Cosnowski" and "Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss" managed to be fairly entertaining, if forgettable, while "It Runs in the Family" (aka "My Summer Story") and "A Christmas Story 2" failed to ignite much enthusiasm.

What first sets this sequel apart is the fact that much of the original cast has returned, and the new additions fit in right alongside them. But the movie also actively engages with the concept that no sequel can ever live up to the original by having Ralph Parker (again played by Peter Billingsley) trying to replace his late father, only to seemingly fail in the process. It's almost as though director Clay Kaytis and his writing collaborators (including Billingsley himself) knew there was no way to be as good as the original, so they decided to make a movie about that very thing.

Let's discuss the various themes and plot elements that went into creating that message so that, just in case you didn't pick up on it the first time, you can watch it again with a new perspective.

There is a naivete to Ralph's character in the first film that doesn't carry over to the sequel. It's not that Ralphie was delusional in any way, but he was just a kid. So although his parents were obviously struggling financially, he still had the wondrous holiday sparkle in his eyes. To him, a lack of money wouldn't put a damper on the holiday, but not getting that BB gun would. He was so single-minded about it that everything else fell by the wayside.

That's not the case in "A Christmas Story Christmas." There is a bittersweet flavor to everything in the film. Obviously this is instigated by the death of The Old Man, but a lot of it has to do with the fact that Ralph isn't a little kid anymore. He's a grown man with a wife and kids and responsibilities. He's trying to make it as a writer, but the deadline he has given himself is quickly approaching and he still hasn't been published.

That maturity goes a long way in helping this film (and Ralph himself) stand on its own legs. The film could have easily been nothing but callbacks and references (which it has plenty of), but the overall focus is on trying to break away from that while still honoring the past. Learning to accept that he isn't his father (and that this isn't "A Christmas Story") is the arc of his character, the film, and us as an audience.

Following the death of The Old Man, the Parkers are inundated with casseroles by friends and neighbors hoping to help them grieve. Unfortunately, these casseroles are bizarre concoctions that Ralph's kids are understandably skeptical of. In Ralph's narration, he points out the fact that no one wastes food in his mother's home. While this is a funny character quirk, it actually fits in with who Mother Parker (this time played by Julie Hagerty) is.

If you recall, "A Christmas Story" takes place in 1940, which means the Parkers suffered through the Great Depression. It's likely that, by the 1970s when "A Christmas Story Christmas" is set, Mrs. Parker is still carrying the survival instinct to make sure no food goes to waste. Thus she tells her grandchildren that they will not be able to indulge in the traditional Christmas dinner until the casseroles are gone.

There's a symbolic aspect to this as well. The casseroles are meant to aid in the mourning process. When Larry Novak (played by Henry Miller) finishes the final bite of the final casserole, this signifies that the time for mourning is done and the family can dig into the turkey, as a form of acceptance of The Old Man's death and celebration of his life.

After his mother tells Ralph that she would rather he put all of his efforts into making Christmas special for everyone, the pressure of that gets to him almost immediately and he needs to get away for a while to clear his head. As he walks the streets of Mohman, he finds salvation below a sign reading "Booze." It's Flick's Tavern, and Ralph ducks inside to have a drink, reconnect, and procrastinate.

The bar comes to his rescue again after he shatters the Christmas star. Again, overwhelmed and desperate for hope, Ralph searches the streets of Mohman, only to find closed and locked doors. Then, in the darkness, he sees the light of a Christmas star poised atop a tree in Flick's bar. It might be slightly gauche to adorn your Christmas tree with the logo of a beer company, but as Ralph points out (much to his chagrin), it's the thought that matters. He told his daughter it wouldn't be Christmas without a star, so he gets her a star.

Besides, while he's out, his mother discovers the treasure trove of presents The Old Man got everyone, so who cares if the star's promoting beer?

There's one member of the Parker family missing for most of the film and that is Ralph's kid brother, Randy. Just when you find yourself wondering why he wouldn't be there to grieve with the rest of the family, Ralph gets a telephone call from Randy (played by Ian Petrella), who is living in India. As the film points out, it isn't all that easy to travel to Indiana from India, but Randy doesn't seem to be making much of an effort.

In order to make sure his brother makes it for the holiday, Ralph lies to him about their mother's emotional and physical state. He tells Randy that she is only able to eat a cracker and the only word she's able to muster is "Randy." It's a dirty tactic, but it works. In the final moments of the film, Randy arrives and everyone is thrilled. Their mother is so happy that Randy looks at Ralph and says, "A cracker, huh?"

Randy recognizes his brother's ruse but instantly forgives him. Ralph is tasked with making this a great Christmas for everyone, and he can't do that without his brother. They need to have the whole family together.

Ralph has always been very imaginative. You see it in "A Christmas Story," with all those fantasies of how his parents would feel if he went blind from soap poisoning or how he could take on Black Bart and his gang with his BB gun. That creativity carries over to "A Christmas Story Christmas," with fantasies about a rematch between himself and Black Bart and how getting arrested for breaking and entering could ruin his family's lives.

Unfortunately, he isn't able to parlay that into a fruitful writing career. He's writing massive science fiction manuscripts, but nobody is biting. Then he's tasked with writing his father's obituary and struggles with summing up a man's life in a paragraph. His mother tells him all he needs to do is write about the man he knew, which inspires him to write the story that will later become "A Christmas Story."

His wife Sandy (Erinn Hayes) finds the story and sends it to the local paper. When it's published, the whole town reads it and tells Ralph how impressed they are. This is another example of how Ralph doesn't need to be anything more than who he is. By writing about his own life, he's able to connect with people. This is fitting, since "A Christmas Story" was based on the writings of Jean Shepherd, which were inspired by elements of his life.