After a year of hard work, Nikolas learns the carpentry trade and earns Isaak's respect. "Smart ass" is repeated twice, and there is made-up cursing ("you goddingle dogs!") Thank you for your support. In the dead of a remote Finnish winter, young Nikolas (Otto Gustavsson) is left alone when his parents and baby sister are killed in an accident. Aren't those for catching fish?" A Christmas Carol: The Musical is a 2004 Made-for-TV Movie that is based on a stage musical production that originally ran annually at Madison Square Garden from 1994-2003, which itself is based on a certain Charles Dickens novel.It was directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman. Ken Jeong's restaurant owner replies, "What were you expecting?" The film stars Charleene Closshey, Robert Loggia, Naomi Judd, Tyler Ritter, Booboo Stewart, Greer Grammer and Jake Sandvig and is set in the fictional town of Balsam Falls, Tennessee. It's not what I'd consider a Christmas story because it ends right before Christmas. Even those who at first enjoy the jazzy, peppy numbers about Christmas and Christmas presents will be longing to shoot their own eyes out (sorry, show, you can't set us up like that) after two solid hours of five lines of dialogue followed by a nice long belter of a song. Nothing lasts forever. There's she's visited by her guardian angel, Rose (Angela Lansbury), who tells her … SCREW YOU. We display the minimum age for which content is developmentally appropriate. "They're for catching something," says his mom. Genres. Rose, a homeless single mother, and her young daughter Katy discover hope in a small-town diner. Common Sense Media helps families make smart media choices. Women and girls (who look to be 10-12) are also given brief costumes for fantasy dance sequences when the boys wear "gangster" suits. However, the gift of a magic nutcracker who turns into a real man makes the once cynical Kate understand the magic and beauty of Christmas--and of love. Families can talk about bullies in A Christmas Story Live! Christmas Story has plenty of gentle charm but parents should be aware that the youngest viewers may find the loss of Nikolas' family sad, his treatment at the hands of his employer scary, and the departure of a great friend tearful. We provide families with the advice and media reviews they need in … The movie enters the imagination of Emily - the young girl in the family, and the cardboard stage transforms to reveal a magical world. Watch offline. We're updating our reviews to better highlight authentic stories and accurate, diverse representations. review, age rating, and parents guide. Summaries A charming Christmas tale of hope, forgiveness and faith that centers around a single mom, her seven year old daughter and a Salvation Army Santa Claus. His mom (Maya Rudolph) and his teacher (Jane Krakowski) sympathize but tell him: "You'll shoot your eye out." Musical based on classic film is an OK update, but too long. If you love the movie, try this version on for tuneful holiday cheer but be warned: Three hours! What makes people act like bullies? This isn't the familiar Santa story most kids know. Do you like to give and receive presents? Stayed faithful and true to the original. Wonderful antidote to cutesy holiday tales; some swearing. In spite of the fact that Nikolas loses his family at an early age, he has generosity and kindness in his heart for everyone. A scene in which a boy gets his tongue "stuck" after licking a pole may be upsetting to young viewers; parents may wish to stress that the boy's tongue isn't really stuck, a vacuum is sucking it in gently. Overall, this is a story about family harmony and the holiday spirit, but there are some questionable messages. See our. What makes people befriend bullies? How Technology Is Reshaping Democracy and Our Lives, Discover activities to get kids excited for a new year of possibilities from Wide Open School, Online Playdates, Game Nights, and Other Ways to Socialize at a Distance, Keeping Kids Motivated for Online Learning. Bleak but solid adaptation of Dickens' classic. In the sixth year, an early frost kills the harvest and the lake yields no fish, so no family can afford to take him in. The film version features Kelsey Grammer as Scrooge, flanked by an All-Star Cast, and premiered on NBC.Disney veteran Alan Menken … Parents need to know that Christmas Story is a 2007 Finnish fantasy (dubbed into English) that reverse-engineers the story of Santa Claus, or St. Nikolas, explaining why and how he began delivering presents to children on Christmas Eve. Isaak changes his attitude toward Nikolas after confessing he misses his own sons. Third, how can I see this nicely? An Evergreen Christmas is a 2014 American holiday independent film written by Jeremy Culver and Morgen Culver and directed by Jeremy Culver as Culver’s first narrative feature. Some mildly scary stuff, confusion in OK stage show. Decades pass and Isaak leaves his workshop and savings to Nikolas (the adult is played by Hannu-Pekka Bjorkman), who decides to use them to bring presents to children in all the surrounding villages. Why are these important character strengths? Suggest an update to this review. In one dance number, boys wear gangster suits while girls (who appear to be in the 10-12-year-old range) wear brief silver-spangled costumes. A man takes an orphan in but treats him harshly at first. Common Sense and other associated names and logos are trademarks of Common Sense Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (FEIN: 41-2024986). At times this musical is lots of fun, it stars people you love, and it updates some of the cringier things from the original -- on the other hand, three hours is too long for anything. When Nikolas pledges to deliver gifts for his last Christmas, it seems he has died, but he later reappears to friends as a happy apparition flying through the sky in his suit, pulled by reindeer. There's talk (and song!) A man treats children harshly but softens eventually. I love Christmas. Advertisement. Available to download. Originally conceived as a musical play, it retains the liveliness of an in-person production. The show's female characters, however, are still stuck in the 1940s, with moms staying at home and complaining about shopping, cooking, and housework, while dads talk about the office. In the dead of a remote Finnish winter, young Nikolas (Otto Gustavsson) is left alone when his parents and baby sister are killed in an accident. This week I attended the Newport Beach Christmas Parade of Lights. The movie was released worldwide on Amazon Prime and iTunes. Not that there aren't goodies. What to Watch, Read, and Play While Your Kids Are Stuck Indoors, Common Sense Selections for family entertainment, Check out new Common Sense Selections for games, Teachers: Find the best edtech tools for your classroom with in-depth expert reviews, Cómo hablar con los niños sobre la violencia en el Capitolio de los Estados Unidos, Actividades de bienestar para el invierno, Which Side of History? Then, there’s the subversive update, Scrooged, starring Bill Murray, which is always highly recommended this time of … And Matthew Broderick gets the show's best lines, cribbed from the book that inspired the 1983 movie, humorist Jean Shepherd's semi-fictional and brilliant In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash. A song repeatedly says that someone who won't fight a bully is a "wimp." View Comments. English, Spanish, French, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese. Viewers can also note that this production does update the notorious Chinese restaurant scene from the original. The story starts with a grandmother narrating the story to her children as the children prepare a toy theatre for their annual performance of A Christmas Carol. Why do you think it's nice to give gifts? subverted the 1983 movie's Chinese restaurant was also masterful, with Old Man Parker quipping "That was not what I was expecting!" is OK for your kids? Peppy holiday favorite for both kids and parents. Go to commonsensemedia.org for age-based and educational ratings and reviews for movies, games, apps, TV shows, websites and books. The way that A Christmas Story Live! Other families in the village, though poor and barely able to feed themselves, vow to raise Nikolas, each family for one year at a time. He also has to deal with a seemingly endless wait for his Little Orphan Annie decoder ring, a nasty bully, and an overworked department-store Santa. View All Critic Reviews (1) Audience Reviews for Joulutarina (Christmas Story) There are no featured audience reviews for Joulutarina (Christmas Story) at this time. There are mild jokes about drinking, as when two men sing about their drinks getting "stronger" during the holidays. And certainly no common sense. Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization, earns a small affiliate fee from Amazon or iTunes when you use our links to make a purchase. You have IQ but clearly no emotional intelligence. Music & Musicals, Comedies, Music. CHRISTMAS STORY offers a version of how Santa got to be Santa. The notoriously racist original's Chinese restaurant scene has been updated, but Ralphie's request for a firearm has not. Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of all kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. How will the bully's life change after Ralphie fights him? I love my children. Travel and the large load require a sleigh, reindeer (which Nikolas must train), and for an unexplained reason, a red suit. Be the first to review this title. The reindeer, sleigh, red suit, and long beard are all here in a story that has much joy but also the sorrow of an orphan boy who is raised by a poor village and repays the kindness with handmade gifts year after year. and "frazzle-dazzle furnace!" A close adaptation of the book's prose, this version of A Christmas Carol opens on a bleak, cold Christmas Eve … Is it realistic for Ralphie's classmates to cheer for him after he fights Scut? Suggest an update to this review. 2020 Christmas Rom-Coms Bring Diverse Leads Center Stage 2020 has given us an unprecedented number of new Christmas movies centering on characters who used to be, at most, sidekicks in holiday fare. Common Sense and other associated names and logos are trademarks of Common Sense Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (FEIN: 41-2024986). Young viewers might be upset by a scene in which a boy licks a metal pole and gets stuck -- his tongue does appear to be realistically stuck, and the boy is pried forcibly off and thrown into the air, flips, and then lands with a woman's hand over his mouth, her red nails looking like blood. Thank you for your support. Past then assumes the form of the storybook … The rest was about the troubles a married couple was going through- more sad than anything although a happy ending. Cast. Live-action take on classic has some crude, scary moments. There's an entire song about Ralphie being a "wimp" for not fighting a bully; when they do fight, Ralphie's classmates gather to cheer him. There aren't any reviews yet. Other families in the village, though poor and barely able to feed themselves, vow to raise Nikolas, each family for one year at a time. First off, Scrooge’s abusive father, who reduces the adult Scrooge to tears as he forces him to relive a childhood Christmas where his father killed his pet mouse. National treasure Jane Krakowski slays, as always, during her scenes. Your privacy is important to us. If you chose to provide an email address, it will only be used to contact you about your comment. Also: Ana Gasteyer can sing! © Common Sense Media. But to be honest, many modern parents were also hoping the Parkers might not get Ralpie the gun, and they do, and he does immediately hurt himself with it, just like he does in the movie. Common Sense Media. Storyline Kate, a workaholic baker, has given up on Christmas, especially this year, when her boyfriend dumps her and she's got to fill an order of 15,000 cookies before Christmas. CHRISTMAS STORY offers a version of how Santa got to be Santa. This movie is sweet and oddly comforting to the degree that it could become a nice annual tradition for kids to watch as the holiday approaches each year, to remind them of a time when Christmas was less about material accumulation and more about expressing gratitude for what one already has. Your privacy is important to us. A family dies in an accident offscreen. Shamelessly derivative and plasticized, A Christmas Story 2 will only have you wondering why you're not watching the original picture again. Christmas and New Year’s Eve typically rank among our most social holiday celebrations, and while the nation enters a promising phase in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic with two Our ratings are based on child development best practices. 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