"You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!"

Very few holiday movies hold up over the years as true classics. However, 1983's 'A Christmas Story,' a thoroughly entertaining mid-century ride through one family's crazed holidays, is one of a handful of gems that returns each holiday season to punctuate its place in that elite pantheon.

This year, we're treated to a newly released sequel to the fabled classic, 'A Christmas Story Christmas,' which is currently streaming on HBO Max, along with the original.

Viewers will once again enjoy spending the holidays with the Parker family, and seeing 'Ralphie,' played by the same Peter Billingsley, now all grown up and with a family of his own.

Over the years, there have been a number of other sequels to 'A Christmas Story,' including the made-for-television movie 'Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss' in 1988, 'My Summer Story' in 1994, and 'A Christmas Story 2' in 2012, a charmless film that was widely panned.

The 2022 sequel, which is nicely narrated by Billingsley, takes place in 1973. Ralph is now an aspiring writer, and returns to his childhood home on Cleveland Street with his wife Sandy (Erinn Hayes), daughter Julie (Julianna Layne), and son Mark (River Drosche) to spend Christmas with Ralph's mom after the passing of 'the Old Man' (played to perfection in the original by Darren McGavin).

Veteran actress Julie Hagerty ('Airplane') plays Mrs. Parker, Ralph's mom, bringing her own unique brand of quirkiness and warmth to the role originated by Melinda Dillon, who retired from acting in 2007.

The original movie was inspired by the short stories shared by writer and humorist Jean Shepherd in his 1966 bestseller In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash. A man of many hats, 'Shep' was a columnist for a number of magazines, including Mad magazine and Car and Driver. He also performed on the road, and had his own radio show, broadcasting live from the Limelight Café in New York's Greenwich Village.

The 1983 film featured a stellar cast, with Shepherd providing the unforgettable narration. Many of the original actors have returned for the new sequel, including child-star-turned-producer Peter Billingsley, who started acting in commercials when he was three, before captivating the world as young Ralphie. Ian Petrella, best known for playing Ralphie's brother, Randy, also reprises his role.