Ralphie is determined to get a Red Ryder BB gun for Xmas, no matter what obstacles lie before him.

And yet there is so much more to this wonderful movie. Firstly, let me give a tip o' the Otter Hat to Railroad David, who brought this movie for me and Mr. Otter to see many years ago...and we have loved it ever since. That makes two, David, so keep trying...!

This is one of those incredible slices of life that, even if you know things were never like this, it's the way it SHOULD have been. Ralphie's family is eccentric and charming, he is adorable and single-minded, his interior monologues (narrate by Jean Shepherd himself) are hilarious and, more importantly, exactly on the mark for the way kids really see the world.

Many people I know (including Mr. Otter) are in awe of the way Darren McGavin as Ralphie's dad can string together nonsense syllables to sound like the worst cussing ever...sure wish I could do that.

And of course, "You'll shoot your eye out!" has become an instantly recognizable catch phrase.

Funny, well written, well paced, true to life, heartwarming, utterly ridiculous, this is one of the best Christmas movies ever. Buy it, enjoy it, you'll watch it every year.