The key really seems to be this . . .

I said this in another thread (as I do every Christmas), but I went to school with that kid, and he actually came to my fifth birthday party. Nice enough guy, kind of quite. Was part of a band (emo-ish music) when we graduated high school.

I do think this movie is almost perfect on the Roger Ebert scale of doing *exactly* what it sets out to do, and doing so almost perfectly. I honestly can't think of any way to improve it.

Some people's annual tradition is watching A Christmas Story. My annual tradition is to boast about going to school with "(the kid in front of Ralphie who can only say he “likes” whatever comes along)", aka "kid with goggles," aka David Svboda, who transferred to my elementary school in 5th grade (and came to my…