"A Christmas Story" -- The Ad

A story on a wave of commercials -- including that Cingular ad -- inspired by the perennial holiday flick "A Christmas Story." I like the idea that advertisers have a fondness for the movie because it's filled with product placements, notably the offical Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifle. Personally, I love the fact that the film was made by Bob Clark, the director of the Porky's movies. (Clark is clearly back to his old tricks -- IMDB claims his next project is a raucous teen comedy called "Spring Broke.") Sure, "A Christmas Story" is cheaply shot, a bit broad and slap-sticky and episodic. But it definitely has a charm that overrides all those faults. Still, just because it's shown in a marathon on TBS, don't start saying it has replaced "It's A Wonderful Life" as the classic Christmas movie. That's going too far.