Strange name but "Ollie Hopnoodle's Haven of Bliss" is actually the sequel to "A Christmas Story" it's the actual #2, you might say, even though that name is taken.
Whereas "A Christmas Story 2" was clearly just a cheap cash grab, this does actually feel like a real movie - it feels like a real sequel even though the first is a classic and this is not.
First off, Jean Shepherd was actually involved in this one, reprising his role as the Narrator and as writer. That's 90% of it. Secondly, there are actual actors here doing believable work. You can think of these characters as real people. You got Jerry O'Connell as Ralphie (remember Jerry O'Connell?), the dad is played by Doogie Howser's dad and the mom is the girl from "Mama's Family". Oh man, "Mama's Family". That's a post in itself.
The impact of these actor is a really big factor and a stark contrast with "ACS2". The Jean Shepherd/slice of life style means the entire movie hinges on believing that this is a real family. On the one side of the spectrum, you have "ACS2" with cartoon cut out characters and on the other side is "ACS1" where I refuse to believe that those people were not a real family. This one works because it's closer to the latter. There is a point in the movie where the mother is yelling upstairs to get everyone out of bed and as she yells her voice goes up into annoying screeching territory and it perfectly captures that feeling. Likewise the annoying younger brother is actually annoying and, similarly, reminds you of growing up and knowing kids like that.
The plot is simple: the first half of the movie is the family anticipating their upcoming Summer vacation, the second half of the movie is them driving to Michigan for their Summer vacation. That's it. I was surprised as I was watching it that there wasn't really a central plot, exactly, just a series of episodes but Shepherd's style is to write about life and that's life. The road trip where there is no central plot but consists of simply a series of things go wrong is pretty much the same idea as "National Lampoon's Vacation".
It's funny that this movie and "A Christmas Story 2" both start with Ralphie being years older and both have plots that revolve around him getting his first job. The fact that ACS2 flirts with the Teen Comedy genre and this movie keeps him respectable - focusing just on how tortuous the job is - is a telling contrast.
This was a made-for-tv movie, made by Disney (and PBS) and there are parts where it shows. I mentioned the good story and actors but some of the direction is pretty rough. It also drags on a bit towards the end. Let's face it, it can't compare with an absolute classic and even if it could, Summer vacation as a concept can't compete with the magic of Christmas.
