One characteristic is the intensification of emotions. At first, the characters may be feeling normal, but as the story progresses, the emotions blow up. Maybe a character is a bit sad at the beginning, but then through a series of events, that sadness turns into overwhelming despair or rage. Also, the plot usually has a point of explosion. It could be a revelation of a long - hidden truth, like in a mystery - type 'blow up short story' where the identity of a murderer is revealed and it blows up all the previous assumptions in the story. This can be very engaging for readers as it keeps them on their toes.
Often, a Christmas story blows up when it combines familiar holiday themes with fresh perspectives. Good character development and a strong emotional core can also contribute. Maybe it taps into universal feelings of love, family, and hope during the Christmas season.
Blowing up the dam in Toy Story 3? That's not something that happens or should be considered. The movie is a charming and heartwarming tale that doesn't involve such destructive scenarios.
I'm not entirely sure without reading the book more closely, but likely there are characters like the photographer in 'blow up'. He seems to be a central figure in that particular story, his actions and observations driving the narrative forward.
One of the main themes could be the exploration of human perception. In these stories, the characters might experience events in ways that distort or expand their normal perception, like in 'blow up' where the photographer's view of the situation might be more complex than it seems at first glance.