NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION: The Holidays Gone Awry

Even if you’re the biggest scrooge around you are sure to have films you watch this time of year. Or, at the least, ones that you had as a tradition when you were younger and less cynical. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation has always been one of mine.

It was one of those movies that I could enjoy at a young age, but that my parents could also appreciate. John Hughes penned the script, and it has all the makings one can hope for in a seasonal comedy, complete with heart, humor and just the right amount of absurdity.

Can’t you already hear the theme song, grinding its way into your brain?

The Hap Hap Happiest Christmas

What could go wrong on Christmas when you have a house full of family (some unexpected)? For the Griswolds, Clark (Chevy Chase) Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo), Audrey (Juliette Lewis) and Russ (Johnny Galecki), this season is an especially memorable one.

Clark Griswold has plans for his family and he intends to check everything off the requisite holiday list. Of course, nothing goes quite as expected, but therein lies the intended hilarity.

On top of his never-ending cheer, he expects a bonus from work (to get a pool) from his grinch-like boss Frank (Brian Doyle–Murray), so it seems that nothing can bring him down. Even when his cousin in law, the insipid Eddie (Randy Quaid), crashes the party. He’s a staple in most of the vacation films and is always outlandish and on the cusp of ruining things.

Chevy Chase is one of the unrivaled physical comedians. His uncanny use of mannerisms and wild expressions work to confuse and delight all at once. He often frequented my screen when I was younger, with the likes of Caddyshack, Funny Farm, Nothing but Trouble and Three Amigos, (to name a few) but with Christmas Vacation, it was a ritual viewing. Clark Griswold might just be his most famous character, and he’s certainly the most memorable holiday dad.

His reactions to Eddie and the other over-the-top incidences make for some of the funniest moments. The two together are a continual skit of insults that go over Eddie’s head, while he continues to lay the groundwork for another joke. The rest of the family is a bit reluctant to match Clark’s zeal, but they all work together to level things out and keep the spirit present. Even when things teeter.

D’Angelo has a balmy temperament, while the kids (who are always played by different actors in each film – a running joke) fight against the gusto of their father. Some of the family members, including William Hickey, Mae Questel and Doris Roberts, each have their own noteworthy moment.

Their pretentious neighbors, including Julia Louis-Dreyfus, have a particular enmity towards the Griswolds. Which, of course, means they end up on the receiving end of a lot of the antics and mishaps.

Hallelujah! Holy Shit!

Of course, the film is full of slapstick skits, with Chase enduring all the expected pain. Ever the family man he bounces back, ready to face the next potential disaster with his own brand of grace.

There aren’t many movies made like this anymore. I reflect on last year’s Daddy Home 2 and it’s regimented, stilted feel. They have similarities: a big family coming together over the holiday and several Xmas activities like finding the perfect tree, gift shopping, and activities in the snow.

In all these elements Lampoon’s is not only bigger, but better implemented. For it to work there must be a weighted amount of sentimentality and laughs. While the end of the film begins to dive too far into the deep end, it eventually comes up for air, and who can hold in a laugh when Chase starts to lose it?

It’s no secret that John Hughes was immensely talented and created many ’80s and ’90s classics (including a few holiday ones). In Christmas Vacation, there is his obvious creative touch with sarcasm and deadpan comedy combining to make for a hilarious venture.

Jeremiah S. Chechik directed this definitive 1989 yuletide film that utilizes Chase’s adept abilities, that’s able to crack a smile on even the most stubborn of faces, while still delivering the nostalgia and drama of families during the holidays.

Like Clark, sometimes our aspirations for the holidays are unfeasible, and we may infuriate each other to no end, but there’s always a hopeful togetherness through it all. Family is forever.

Conclusion: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation isn’t the finest Xmas movie you’ll ever see, but it’s disarmingly heartfelt at times, and the over-the-top extravaganzas (like the house lights you could probably see from space) epitomize Christmas. The guileless Clark and company make for a delightful film experience each and every year.

What do you think of the movie? What is your go-to Christmas film? Let us know in the comments below!