b_lawhorn's Full Review: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Chestnuts roasting on an open fire ... carolers singing ... warm cider ... and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation --- our family tradition! Yes, I have to admit that one of the things my son and I look forward to at Christmas is our annual viewing of this hysterical movie. Possibly because there are events that mirror or echo our own experiences, we absolutely love this movie!
From the beginning of this movie, Chevy Chase's character Clark Griswold will keep you in stitches with his many "bumbling idiot" antics surrounding the Christmas holiday season. Add in his less than normal family members and you have the makings of what I call "a classic Christmas movie".
The first in this series of movies, National Lampoon's Vacation and National Lampoon's European Vacation, are very funny movies but can't compare to this Christmas film. Whether you are relating to Clark's 25,000 Christmas light fiasco, the many mishaps at the Christmas dinner, the scrooge of a boss or his many fantasies about the elusive Christie Brinkley, this film is filled with gut busting laughs!
Randy Quaid adds extra punch to this movie as Cousin Eddie, the grossest relative ever to invade a family gathering. Beverly D'Angelo, as the ever discerning yet patient wife, is always an added treat to these National Lampoon movies. The actors who portray the Griswold children are different in each movie, but the important characters remain the same and therefore help keep some continuity in the films.
Don't watch this movie if your favorite holiday films run along the lines of "It's a Wonderful Life" or "White Christmas". However, if you have a sarcastic wit, a great sense of humor and a dysfunctional family of your own, then run to the closest movie rental and grab this one! Better yet, go to any local video store and purchase the movie to add to your collection.
I asked my son if he wanted to do anything special while on Thanksgiving leave from the Marines and his response was, "Of course, Mom. We can put up the tree and watch Christmas Vacation!" Guess I better go out in the garage and start unraveling that big ball of Christmas lights!
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