'National Lampoon Christmas Vacation' - A Movie Review

Make sure that the Christmas tree doesn’t have a squirrel hiding in it!

National Lampoon Christmas Vacation hit theaters in 1989. The Griswold’s are expecting some company for Christmas. With the house packed with arguing family members, Clarke is just clinging to his sanity as everyone tries to enjoy the holidays.

No matter how many times I have watched this movie I am always laughing at the crazy antics. National Lampoon Christmas Vacation is a comedy that invests in snippets of an endless and hilarious week leading to Christmas. From start to finish, Christmas Vacation is the right holiday film to make you smile and spend some time with your family.

Chevy Chase is the core of any of the Vacation movies from his bugged eyed expressions to his over the top antics trying to do everything to keep his sanity together to make it a memorable holiday. My favorite scene will always be Chase struggling to put the Christmas lights together and insulting his boss with thirty different words.

One of the best qualities of Beverly D’Angelo’s performance as Ellen Griswold is her reactions to all the hilarious calamity. I love how she is always trying to keep things together, despite how everything has fallen apart. She and Chase share remarkable scenes.

As a recurring gag, the Griswold kids are recast in each Vacation movie. Juliette Lewis and Johnny Galecki are terrific putting up with their house guests, rolling their eyes or showing how annoyed they are. Each actor delivered a great performance getting into the right character.

National Lampoon Christmas Vacation would not be what it without an outstanding ensemble. Playing the roles of the grandparents John Randolph, Diane Ladd, E.G. Marshall, and Doris Roberts were remarkable being the stuck-up parents of Clarke and Ellen. I liked scenes involving tender moments, especially a small moment between Clarke and his father-in-law.

The moment Cousin Eddie and his family arrive causes further crazy shenanigans. Randy Quaid is the highlight of Christmas Vacation. Having a bigger heart than a brain his Christmas gift to Clark goes down in history as one of the best presents.

Do you recognize the actress who plays Aunt Edna? That’s correct! That is Mae Questel the voice of Betty Boop from the original cartoons in her final acting role. Her scenes involved great comedic timing and some of the best one-liners.

One of my favorite subplots involved the Griswold’s neighbors (Nicholas Guest and Julie Louis-Dreyfus) having to put up with the crazy antics. They delivered the best comical reactions when the bright Christmas lights are turned on blinding them.

Jeremiah S. Chechik paid the closest attention to the comedy in the film. He definitely went over the top, but that is the main theme of all the Vacation movies. These films are meant to make audiences laugh and reflect on their own memories with families. We can relate to portrayals and scenes presented on the screen.

One scene that has been proclaimed as the funniest scene in the movie almost got cut! The scene where the cat is electrocuted was feared that it would upset audiences. I believe that the story was very well-written capturing some of the funniest moments in film history.

Despite the arguments, disagreements, and insults that are jabbed amongst the family, Christmas Vacation sports an important message that not all families are perfect. Christmas is always going to be a wild holiday. Make it memorable and spend time with your family.

National Lampoon Christmas Vacation is a festive film for all to enjoy. It’s a lovely movie that you have to experience all the laughs during your holiday.