"Naw, I'm doing just fine, Clark."
Clark Griswold (Chase) dreams of the perfect family-centric Christmas, complete with the perfect tree. He takes his long-suffering family: wife Ellen (D'Angelo), daughter Audrey (Lewis), and son Rusty (Galecki), to the middle of nowhere to get the perfect tree, which they will cut down. But it isn't that easy... they trudge through the snow, shake with the cold, and then realize the saw is still in the car. Thus begins the Griswold Christmas.
Soon the feuding grandparents arrive... Clark's parents Clark Sr. (Randolph) and Nora (Ladd), who only survive the holidays by drinking; and Ellen's parents Art (Marshall) and Frances (Roberts) who don't approve of Clark or anything he does. Clark is optimistically awaiting his yearly Christmas bonus so he can purchase a family pool. This optimism is the only way he survives the unexpected arrival of Cousin Eddie (Quaid) and his clan, who park their "home" in the driveway and impose on Clark's hospitality. Will they survive the holidays... better question, will the neighbors (Nicholas Guest and Julia Louis-Dreyfus) survive?
Over the years, I have seen parts of the film... but until recently had never seen the entire film. In fact, I have yet to see any of the "Vacation" films in entirety. I have seen portions of the first film, but that is it. I know many people who consider this film a holiday tradition, and I can see the appeal, but I don't think it would make my Top Christmas Films.
The writing is good... Memorable for the sight gags and quotes, I love the one at the beginning of the post. The cast is littered with veteran comics, all underused. The grandparents, Uncle Louis (William Hickey), and Aunt Bethany (Mae Questel),
get a few laughs, but don't really get to do much. They play interesting characters, but aren't around enough. But it's hard to stand out when you have Chevy Chase and Randy Quaid on screen... Quaid's inappropriate character has some classic moments, such as his Christmas gift to Clark. The children, Rusty and Audrey, are portrayed by different actors than the other "Vacation" films (Rusty and Audrey are different in each film), and both have done well since making this film (Galecki is one of the stars of the TV show "Big Bang Theory" and Lewis is still appearing in films).
This film, even on TV, is not appropriate for children... It's a good Christmas film, but not a family film. Watch with discretion.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) 97 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Director: Jeremiah Chechik
Starring: Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold
Beverly D'Angelo as Ellen Griswold
Juliette Lewis as Audrey Griswold
Johnny Galecki as Rusty Griswold
John Randolph as Clark Griswold Sr.
Diane Ladd as Nora Griswold
E.G. Marshall as Art Smith
Doris Roberts as Frances Smith
Randy Quaid as Cousin Eddie Johnson
Miriam Flynn as Cousin Catherine Johnson
Soon the feuding grandparents arrive... Clark's parents Clark Sr. (Randolph) and Nora (Ladd), who only survive the holidays by drinking; and Ellen's parents Art (Marshall) and Frances (Roberts) who don't approve of Clark or anything he does. Clark is optimistically awaiting his yearly Christmas bonus so he can purchase a family pool. This optimism is the only way he survives the unexpected arrival of Cousin Eddie (Quaid) and his clan, who park their "home" in the driveway and impose on Clark's hospitality. Will they survive the holidays... better question, will the neighbors (Nicholas Guest and Julia Louis-Dreyfus) survive?
Over the years, I have seen parts of the film... but until recently had never seen the entire film. In fact, I have yet to see any of the "Vacation" films in entirety. I have seen portions of the first film, but that is it. I know many people who consider this film a holiday tradition, and I can see the appeal, but I don't think it would make my Top Christmas Films.
The writing is good... Memorable for the sight gags and quotes, I love the one at the beginning of the post. The cast is littered with veteran comics, all underused. The grandparents, Uncle Louis (William Hickey), and Aunt Bethany (Mae Questel),
"Is your house on fire, Clark?"
"No, Aunt Bethany, those are the Christmas lights."
"No, Aunt Bethany, those are the Christmas lights."
get a few laughs, but don't really get to do much. They play interesting characters, but aren't around enough. But it's hard to stand out when you have Chevy Chase and Randy Quaid on screen... Quaid's inappropriate character has some classic moments, such as his Christmas gift to Clark. The children, Rusty and Audrey, are portrayed by different actors than the other "Vacation" films (Rusty and Audrey are different in each film), and both have done well since making this film (Galecki is one of the stars of the TV show "Big Bang Theory" and Lewis is still appearing in films).
This film, even on TV, is not appropriate for children... It's a good Christmas film, but not a family film. Watch with discretion.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) 97 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Director: Jeremiah Chechik
Starring: Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold
Beverly D'Angelo as Ellen Griswold
Juliette Lewis as Audrey Griswold
Johnny Galecki as Rusty Griswold
John Randolph as Clark Griswold Sr.
Diane Ladd as Nora Griswold
E.G. Marshall as Art Smith
Doris Roberts as Frances Smith
Randy Quaid as Cousin Eddie Johnson
Miriam Flynn as Cousin Catherine Johnson
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