NATIONAL LAMPOON’S: CHRISTMAS VACATION
(director: Jeremiah S. Chechik; screenwriter: John Hughes; cinematographer: Thomas Ackerman; editors: Jerry Greenberg/Michael Stevenson; music: Angelo Badalamenti; cast: Chevy Chase (Clark Griswold), Beverly D’Angelo (Ellen Griswold), Randy Quaid (Eddie), Diane Ladd (Nora Griswold), Mae Questel (Aunt Bethany), William Hickey (Uncle Lewis), John Randolph (Clark Griswold Sr.), E. G. Marshall (Art Smith), Doris Roberts (Francis), Doris Roberts (Frances Smith), Juliette Lewis (Audrey Griswold), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Margo Chester), Johnnie Galecki (Rusty Griswold), Sam McMurray (Bill), Cody Burger (Rocky Johnson), Miriam Flynn (Cousin Catherine Johnson), Nicholas Guest (Todd Chester), Ellen Hamilton Latzen (Ruby Sue Johnson); Runtime: 97; MPAA Rating: PG-13; producers: John Hughes, Tom Jacobson; Warner Brothers; 1989)
“A goofy satire of the middle-class WASP suburban holiday scene.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Canadian director of TV commercials and music video director, Jeremiah S. Chechik (“Benny and Joon”), in his debut feature film, takes over from the previous director, Chris Columbus, who couldn’t get along with Chevy Chase and was fired. He called Chevy a jerk. This is the third outing in the National Lampoon’s holiday series started in 1983, and is the most whimsical and satisfying one. It’s written as a goofy satire of the middle-class WASP suburban holiday scene by John Hughes (Home Alone writer, who hired Columbus to direct it).
The Griswold patriarch, Clark (Chevy Chase), craves for an “old-fashioned Christmas” at home. He’s a lovable and well-meaning screw-up, who has a supportive long-suffering wife, Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo), and a couple of lively teenage kids (Johnny Galecki, Juliette Lewis).
The laughs come easy when dad goes to the country and returns with a tree too big to fit in the house. The family is visited by their penniless redneck in-laws who live in their RV, led by the crude cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid). The relatives won’t leave the Grisvold grounds.
The family’s antagonistic yuppie neighbor (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) goes ballistic on the Grisvolds for their loud behavior, while supported by her husband (Nicholas Guest).
Things never work out how Clark plans them, which includes getting locked in the attic and falling off the roof.
The character elderly actors suffering from senility are smartly played by William Hickey (age 62) as Uncle Lewis and Mae Questel (age 81), the voice of both Betty Boop and Olive Oyl, as Aunt Bethany, in her final film. They bring on some funny moments relating with Clark while being hard-of-hearing.
Clark’s show-off display of Christmas lights works until a fluffy cat comes along and chews on the wires, which puts out all the lights.
The film features an original song called “Christmas Vacation” sung by Mavis Staples.
It’s a guilty pleasure treat for those willing to let their hair down and go with schlocky physical comedy that includes slapstick and pratfalls.
The film ends on Christmas Eve.
Not the best or worst of Christmas movies, but it has managed to become a fan favorite and seems to pop up every year on cable. On its theater release, it became number one at the box office briefly.
REVIEWED ON 12/22/2024 GRADE: B-
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