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National Lampoon's: Christmas Vacation 1989 WARNER BROTHERS ENTERTAINMENT, DIRECTED BY JEREMIAH S. CHECHIK Starring Chevy Chase, Randy Quaid, Beverly D'Angelo and more Christmas Vacation is a classic. Although many see Chevy Chase’s humor as un-comical, and far too boring, others see it as original and hilarious. The chemistry he is able to forge in every film leaves me a fan for sure. However, when someone mentions Chase, the first movie that springs to my mind is Christmas Vacation Growing up, this film was just as much a staple of my holiday season as the likes of the Grinch cartoon, as well as the Peanuts and Garfield Christmas cartoons. However, there was a steady concern from my moms side of me watching the movie. I can see some of it at a few parts, but for the most its just any other comedy. The film is littered with dry, abstract jokes, and hilarious low-toned gestures that do indeed appeal to me more than movies that seem to reach too far. Clark Griswold. He’s a true family man. Clark seems to be one of the only people who has his priorities in check: Family First. When he decides to have an old-fashion family Christmas, he finds out just what comes along with it. Clarks Christmas is turned upside down with crazy relatives, exterior lumination problems, and not getting his Christmas bonus. The highlight of the movie is the winning combination of Chase and Eddie (Randy Quaid). The two battle back and forth, with Clark even saying at one point “Can I get you anything? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?” to which Eddie replies, “No, Im just fine Clark.” Genius. What keeps this movie a "classic" has to be the chemistry between Clark and the rest of his family. Clark is such a honest man, who is putting all his energy into providing the best Christmas. Not for himself, but for everyone else. His family consists of whining, nagging parents and in-laws, who cant seem to keep quiet for more than two seconds. Everytime I watch "Chrstmas Vacation", I try to find all the bad in it. Granted, I love Christmas movies in general. But watching it while trying to keep a different perspective, I can see why some people might turn up their noses at it. Maybe because there is so much negativity? Perhaps. Come to think of it, everything that could go wrong for Clark does, in fact, go wrong. A little unsettling for a holiday flick, yet humorous for some at the same time. However you want to look at it, theres something to be had in this movie. Something you can relate to or laugh at. Whether you’ve seen this movie or not, and whether you liked it or you didn’t, It is unquestionably one of the funniest holiday films around today. And for being 16 years old, I really believe that says something. And for those of you who may not feel this is a deserving holiday flick, I suggest you Google “Favorite Christmas Movies”. Because every list has Christmas Vacation on it. One million people cant be wrong. MOUNT CRUMPIT RATING: 3 / 5 |
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