|
Year
: 1989
Director:
Jeremiah S. Chechik
Starring:
Chevvy Chase, Beverley D'Angelo,
Dianne Ladd, Randy Quaid. |
National Lampoons Christmas
Vacation
After
the emotion of yesterday's film, we can all settle
down to some mindless slapstick with the crazy
adventures of the extended family Griswold
Normally
we wouldn't give Chevy Chase the time of day in
our house, but it is Christmas after all, and as
the struggling everyman - Clark W Griswold he
is at least palatable. In fact I would go as far
as saying I would even share a festive eggnog with
Mr Griswold.
The
plot (such as it is) is that Clark, and the family
Griswold are preparing for a family Christmas, not
just any family Christmas but the best family Christmas
ever. Involving the in-laws, elderly relatives,
the biggest Christmas tree from the forest and,
for the outside of the house, Christmas lights
so numerous that they may just be visible from
space. To top it off, with the Christmas bonus
cheque due any day, Clark will be able to announce
to the whole extended family his intention to install
a pool in the back garden. That's the plan anyway.
But being the Griswold's things are never quite
that easy. With the Christmas lights not working,
the tree infested with squirrels, the extended
family bickering and the Christmas bonus cheque
not yet arrived things look bleak, but Clark is
determined that everyone should enjoy Griswold
family Christmas come what may. Then cousin Eddie
arrives.
When
I tell you that this film was written by John Hughes
(Weird Science, Ferris Bueller, Uncle Buck, Home
Alone etc) you'll know exactly what you are getting
- a paper thin plot, lots of half hearted gags
and even more ridiculous
shenanigans. Its true that Christmas Vacation is
prone to slip into all of those pitfalls, but despite that it is a film you
can sit, watch and enjoy without having to think about it too much*. Its probably
what could be considered (relatively) good clean fun or maybe dumb fun, but
fun all the same. Hey its Christmas - we can all go back to being arty and terribly
serious about things in the new year.
*
Actually there is one particular thing in the film
that makes you think quite deeply about it. That
is how does Chevvy Chase manage to make that empty
box look so much like its got a cat inside it?
National
Lampoons Christmas Vacation -
is at December 19th on our Christmas
movies guide (USA edition)
Buy
this film and more from our Christmas
DVD store in association with Amazon.com
