Pop Culture Movies and More: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

Clark Wilhelm Griswold wants to have a special "Griswold Family Christmas", and after months of careful planning, he invites both his parents and his wife, Ellen's parents. Clark tries to make sure everything is in line from preparing his house with over 20,000 lights and the family tree but with his cousin, Eddie and his family showing up unplanned, things become increasingly difficult. As Christmas Eve comes, Clark will soon realize that plenty of unfortunate events will begin unravelling around him. Can Clark keep it together and understand the true meaning of Christmas? This is a magnificent comedic Christmas classic that you can watch again and again, never getting old and remaining hilarious. Following the events of the previous films: National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) and National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985), the Griswolds try playing it safe by staying home for the festive holidays, but in the usual Griswold fashion, things just can't go right. Most people will be able to connect and relate to this film in some way, since families may experience something going wrong during these occasions at one time. Well, hopefully not the extent of this family's holiday. This is easily the best film in the Lampoon's Vacation series and the most loved. Personally, this was the first film I saw from the series before the others and instantly fell in love with its impeccable comedy. I found myself laughing from beginning to end with the amazing characters, who have brilliant lines and chemistry, as well as some hysterical slapstick scattered throughout. I think my favourite character has to be Clark because, like the last films, his side-splitting quips, which he is so quick at delivering and not to mention his frequent anger outbreaks where he goes completely insane. Some of his best scenes involve my other favourite character, Eddie who causes nothing but trouble for Clark and brings about some of the funniest lines in the whole film. For example, Eddie: "You surprised?", Clark: "Surprised, Eddie? If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn't be more surprised than I am right now." Not to mention the forever quotable "Merry Christmas! Shitter was full." There are so many great lines in this film that will forever be recited by my family and me every year thanks to this classic. To say that the Griswold Family Christmas suffers from some issues and goings wrong would be the understatement of the century. The visiting family causes many problems, decorations won't work, Clark gets trapped in the attic, a squirrel terrorises the house, the Christmas tree burst up in flames, there's a kidnapping, a cat explodes, the neighbour's house is destroyed and armed police break into the house. Now, doesn't that sound like the perfect Christmas Holiday? They managed to take the wacky situations of the previous instalments and dial them up by a hundred for this film as it is practically the perfect entertainment. Christmas Vacation is also very festive, from all the beautiful decorations, music, colours, lights and traditions that so many of us partake in ourselves like the reading of the Night Before Christmas and more. It is nice that by the end, despite all the mishaps and troubles the family goes through, in the end, things all go right (kind of) with them all having the perfect Christmas. Overall, what isn't there to enjoy from this iconic holiday movie? It's a perfect sequel to two already superb films, it's another film from the phenomenal decade of the 80s and it's a jolly, fun comedy set during the most wonderful time of the year. The definitive must-see of the Christmas period. Also, check out the final film in the series, Vegas Vacation (1997).

Runtime: 1h 37m