The Griswolds are tackling Christmas this time around and Clark wants to have a “good ol fashion family Christmas”. Of course he obsesses, he tries hard, and he fails at many things, in typical Clark W. Griswold style. All the grandparents are in town and staying with the Griswolds which of course adds stress to everyone in the house. Clark is desperately trying to have the biggest and best light display in all of Chicago, which he ultimately succeeds. It is a laugh a minute romp through the holiday season and an all time classic.
The acting again, is top notch. Chevy Chase kills it as Clark again and Beverly D’Angelo, while her role seems pulled back this time plays the perfect “straight man” to Chase’s antics. Even the side characters of Clark’s dad and his father in law are great. Rusty is played by Leonard Hofstadter himself, Johnny Galecki and Audrey this time around is Juliette Lewis whom is always solid in everything. The true star of this movie is Cousin Eddie played by Randy Quaid. Cousin Eddie, is one of my favorite movie characters ever. He was hilarious in Vacation and in Christmas Vacation he has some of the funniest lines and moments. I mean, cmon….”Merry Christmas! Shitter was full!” is one of the greatest lines put to film right?
Merry Christmas! SHITTER WAS FULL!
There are so many comedic moments in this movie that you notice things you haven’t in previous watches. I can’t tell you how many times I saw this movie before noticing in the shopping scene with Clark and Eddie that Eddie puts at least 4 HUGE bags of dog food in the cart. Then I noticed later that Eddie puts a big bag in, then Clark puts a box of lightbulbs on top, only for Eddie to put two more huge bags on top of the bulbs haha. To me things like that are what makes a rewatchable movie, this movie excels with that. Some of the dialogue is absolutely top notch. One of my favorite exchanges shows the comedic genius of Chevy Chase, that no one before or after can truly capture. Clark and Eddie are looking at Clark’s tree and Eddie is asking questions and being his typical simple self. Clark looks to Eddie and says “Can I refill your egg nog for you? Get ya something to eat? Take you out to the middle of nowhere? Leave ya for dead?” The last two questions are delivered perfectly and of course Eddie doesn’t pay attention and brushes them off. Cousin Eddie’s introduction into this movie itself is great. Clark has been struggling most of the movie to get his crazy light display to work. He loses his mind as Clark does, when Ellen realizes she has to flip a switch in the garage to power the lights. Overjoyed with accomplishment Clark goes to each family member and revels in his work of art. Eddie and Catherine are just standing there smiling when Clark walks up and says “and Eddie….EDDIE?!”. “You surprised to see me Clark?” “Eddie, if I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn’t be more surprised than I am right now!”.
Eddie...EDDIE?! Eddie?
I’ve gone this far and haven’t even mentioned Todd and Margo, the yuppie neighbors. Clark unknowingly tortures them and ruins their Christmas in the process. Julia Louis Dreyfuss does an amazing job as Margo and ends up punching Todd in the face at the end, which is justified in my opinion. The whole “SQUIRREL!!” scene is comedic gold. Not only do we get the ridiculousness of the family freaking out over a squirrel in the living room, but my favorite running gag in the Vacation series…”RUSS!!!!” “I’m right here dad…” Great Aunt Bethany and Great Uncle Lewis are two more zany characters that have their moments that can’t be forgotten. The crazy old bat wraps up her cat as a gift and brings some gnarly jello mold that Eddie loves, naturally.
The idea of a “Good Ol Fashion Family Christmas” of course blows up in Clark’s face when everything that can go wrong does. He doesn’t get his Christmas bonus, but a jelly of the month club membership. Which leads Clark to drop an epic rant about his boss:
“I’d like Frank Shirley, my boss right here tonight. I want him brought from his happy holiday slumber over there on Melody Lane with all the other rich people, and I want him brought right here! With a big ribbon on his head! And I want to look him straight in the eye, and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no good, rotten, four flushing, low life, snake licking, dirt eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood sucking, dog kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat ass, bug eyed, stiff legged, spotty lipped, worm headed sack of monkey shit he is! Hallelujah! Holy shit! Where’s the Tylenol?”
HALLELUJAH! HOLY SHIT! Where's the Tylenol?
Soon the swat team arrives and storms the house. Everyone freezes and another funny thing you might not notice at first. Ellen has a handful of Clark’s junk when it happens. Which was totally improvised by Beverly D’Angelo by the way. Mr. Shirley gives Clark his bonus after seeing the error of his ways. The whole cast goes out in the front yard, the gas from Eddie’s shitter blows up and sets Lewis on fire, Aunt Bethany sings the National Anthem and Clark then gets his perfect Christmas moment while the credits role.
I did it!
When it ends you want to watch it again because it keeps you wanting more! It is an all time classic and one of the most rewatchable movies of all time. If you haven’t seen it, then I greatly suggest it. It is a solid A+ from me and I can’t even think about giving it less! I hope all of you have the hap hap happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap danced with Danny Fuckin’ Kaye!
