On N List of Movie Reviews

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National Lampoon's
Christmas Vacation (1989)

Rate: 8
Viewed: 11/03, 5/06, 6/11

NLCV
5/06: Unusual and perfect for Christmas, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is an uproariously funny picture.

When I first saw the film at a theatre in 1989, I thought it would become the next It's a Wonderful Life. My prediction came true as it's probably the second most sought-after video of the holiday season.

Chevy Chase was funny in the 80's, but his comedy pictures have failed to stand the test of time. Hence, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is the only one that does. So many "comedy" films are offensive, gross, or sleazy to the point of being scatologically unwatchable for the family. But not National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. This is as good as it gets.

There are memorable moments such as the crash landing on the Christmas tree lot, the sight of a dug-out tree, the stickiness from the sap, Clark sporting a Jason hockey mask, the 25,000 twinkle lights plus the drum roll, the toboggan with a slippery surface, Clark's comment about Eddie unloading his toilet into the storm drain, the cat spending all of nine lives at once, Grace's passing away and the pledge of allegiance, "What's that sound? You hear it? It's a funny squeaky sound," the damage caused by the squirrel, the burned-down tree, the Jelly-of-the-Month club bonus, and Ellen protecting Clark's crotch during the SWAT raid.

All in all, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is an instant Christmas classic as it delivers on the promise that "YULE CRACK UP!"

6/11: When National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation came out on video, it quickly became a mandatory viewing during every holiday season just like how It's a Wonderful Life had been.

I still can't forget how funny the movie is: the wild incidents, the hilarious lines, and the sad-but-true moments. Of all the National Lampoon movies, this is the only one that's worth watching.

Chevy Chase delivers the best performance of his career. He's perfect as Clark Griswold. So are Mae Questel and William Hickey who play Aunt Bethany and Uncle Lewis, respectively. They're funny. By the way, it's Mae Questel's final film of her career, and she was the voice of Betty Boop, going all the way back to 1930.

All in all, if you didn't find anything funny in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, then the definition of comedy has been lost on you.