Ever since the Vacation trilogy was born in 1983 with Vactation, Clark Griswold has become the iconic figure of an endearing, lovable husband and father to all. He devises and promises his family the best Vacation from trilogy after trilogy only for the experience to ensue in total and utter chaos for all.
Hey that is what makes him a flawed character that any other husband and father can relate to. He has a loyal wife who loves him no matter what kind of mess he gets into. However his kids go along for the ride not expecting much from Dad and just hope he doesn't make a fool out of himself or anybody.
National Lampoon's Xmas Vacation takes a slight detour from the last two Vacation films but the plot is still the same. Instead of the Griswolds going on a road or plane trip, they are home for the holidays entertaining their relatives. I just can't get enough of the wonderful ebb and flow of all the pent up anxieties, resentments, and verbal exchanges that take places between the two in-laws and the trailer park clan who comes to crash the party. In a way it kind of reminds me of Xmas Eve on my Dad's side of the family.
The reason Xmas Vacation works is that because it takes common situations and conflicts that arise in families and exploits them to outrageous lengths. In everyone's family there is always going to be Grandparents, Aunts, Parents, who eat, sleep, snore, and complain too much.
There's always going to be a Cousin Eddie whose seen as a black sheep of the family. He latches onto Clark with his big bear claws for food, money, presents and doesn't know his ass from a proper waste disposal spot. If there ever was a big country cousin who belches, burps, scratches his butt, and asks you to save the neck for him it is Cousin Eddy.
"Merry Xmas! Shitter was full!"
Finally, you're going to have elderly Great Grandparents or Grandparents who get easily confused, forgets, and gets things misplaced or out of order. All of what makes us pull our hair out about our extended families is encompassed in this timeless holiday classic.
One of the memorable scenes in the film is Clark's never ending attempts to light up the neighborhood by displaying Christmas lights all over his house.
His first attempts fail, his In-Laws laugh at his lunacy, and the fate of his illuminated Christmas Castle lies at the hands of his wife. Whereas some people get by implementing the most cost effective way to light up their house, Clark over does it by decorating every nook and cranny of the house with enough electricity to bring down a city's power grid.
In a glorious Hallelujah celebration, everyone from Clark's parents to Eddie's Dog revels in his new found glory whereas the next door neighbor sulks in infamy about the stain in her carpet.
The biggest pops occur during Clark's dream pool sequence that results in a sexual fantasy with a certain lingerie sales associate.
"My god, why do I keep thinking about old mail issues of Stephanie Seymour in Victoria Secret magazine when ever I think of her"
Who could not forget Clark trying to upstage his family by promising the fastest sled only to be dashing through the snow on a sled ride from hell.
Finally , the unforgettable scene where the family cowers in fear running from the likes of all of things....a squirrel.
Like with all Vacation movie, there is always someone who acts as the thorn in Clark's spine and that swine in this edition is Frank Shirley played by Brian Murray.
When he huffs and puff and blows all the company bonuses away , Clark responds in a humorous tirade lambasting his boss all the while conducting some home remodeling of his own. Even though Brian Murray's screen time is limited he makes a big impact as a cranky, snot-nosed prick who counts his own profits and spits on his employee's shoes.
One of the great tragic Hollywood stories is the fact that Chevy Chase has faded from the movie scene. I mean he's a great comic and his timing, and his mannerisms in this movie is impeccable. However, it's his unwillingness to not step into more dramatic roles like Bill Murray that has kept us from seeing more potential classics like this one.
Christmas Vacation will always be a timeless holiday classic for those who want a more adult spin to their holiday cheer. And Clark's delusions of grandeur to re-create the Christmas's of old with his family but failing miserably is something we all can relate to. There's no denying the impact Christmas Vacation has had during the Holidays with tens of thousands posting online videos to earn the coveted bragging rights to re-creating their own Griswald style light display.
JOE'S FAVORTIE MUSIC TRACK FROM THE FILM
"Can't see the line can you Russ?" "NO! "
This was a tough one. Originally I was going to go with the Xmas Vacation theme song but I keep going back to Bing because of the Stephanie Seymour wanna-be bathing beauty. So in honor of the Lingerie Sales Associate I give you this .
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