FS STUDIO'S XMAS CLASSICS : NATIONAL LAMPOON'S XMAS VACATION

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 . 

FS STUDIO'S XMAS CLASSICS : HOME ALONE 2: LOST IN NEW YORK

Home Alone 2 is a great example of how to make a great sequel if the same cast, and same plot story line are present.  It doesn't matter where the movie takes place as long as the magic of the first one is present.  Home Alone became a holiday hit  with kids because it tapped into every kid's wishes from being independent from your parents, to do and say what you want, to the power of defending yourself in every cruel way possible to those who are up to no good.  Even though this formula is copied for a second time round , it's effect is still well achieved.  Honestly, what kid would not want to take a dream vacation on their parents dime if they could.

The film adds a nice plot twist at the beginning in showing how Kevin ended up in New York City.  An alarm clock fails, setting off a similar chain of events that sends the McCallister clan into  a hurried frenzy off to the airport.  When Kevin's mom think's she's misplaced him again, out pops up Kevin to offer a brief sigh of relief.  It's at that moment that we think all is well with the world with Kevin being reunited with his family.  However, by fooling Kevin into thinking he's following whom he believes is his father, hops on the wrong flight, ends up in NYC  thus  opening  up the door to a whole new set of circumstances utilizing the same magic of the first.

Instead of Kevin uncovering his brother's allowance, he's got access to Mom and Dad's piggy bank and is living it up with class and style in New York City.  Whether it's sightseeing around town, buying  fireworks,  to checking into a five star hotel, to ordering tasty treats it seems like the skies the limit.   When things are about to look up for Kevin, a whole new set of unfortunate circumstances arise that further take Kevin away from the comforts of easy living to the mean streets of New York City where poverty, crime, and despair roam rampant.

First, the credit card he checked into the hotel with  was not his.  Second, he's now a fugitive of the law.  Third, the Sticky Bandits are hot on his trail.  So although it offers the same plot of the first,  Kevin's character does do some soul searching when he encounters a woman who is in a much worse predicate than he is.  In another heartfelt conversation that may not have been as powerful as the one he had with Roberts Blossom it's still effective and sends a good message.

 It is then Kevin learns to not always think about himself and what makes him happy  but  to be more compassionate to thoughts and feeling of others.

The finale has him  not defending his house, but defending himself and the rights, liberties, and privileges for all ill-stricken children during Xmas when he squares off against the Sticky Bandits.  The same tricks, gags, and stunts are used but are heightened more to elevate the laugh factor.

In the end, it shows that you can create the same plot circumstances as the original  to create another moving character experience as Kevin takes his first step from childhood to early adult.   It becomes another heartfelt Xmas classic full of hope, love, and action-packed slapstick joy for the whole family.  So it's not original but hey it's a Xmas movie, and during Xmas we need films that have warm messages for all growing kids to be kind, considerate, and compassionate to those less fortunate during the holidays .

JOE'S FAVORITE TRACK FROM FILM: 

FS STUDIO'S XMAS CLASSICS : HOME ALONE

Has anyone as a child said anything or acted out of context to a parent, sibling, or relative that in the heat of the moment you wished to never see or speak to them again?  What if for one brief moment your wish come could true and they weren't there.

Would the experience be as fun as you were anticipating or just not the same without them? Well in this second John Hughes  Holiday classic we get to this childhood fantasy  through the heart and soul of a young Kevin McCallister (Macualay Culkin).


Home Alone is about an 8 year old boy, Kevin McCallister, whom through the course of a Christmas Vacation can indulge in his innermost pleasures from eating junk food, watching cops and robbers, to jumping on the bed.

Although he appears to be a snotty, loud mouth kid, he is often over-shadowed by his older brothers and sisters.  So in a way the separation from child and family serves as a reflection time for both parties involved and  at the end they both begin to value the love, respect, and compassion they have for each other.  They aren't really mad at one another other it was just the heat of the moment.

The absence of Kevin's parents adds a wonderful plot device and serves as the beginning of his character ark.  In order for Kevin to enjoy the fruits of freedom, he is going to have overcome his own fears from doing the laundry, going out shopping, to sleeping in a  empty house at night.

 After over coming the trials,  Kevin is more self-confident, independent, wiser, and clever in outwitting the Wet Bandits (Daniel Stern, Joe Pesci) at the end.  When the Wet Bandits come to town , they underestimate his resourceful to use whatever tools, devices, and traps to lure these unsuspecting fools into misery.

A lot of the credit to the box office success goes to John Hughes well-crafted and clever script. The inspiration from Home Alone drew from a   a scene in Uncle Buck, where a much younger Maculay Culkin is guarding the front door waiting for John Candy's girlfriend to come babysit him.  The brief scene became quite funny, clever, and smart that visions of box-office dollars began ringing in John  Hughes's head.

.  Director Chris Columbus, offers a wonderful  steady-fast physical comedy that is well-timed to build up to the chaos that is about to unfold during the home invasion.

The performances are memorable from young Culkin, to Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci whose on screen chemistry, and physical comedy presence makes them to be more like the Two Stoogers rather than cat burglars.

Lastly, we cannot forget Roberts Blossom , the McCallister's neighbor and supposed neighborhood "Boogey Man" , whose memorable scene really delivers a powerful message as to what the theme of Christmas is all about.

They say there are many Xmas movies that go well with milk and cookies and this is one of them. :)


JOE'S FAVORITE TRACK FROM HOME ALONE : 

THE GREAT BEN AFFLECK BATMAN DEBATE

View video by clicking below

TURKEY DAY MOVIE CLASSIC: PLANES TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles written and directed by John Hughes offers a touching turning point for 80s teen genre king.  Unlike most of his teen classic  flicks of Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off which dealt with teen sensitive issues of self-acceptance of yourself and others, puberty, sex, and facing your future ahead.

Planes Trains and Automobiles marks Hughes's departure from the Teen Genre and into more wholesome subjects related to marriage, family, and giving back to those in need.  He combines all elements of character development and physical comedy he's gained from these previous films to help create this  timeless pre-Holiday classic.

What piqued my interest in this film as a young lad is when I saw the opening title come flashing through the screen in which then I was only in awe of John Hughes's brilliance.  As fast as the title comes flashing across the screen  is in direct line with the fast pacing chain of events that leads our travelers on a cross country trip by HOWEVER means necessary to make it on time for turkey day.  After all, it is the holidays and during the Holidays everything is in full swing, fast paced  from Thanksgiving Preparations, to Black Friday, to the dawn of a  busy Xmas retail season.

The Travelers John Candy and Steve Martin are a wonderful tribute to Neil Simon's 1968 Odd Couple.  Martin plays an uptight, picky, selfish business man who only cares about his needs and his needs first. Whereas,  John  Candy plays the poor, unkempt, lovable teddy bear whose amusing stories and anecdotes are only funny to him in hopes that someone would lend an ear to listen.  Throughout the movie the two play a delightfully humorous tug of war to see past their differences in order to find their way home.


From the busy family man business traveler to anyone whose ever tried to get somewhere on time knows that what could go wrong can go wrong . As the movie opens up in New York City  two days before Thanksgiving. Neal Page (Steve Martin) is eagerly waiting to trade in his suit and tie for the time honored tradition of warm turkey, dressing, and hot pumpkin pie with his family.

However, a snow blizzard ruptures through Neil's home of Chicago canceling all flights therefore diverting his flight from NYC to Wichita, Kansas. If that isn't enough his journey is delayed even further when he collides with Del Griffith a run of the mill top-hat Shower-Curtain salesman fully equipped with pointless jokes, and non-nonsensical ramblings that are as wide as his suitcase trunk.

Oh yes, they've met before when Del stole Neal's cab earlier in the day and after meeting again in the airport this is the last person Neal wants to meet.  However, they both know they are all they got and if they want out of their predicament they are going to have to learn to coincide their differences.

The enjoyable part throughout the  movie is seeing them attempt to coincide with their differences to achieve their  goal . However, achieving their goal  has its many ups and downs.  They end up spending the night in a seedy, dumpy hotel on the wrong side of town, endure the painful humility and torture of servicing a  rental care complaints, as they  ride an endless road of  enough  breakdowns and delays that could flare up a migraine.

We all know they are going to reach their destination but we  revel with laughter in  watching their arduous journey unfold.  Steve Martin does a great performance in presenting to us the facade of an everyday guy who wants nothing more than a safe peaceful journey without any noises or distractions .

 Sure Neal Page  is portrayed as a cold-hearted man but given his situation we can sympathize with his character

 It's through Neal we find out that Del wasn't really as annoying as he was made to be but more of a lost soul who needed to be touched. Yes, Del is loud, obnoxious, messy, and display a hideous aroma of bad manners .  However, he's just a big guy who carries around a lot of baggage of a past-marriage life he can never get back.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles is one of those rare movies that delights us with a wonderful blend of slapstick comedy mixed with a lighthearted drama.  It warms our soul with delight and laughter making it a perfect addition on a cold winters night .

To everyone  and all Have A Happy Thanksgiving !



JOE'S FAVORITE  TRACK FROM THE PLANES TRAINS TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES SOUNDTRACK :

NEW EDITION - IF IT ISN'T LOVE - POP UP VIDEO RIFF

FILMMAKERS STUDIOS WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS MOVIES : TOUCHBACK

Take me away, I don't mind but you better promise we get back in time for another Frank Capra like Football Classic with  Touchback.

Touchback flashes back to the biggest game of the year of the Ohio State Football Championship of 1991.   Scott Murphy (Brian Presley)  is Coldwater High School's next best thing to Tom Brady leading the school to what could become the biggest upset in High School history against the rival town.   However, a  shattering knee injury smashes his college hopes and dreams away .

We then cut to the present where Scott is tending to the Murphy Farm alongside his wife Macy (Melanie Lynskey)  and their children.  Hard times have fallen upon the Murphy household and as a result Scott must bring in a good crop of beans before the end of the fall harvest.  When frost spreads rampant through the field  and all hope is lost Scott sticks a rag into his exhaust  and waits for the Grim Reaper to come only he doesn't come a knocking.

Instead , as if by magic he jumps into Doc Brown's DeLorean and re-arrives back in 1991 just a week before his big high school championship game.   He seems quite out of place at first but when he is back on the football field again  re-training himself to re-learn his football plays he's figured he's been given another shot at redemption.

Now this movie plays from the same "if you could re-live your past how would you do it differently" formulas that made It's A Wonderful Life, Back To The Future, and even the Family Man memorable classics.  So it's nothing you haven't seen before it just adds a touching sports element into the mix.

Scott has been granted a second chance to be reunite with his mother (Christine Lahti) and re-live  and appreciate the romance shared that brought him and his wife together.

At first he doesn't for he is back to his old self again dating the prettiest gal in school (Sarah Wright)  and thinks of his future wife as nothing more than a band geek.  However, a startling turn of events causes Scott to perform a good dead to think not of his athletic glory but of others when he reaches out to petition signatures to save Marcy's High School Band.

Even his coach (Kurt Russell) notices some changes in him when he appears to be wise beyond his years.  However Scott is faced with difficult decisions leading up to the big game with pressures to sit out the game by Ohio State University or his friend who wants him to make him look good in the game.

In the end , the Frank Capra like magic that causes Scott Murphy's character arc to risk it all by playing  is his realization that he would never had met his loving wife and family had not been for this big event of his life.
He gets a new perspective on life on giving back in helping out others such as the nerdy kid (Kevin Covais)  he once despised. Overall he looks at his town of Coldwater and feels blessed to live in such a close knit community surrounded by a strong group of loving and supportive people.

His wife Marcy is a positive person in his life.  She loves the town of Coldwater and the people in it and wouldn't dream of raising her family anywhere else.  When the crops freeze and they are on the brink of financial ruin she reaffirms her belief in miracles mentioning to him "You'll find a way to win you always do".

 When Scott asks his Mom if she had to do it all over again would she still remarrying his Dad knowing it lead to a divorce.  She answers she would because had it not been for that Scott would never be born and even though she was never regularly available to watch his game just hearing about his accomplishments brought her much joy and happiness. This is a key turning point in the movie that allows Scott to look back on his life and make an amend to change.

Even Coach Hand is a wonderful example of a mentor who encourages Scott and his teammates to take what they have learned on the football field  about  teamwork,, persistence, and passion and apply those same principles in their own lives.  "I want you to be a man who's good for more than one night a week," he tells Scott. Coach Hand places a strong importance on education and warns his teammates the consequences of not suiting up when they don't put any solid effort into their studies.   Lastly, he places a strong importance on family values and encourages all of his players to  "Go home. Tell your parents you love 'em, and get some sleep." Afterall, it is right to give thanks and praise for those who gave us life , a roof, and a house, and a opportunity to fly in this world and should never be taken for granted. In the end who knows what the future holds for us all tomorrow.

Touchback certainly is touching and is another example of the triumph of the human spirit reaffirming the old saying that "It is never too late to turn your life around".  However, second chance movies such as Back To The Future, A Christmas Carol, and It's A Wonderful Life have been around since the test of time so this type of film is nothing new.

In the end the protagonist always has a reaffirmation about his life due to his second chance experience and realizes his life was never as bad as he had thought.  Even the title of the film Touchback suggests that in our lives we fumble and go through many setbacks that we think our life is worth more dead than alive.  However, if we take the time to pause, think, and reevaluate our life's decision we can therefore find a way through the obstacles that stem to bring us down.  We can huddle around the strong support of those around us to help us confront diversity in this grand game we call life.

FINAL RATING: 5/5