Get Lampooned On Christmas Vacation

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” is a 1989 Christmas comedy film directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik. It is the third installment in National Lampoon’s Vacation film series, and was written by John Hughes, based on his short story in National Lampoon magazine, “Christmas ’59.” The film stars Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo and Randy Quaid, with Juliette Lewis and Johnny Galecki as the Griswold children Audrey and Rusty.

The story tells of the family’s plans for a big family Christmas that predictably turn into a disaster. Since its release in 1989, “Christmas Vacation” has often been labelled as  a modern Christmas classic.

The film has achieved three home video releases, VHS and Laserdisk in early 1990, and a Special Edition DVD in 2003. In 2009, the film was released as an Ultimate Collector’s Edition. At the same time of this release, it was also released on a simple Blu-ray/DVD combo.

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1.   It’s not just funny, it’s witty: You won’t find too many films from the 1980’s that were known for their sparkling dialogue- and are still just as funny today.

2.   John Hughes wrote it: That’s right, Mr. ’80s Movie himself penned the script. Hughes is known for writing and/or directing iconic dramedy movies such as “The Breakfast Club”, “Sixteen Candles”, “Weird Science”, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, “Home Alone”, and “Planes, Trains & Automobiles”. He also wrote the first two Vacations and it’s arguably one of his last truly great movies. Not long after this, he went on to write crap like “Beethoven” and “Flubber”. “Christmas Vacation” happened near the apex of his talent.

3.   Chevy Chase is on his game: We love Clark Griswold in “Christmas Vacation” because he’s a dreamer. He’s every one of us who’s ever tried to have a Martha Stewart Christmas but ended up with Barney Fife’s.

4.   It’s highly quotable:

“Good talk, Dad.”

“If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn’t be more surprised than I am now.”

“Worse? How could things get any worse? Take a look around you, Ellen. We’re at the threshold of Hell!”

“Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?”

“Would it be indecent to ask the grandparents to stay at a hotel?”