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For many, the best part of Christmas is watching the same beloved holiday movies over and over again. In turn, we’re paying tribute to our favorites by breaking down everything that makes them annual must-watches, from our favorite characters and moments, to all the ways they celebrate the most wonderful time of the year. In this Classic Christmas Movie Breakdown, we’re looking at a less traditional holiday tale that explores all the ways the holiday and our family can drive us nuts, 1989’s National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
Most classic Christmas movies celebrate the magic and wonder of the season. They are sweet stories about the perils of commercialism, the value of friendship and family, and spreading joy and goodwill to others. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is not your typical Christmas classic. Clark Griswold would love nothing more than to host the most perfect Christmas ever.
Unfortunately the holiday itself keeps getting in the way of making that dream come true. As does his family. It might not be fun for him to experience one disaster after another, but it sure is funny to watch. And beneath all of the comedy and terrors lies a film that still has its heart in the right place.
Does Santa appear in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation? Is he real?
St. Nick appears in a fun animated short during the opening credits where everything goes wrong for Santa while he tries to deliver the Griswold family’s gifts. It’s a clever way to set the tone for the film. But otherwise no.
Are there any magical creatures? Do they talk?
No, but Uncle Lewis’ toupée feels like it’s going to come alive at any moment.
Are there any religious components in this movie?
At the beginning, Clark and his wife Ellen briefly sing “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” but that’s as close as the film ever gets to anything religious.
How lovable is National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation‘s main character?
It’s doubtful anyone would ever describe Clark Griswold as being super lovable, but he definitely means well. And that makes him someone worth rooting for. Sure, he has a tendency to set impossible expectations for everything in life, which drives his family nuts. And yes he can go off the rails and take out a chainsaw; however, all he wants for his loved ones is to create a magical holiday experience that ends with the gift of a swimming pool.
And how can we not be on Clark’s side when the Griswold clan is testing him at every moment? We all know what it’s like to deal with irritating family members, bad neighbors, and Christmas lights that won’t work. We’re not always at our best during difficult holiday seasons, and we’re nowhere near as patient as Clark is. Well, that is until he gets his “bonus” and snaps. Then he really speaks for all of us at the end of a difficult year.
How evil is the villain in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation?
There really isn’t a major villain. Clark’s cheapo boss is a selfish jerk who treats his employees like crap. But he’s a minor character who immediately sees the error of his ways after he realizes how much he’s hurt the Griswolds. Clark’s father-in-law isn’t exactly the kindest person in the world, but in fairness to him, Clark is a putz. It’s also impossible to hate cousin Eddie even though he’s a walking disaster.
The real villain is Christmas itself, which brings with it plenty of stress. From work and family, to busy stores and decorations, to the internal pressure to maximize the most wonderful time of the year, it’s a lot to deal with. It’s weird to think Christmas itself is the main bad guy, but anyone who has ever been completely overwhelmed by the holiday knows how true that is.
How sincere or cynical is National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation about Christmas?
Clark’s refusal to be cynical even as one thing after another goes wrong keeps the film’s general spirit bright. When Clark finally loses it at the “threshold of hell,” Eddie kidnaps Clark’s boss to cheer him up, which accidentally leads to Clark getting his Christmas bonus after all. Despite everything, the day is saved and the family gets to enjoy the moment together. It’s a happy ending without anyone pressing any charges. Even though the movie presents all of the ways Christmas can destroy our soul, it still loves what it can mean. Just remember Jack Daniels and egg nog can really help.
Does anyone sing in this movie? Is there a big group singalong?
Clark and Ellen sing some songs in the car together, including “Deck the Halls” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Clark also sings “Joy to the World” by himself. The big musical moment comes at the end, when Uncle Lewis lights a match near the spot Eddie emptied his RV’s sewage. It sends the broken reindeer and Santa decorations soaring into the night sky, which leads Aunt Bethany to set off a big group singalong of the National Anthem. While they also sing “Deck the Halls” afterwards, that patriotic rendition is the perfect song for this absurd movie.
What are the biggest Christmas themes in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation?
The biggest theme is obviously family. Not so much that you have to love them or treasure them, but that you often have to tolerate them. That’s about as honest as any Christmas movie ever. It’s not all negative, though. The movie does suggest it’s easier to tolerate family if you focus on their best qualities rather than their worst. The other important theme is the idea of expectations versus reality, which on the surface might not seem obviously Christmas-y.
However, there are always expectations for what a “traditional” Christmas means. We “know” we’re supposed to buy gifts, hang lights, get a big tree, and have a feast with our family. Whether we like them or not. Society has built a lot of stress into the holiday, which is what Clark falls victim to. Rather than just relax and enjoy the spirit of the season, he tries to reach an impossible ideal of what it should be. It’s like any Christmas movie that tells us not to worry about the gifts we get. Instead we should focus on giving to others.
In the same vein, Christmas Vacation reminds us to not forget to enjoy what the holiday is truly about because you’re trying to live up to some silly, meaningless standard.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation really does have some really meaningful ideas! Shouldn’t be that surprising though. It was written by John Hughes.
What is the best scene in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation?
The film has a number of memorable moments we could choose. In addition to Eddie’s sewage dump, there’s Clark’s super sonic sled ride, as well as when he opens up the family tree in the living room. The scene where he gets locked in the attic kills us. We’re also tempted to give it to the squirrel jumping out of the new tree, because it sets off an amazing, destructive slapstick routine.
However, we’re ultimately going with the moment when the outside lights finally go on. Then they go off, then on, then off, then on again, much to the misfortune of neighbors Todd and Margo. Because as the movie reminds us constantly, there is no joy without pain.
What is the film’s most emotional moment?
There’s a genuinely beautiful moment with Clark and Ruby Sue, the young daughter of Eddie. She finds Clark in the kitchen fantasizing about a beautiful department store clerk skinny dipping in his future pool (but, uh, we swear it’s still a very sweet scene).
She asks him if he’s Santa because being in his home has been a gift unto itself. Especially after she didn’t get any presents last year. He says no he’s not, but he does end up playing Santa for her and her brother anyway. It’s a tender moment and in the best spirit of the season, but done in true National Lampoon style because this is how their conversation starts.
When you can be sentimental and make us laugh all at the same time you’ve given us a reason to take the same “Christmas Vacation” movie trip every holiday season.
Originally published on December 7, 2018.
The post What Makes NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION a Christmas Classic? appeared first on Nerdist.
For many, the best part of Christmas is watching the same beloved holiday movies over and over again. In turn, we’re paying tribute to our favorites by breaking down everything that makes them annual must-watches, from our favorite characters and moments, to all the ways they celebrate the most wonderful time of the year. In this Classic Christmas Movie Breakdown, we’re looking at a less traditional holiday tale that explores all the ways the holiday and our family can drive us nuts, 1989’s National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
Most classic Christmas movies celebrate the magic and wonder of the season. They are sweet stories about the perils of commercialism, the value of friendship and family, and spreading joy and goodwill to others. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is not your typical Christmas classic. Clark Griswold would love nothing more than to host the most perfect Christmas ever.
Unfortunately the holiday itself keeps getting in the way of making that dream come true. As does his family. It might not be fun for him to experience one disaster after another, but it sure is funny to watch. And beneath all of the comedy and terrors lies a film that still has its heart in the right place.
Does Santa appear in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation? Is he real?
St. Nick appears in a fun animated short during the opening credits where everything goes wrong for Santa while he tries to deliver the Griswold family’s gifts. It’s a clever way to set the tone for the film. But otherwise no.
Are there any magical creatures? Do they talk?
No, but Uncle Lewis’ toupée feels like it’s going to come alive at any moment.
Are there any religious components in this movie?
At the beginning, Clark and his wife Ellen briefly sing “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” but that’s as close as the film ever gets to anything religious.
How lovable is National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation‘s main character?
It’s doubtful anyone would ever describe Clark Griswold as being super lovable, but he definitely means well. And that makes him someone worth rooting for. Sure, he has a tendency to set impossible expectations for everything in life, which drives his family nuts. And yes he can go off the rails and take out a chainsaw; however, all he wants for his loved ones is to create a magical holiday experience that ends with the gift of a swimming pool.
And how can we not be on Clark’s side when the Griswold clan is testing him at every moment? We all know what it’s like to deal with irritating family members, bad neighbors, and Christmas lights that won’t work. We’re not always at our best during difficult holiday seasons, and we’re nowhere near as patient as Clark is. Well, that is until he gets his “bonus” and snaps. Then he really speaks for all of us at the end of a difficult year.
How evil is the villain in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation?
There really isn’t a major villain. Clark’s cheapo boss is a selfish jerk who treats his employees like crap. But he’s a minor character who immediately sees the error of his ways after he realizes how much he’s hurt the Griswolds. Clark’s father-in-law isn’t exactly the kindest person in the world, but in fairness to him, Clark is a putz. It’s also impossible to hate cousin Eddie even though he’s a walking disaster.
The real villain is Christmas itself, which brings with it plenty of stress. From work and family, to busy stores and decorations, to the internal pressure to maximize the most wonderful time of the year, it’s a lot to deal with. It’s weird to think Christmas itself is the main bad guy, but anyone who has ever been completely overwhelmed by the holiday knows how true that is.
How sincere or cynical is National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation about Christmas?
Clark’s refusal to be cynical even as one thing after another goes wrong keeps the film’s general spirit bright. When Clark finally loses it at the “threshold of hell,” Eddie kidnaps Clark’s boss to cheer him up, which accidentally leads to Clark getting his Christmas bonus after all. Despite everything, the day is saved and the family gets to enjoy the moment together. It’s a happy ending without anyone pressing any charges. Even though the movie presents all of the ways Christmas can destroy our soul, it still loves what it can mean. Just remember Jack Daniels and egg nog can really help.
Does anyone sing in this movie? Is there a big group singalong?
Clark and Ellen sing some songs in the car together, including “Deck the Halls” and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Clark also sings “Joy to the World” by himself. The big musical moment comes at the end, when Uncle Lewis lights a match near the spot Eddie emptied his RV’s sewage. It sends the broken reindeer and Santa decorations soaring into the night sky, which leads Aunt Bethany to set off a big group singalong of the National Anthem. While they also sing “Deck the Halls” afterwards, that patriotic rendition is the perfect song for this absurd movie.
What are the biggest Christmas themes in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation?
The biggest theme is obviously family. Not so much that you have to love them or treasure them, but that you often have to tolerate them. That’s about as honest as any Christmas movie ever. It’s not all negative, though. The movie does suggest it’s easier to tolerate family if you focus on their best qualities rather than their worst. The other important theme is the idea of expectations versus reality, which on the surface might not seem obviously Christmas-y.
However, there are always expectations for what a “traditional” Christmas means. We “know” we’re supposed to buy gifts, hang lights, get a big tree, and have a feast with our family. Whether we like them or not. Society has built a lot of stress into the holiday, which is what Clark falls victim to. Rather than just relax and enjoy the spirit of the season, he tries to reach an impossible ideal of what it should be. It’s like any Christmas movie that tells us not to worry about the gifts we get. Instead we should focus on giving to others.
In the same vein, Christmas Vacation reminds us to not forget to enjoy what the holiday is truly about because you’re trying to live up to some silly, meaningless standard.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation really does have some really meaningful ideas! Shouldn’t be that surprising though. It was written by John Hughes.
What is the best scene in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation?
The film has a number of memorable moments we could choose. In addition to Eddie’s sewage dump, there’s Clark’s super sonic sled ride, as well as when he opens up the family tree in the living room. The scene where he gets locked in the attic kills us. We’re also tempted to give it to the squirrel jumping out of the new tree, because it sets off an amazing, destructive slapstick routine.
However, we’re ultimately going with the moment when the outside lights finally go on. Then they go off, then on, then off, then on again, much to the misfortune of neighbors Todd and Margo. Because as the movie reminds us constantly, there is no joy without pain.
What is the film’s most emotional moment?
There’s a genuinely beautiful moment with Clark and Ruby Sue, the young daughter of Eddie. She finds Clark in the kitchen fantasizing about a beautiful department store clerk skinny dipping in his future pool (but, uh, we swear it’s still a very sweet scene).
She asks him if he’s Santa because being in his home has been a gift unto itself. Especially after she didn’t get any presents last year. He says no he’s not, but he does end up playing Santa for her and her brother anyway. It’s a tender moment and in the best spirit of the season, but done in true National Lampoon style because this is how their conversation starts.
When you can be sentimental and make us laugh all at the same time you’ve given us a reason to take the same “Christmas Vacation” movie trip every holiday season.
Originally published on December 7, 2018.
The post What Makes NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION a Christmas Classic? appeared first on Nerdist.
I’m only a month older than A Christmas Story and can’t possibly count how many times I’ve seen it. It’s just always been—and always will be—a part of my yearly holiday experience. But the new HBO Max sequel, A Christmas Story Christmas, is a very different type of movie. This new tale is still told through the eyes of Peter Billingsley’s Ralphie, but he’s not a kid anymore. He’s a dad himself now. So rather than hoping to experience a perfect Christmas he’s hoping to give that to his children. It’s a hope we both share. After growing up with Ralph I’m a dad now, too, and this year will only be my son’s second Christmas. And like Ralph, I’ll always worry about making sure every December is special for him.
But A Christmas Story Christmas gave me reason to think I shouldn’t worry quite as much. The film’s most moving idea was an unexpected gift to a dad who will never be at his best in December. Because it shows why it doesn’t matter if you make every aspect of Christmas absolutely perfect for your kids. It only matters that you try, because in the end they’ll only remember the good stuff their Old Man did.
A Christmas Story Christmas opens with the unexpected death of Ralphie’s father (played by the late Darren McGavin in the original movie). Ralph’s mother doesn’t want that to spoil the season for her family, though. It’s the last thing her holiday-loving husband would have wanted. So she makes her son promise to make “this a wonderful Christmas” for all of them.
Ralph does, but of course that’s a lot easier said than done. Broken dreams, broken bones, and broken car trunks make a perfect Christmas impossible. And what makes that disappointment even worse for Ralph is that he feels like a failure in comparison to his Old Man. Ralph says his father made a wonderful Christmas “look so easy.”
Except, that’s not true at all! I know because I’ve experienced Ralph’s favorite childhood Christmas a million times. At no point did the Old Man make everything look easy. And that Christmas definitely wasn’t all wonderful. From a broken furnace to the neighbor’s dogs eating the Parker family turkey, to a gaudy leg lamp and too much cursing in front of his children, Ralphie’s Old Man was far from perfect during the holiday season. And while he certainly seemed to appreciate Christmas, nobody ever considered his dad a modern day Kris Kringle. He was just a father doing his best.
It’s only decades later as a parent himself that Ralphie thinks of his father with such rose-colored glasses. That’s because he only remembers the good stuff from those days. He remembers his Old Man taking him to Higbee’s to see the decorations and teaching him how to haggle over the price of a Christmas tree. And Ralphie remembers Christmas morning as the day he got his dream gift. It was waiting for him in the living room corner, lovingly put their by his father without Ralphie’s worried mom knowing.
It didn’t matter that the Old Man wasn’t a perfect dad or the perfect leader of the Parker family Christmas. Ultimately it only mattered that Ralph’s dad loved his kids and tried. The older Ralph got the more the bad stuff faded away and the more the good stuff came to the forefront. (It’s funny that he never recognizes that in the film, but it also makes sense. He only got to live through that Christmas once. The rest of us have lived through that childhood holiday season multiple times every Christmas.)
That’s why this movie was such a gift to me especially. I’ve worried about making Christmas special for my son since before he was born. Last year, when Alexander was just a couple months old and still undersized after being born six weeks early, I put up my first Christmas tree in 10 years. My family and I had stopped celebrating Christmas entirely. Without my baby sister—who truly loved Christmas more than anyone I have ever known—enjoying Christmas wasn’t something we wanted to do. It wasn’t even something we could do.
I knew when I became a parent, though, that wouldn’t be an option. My son deserves to experience the joy of the season. And that means experiencing everything that goes with it: a tree, decorations, Christmas songs, and a father who doesn’t only think of December 24th as the day of his sister’s funeral. But, like Ralph promising his mother, hoping and doing are very different things. It’s why I fear, especially as he gets older and looks forward to Christmas, whether I can give my son the holiday he deserves. No amount of holiday cheer and decorations can fill a hole in your heart. And not when the holiday itself means something else to you. So while you can wish to be the best dad and deliver the best holiday ever, it doesn’t mean you can be or that you will.
I know how true that is for me.
But maybe I don’t have to. A Christmas Story Christmas isn’t about a perfect parent or a perfect holiday. It’s about a father trying his best because he loves his kids. And I know I will try as hard as I can for that exact reason. And hopefully, even if I remember everything I get wrong, as the years fade away my son will be like Ralph and only remember the good stuff. I can’t think of anything I’d ever want more for Christmas.
Editor’s Note: Nerdist is a subsidiary of Legendary Digital Networks.
Mikey Walsh is a staff writer at Nerdist. You can follow him on Twitter at @burgermike. (Or on Hive and Post.) And also anywhere someone is ranking the Targaryen kings.
The post Why A CHRISTMAS STORY CHRISTMAS Was an Unexpected Gift to a New Dad appeared first on Nerdist.