Review of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) by Ed F — 21 Dec 2010

I really love this movie and it's very easy for me to explain why.

Chevy chase's heartwarming performance is actually an improvement over the first two movies especially Europe and it's in my opinion one of the best comedic performances of the 80's. He remains so straight and always in a cheery mood all the way through and doesn't let anything keep him from having a wonderful Christmas. But in the end when all hope is lost and he starts to think that this Christmas wasn't what he'd anticipated he loses his grip and acts like a total nutcase.

Pretty much all the slapstick is very cartoony but it shouldn't really bother anybody because the movie is essentially a live action cartoon as are the other movies in the Vacation series. But out of all the movies in the franchise this is by far my favorite. It doesn't make any sense though how Audrey is older than Rusty when in the first two Rusty was older than Audrey. Since they never explain why this is i'm just gonna assume that Christmas Vacation is the first movie in a completely different franchise, because there was a sequel wasn't there?

Don't watch the sequel it's a disgrace to everything known to mankind, but definetly watch this one it's the definitive holiday movie and my personal favorite. The scene at the end when everyone is singing Star Spangled Banner always brings a smile to my face, and when Chevy looks up at the sky and says "I did it" just warms my heart.