Review of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) by Stuart K — 17 Jan 2012

After John Hughes was left unimpressed by European Vacation (1985), where his script was rewritten before and during production, he took charge for the next film, writing and producing it. Though it has echoes of things to come from Hughes with Home Alone (1990), it's a very enjoyable film, more focused with some good gags as well.

In Chicago, Clark W. Griswold (Chevy Chase) always gets into the festive spirit every year, his wife Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo), son Rusty (Johnny Galecki), and daughter Audrey (Juliette Lewis) all try to get into it too, but when Clark's idea for a "good, old-fashioned family Christmas", even if that involves inviting nearly all the family round as well.

Ellen's parents Art Smith (E. G. Marshall) and Francis Smith (Doris Roberts), Clark's parents Clark Wilhelm Griswold Sr (John Randolph) and Nora Griswold (Diane Ladd), and his Aunt Bethany (Mae Questel) and Uncle Lewis (William Hickey), oh and Ellen's slobbish cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) and his family.

What could possibly go wrong?? Well... It's a very funny film where plans for a Christmas with all the family round end up in tons of pratfalls and accidents, it's the opposite of Home Alone, where ALL the family is here.

But, after this it was all downhill for John Hughes sadly.