National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Warner Bros. | Release Date: December 1, 1989

7.7	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 71 Ratings

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RealViewerDec 22, 2019

One of the best Xmas movies made in the last thirty years One heck of a well written slapstick movie

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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FelicityFenwickMay 18, 2017

Christmas vacation is right up there with the original in terms of pure hilarious frivolity. I was so glad to see cousin Eddie come back into the story. And it is leagues ahead of European vacation. The holiday is so frustrating in generalChristmas vacation is right up there with the original in terms of pure hilarious frivolity. I was so glad to see cousin Eddie come back into the story. And it is leagues ahead of European vacation. The holiday is so frustrating in general that the movie really taps into that nonsense in a way that makes you smile.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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kyle20ellisMar 28, 2022

It mayn't be one of my favourite Christmas movies, but it is one of the funnier ones for me. I agree some of it is silly, and when I say silly I mean silly, and the story is really quite predictable. But it at least looks good with some niceIt mayn't be one of my favourite Christmas movies, but it is one of the funnier ones for me. I agree some of it is silly, and when I say silly I mean silly, and the story is really quite predictable. But it at least looks good with some nice cinematography and scenery, and the music is fine too. The script has many funny moments and the sight gags while silly are respectable. The direction is competent and the performances from Chevy Chase and Beverley D'Angelo are likable while Randy Quaid gives some great relief as a decidedly obnoxious relative. So in conclusion, no masterpiece but it is entertaining, that's what matters to me. 8/10 Bethany Cox… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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LegoLover58Feb 4, 2023

Masterpiece of a Christmas movie. To date one of the best executions of the the "family comes over for holiday" plot.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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timoneDec 30, 2018

Throughout Christmas there are movies that are on TV every December when it's Christmas. Most of the time it's Home Alone and Die Hard which some people say that it's not a Christmas film and loads of times they show Charles Dicken's classicThroughout Christmas there are movies that are on TV every December when it's Christmas. Most of the time it's Home Alone and Die Hard which some people say that it's not a Christmas film and loads of times they show Charles Dicken's classic tales of Ebenezer Scrooge. those movies are worth a watch and they are fantastic Christmas films but one that is fantastic when I watch it now at Christmas (that is every Christmas), is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. This is the third film of the National Lampoon's Vacation franchise and I haven't seen the others apart from now is this one and I absolutely love it. It's funny, it's witty and it has the charm of seasonal Christmas to the whole family who would laugh their arses off at this charming Christmas comedy. The Griswold family, Clark and Ellen played by Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo are going to get a Christmas tree and when they got back, set the tree up and their grandparents have come to spend Christmas Eve together. The comedy is witty that the funny moments is something you want to laugh at and make you have a wonderful time as the film goes on and that's saying much whilst you waiting for Christmas Day. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is the best Christmas film to date and probably the best sequel to watch on Christmas and make you wanna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny f**king Kaye. Thank you for all the joy we had in this world and we will forever be grateful. Merry Christmas, everyone.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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HannahGarrettNov 4, 2018

This is one of my all-time favorite movies! It is the perfect combination of funny and completely relatable content. We all know that there is a certain pressure that surrounds the holidays. Everybody wants to have a good time and everythingThis is one of my all-time favorite movies! It is the perfect combination of funny and completely relatable content. We all know that there is a certain pressure that surrounds the holidays. Everybody wants to have a good time and everything is supposed to be perfect and look like a picture in a magazine. In all reality, life isn't perfect and it is likely that they holidays won't be either. That doesn't mean that it's any less funny to watch Clark Griswold try! From unwanted guests to underwhelming holiday meals, I think everybody can watch this movie and say "Yeah that's happened in our family before!" This relatable humor makes the movie something that you can watch all year round. I highly recommend watching it during the holidays, though, because it's tradition and that's part of the Griswold family attitude. If you haven't already, go watch this movie!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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geewahJan 12, 2021

One of the greatest Christmas movies ever made.
Nothing but slapstick, and predictable gags but somehow it works in this hilarious movie.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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RincemacDec 26, 2020

This is the all-time Christmas Classic of the Gen X-ers and one great example on the good old "critics hate it movie" while the audience largely adores it. A great re-watch for old and new viewers for reliving that "perfect Christmas" youThis is the all-time Christmas Classic of the Gen X-ers and one great example on the good old "critics hate it movie" while the audience largely adores it. A great re-watch for old and new viewers for reliving that "perfect Christmas" you never had.

In short, Chevy Chase plays the perfect, struggling somewhat successful Everyman with his perfect middle class family and we follow his struggles and those that he will bring upon his family during the merry season throughout the course of this movie.

Since it's a late 80's movie expect: strange hairdos, big-rimmed glasses, old fashioned land lines and a douchy Executive Director who's Clark's boss and will ride his middle class behind until shortly before the holiday break.

Madness ensues as Clark begins to wonder if the bonus he's always gotten shortly before Christmas - and which seemed to be late this year 'round - would still come on Christmas day or if he and the little secret gift he planned to announce to his adoring family would bankrupt him, since he had to forward the payment for a brand-new swimming pool to add to his middle class house.

The ensemble is just perfect here: Chevy Chase and his family are all the cliché you know from your personal life, while his boss is an adqeuatly nasty affair of a bigwig executive and his neighbors evenly adqequate yuppies, a real scourge of the 80s and 90s in every neighborhood, where we see a (young) Julia Louis-Dreyfus play the snarky overexpectant and never happy wife that spurs her yuppie husband to go above and beyond douchyness to hyper-douchyness. And they do have the very expensive Stereo Set to prove it!

While Clark is being harrassed by his Family as he wants to have that elusive "perfect Christmas", we wonder: is it him or us that are driven mad by all the depictions of Mothers, Fathers and Kids doing clichéd consumerist things that happen at every modern Christmas?

I re-watch this movie as a tradition on Christmas day... never regret it!

It's not the perfect comedy - if that exists it would be "Plains, Trains & Automobiles" - but it's a very solid "National Lampoons/Griswold" entry and top-notch Christmas Fun for all the family. There's one swear, very carefully placed, otherwise it's clean fun. No s*it... well. Outside of the RV S*itter. That one's always full.

Merry Christmas!

PS: On top, this Movie will teach you everything you need to know about Exterior Illumination.… Expand

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d27sJan 21, 2021

This is by far my favorite Vacation movie where the main characters don`t actually go on vacation! This is definitely a classic Christmas movie and one of my favorites. I would rate this an 8.9/10
Metascore: 49(What?)
Myscore: 89

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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MrIslamicFeb 8, 2021

(Warning, this review is very biased.) This is my favorite Christmas movie, every 5 minutes there's at least 1 line that you will be quoting for the rest of your life. Definitely, a must-watch even if it's not Christmas.

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RefinedInsightsJul 30, 2023

Oh, "Christmas Vacation," where have you been all my life? As a 90s kid who grew up hearing rumors that Chevy Chase wasn't funny, I admit I was a bit skeptical when this movie was recommended to me. But boy, oh boy, was I wrong to believe allOh, "Christmas Vacation," where have you been all my life? As a 90s kid who grew up hearing rumors that Chevy Chase wasn't funny, I admit I was a bit skeptical when this movie was recommended to me. But boy, oh boy, was I wrong to believe all that nonsense! Chevy Chase is an absolute comedic legend, and this film is the ultimate proof of his talent.

I finally decided to give "Christmas Vacation" a shot about two years ago, and let me tell you, it was like unwrapping the best present ever! From the first scene to the last, I was hooked, and it made me feel like a wide-eyed kid on Christmas morning all over again. But here's the kicker - "Christmas Vacation" manages to infuse very adult themes into the holiday season, and it does so with such hilarity and heart that it instantly became a favorite.

You know how "Home Alone" captured the Christmas spirit for me as a child? Well, "Christmas Vacation" does the same for adults! It takes relatable Christmas scenarios, sprinkles them with humor, and brings the Griswold family to life in a way that feels oh-so-real. I found myself laughing and nodding along, thinking, "Yep, that's totally something that would happen in my family too."

The laughs in "Christmas Vacation" are side-splitting, gut-busting, and downright iconic. Chase's portrayal of Clark Griswold is a masterclass in comedic timing and delivery. From his hilarious misadventures with the Christmas lights to his epic rant about his boss, every moment is pure gold. And let's not forget the supporting cast, who add their own brand of humor, making this movie a joyous ensemble of comedic brilliance.

But beyond the laughs, "Christmas Vacation" captures the essence of the holiday season - the chaos, the mishaps, and the love that binds families together. It's a perfect blend of heartwarming moments and laugh-out-loud humor, making it a Christmas classic for the ages.

Since watching "Christmas Vacation" for the first time, it has become an annual holiday ritual for me. It's like sipping hot cocoa by the fire or hanging up stockings on Christmas Eve; the season just wouldn't be complete without it. So, if you're in need of a dose of festive fun, gather your loved ones, pop some popcorn, and let "Christmas Vacation" sprinkle its holiday magic on you. It's a Yuletide treat that keeps on giving, and I can't recommend it highly enough. Merry Griswold-style Christmas to all!… Expand

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