jeffkjoe

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

I'm a fan of the VACATION series, but I'm surprised how much this sequel....this SECOND SEQUEL....has become such a Christmas classic in the years since.


It's almost 20 years later, and this STILL gets an annual showing on NBC.

How did this happen?


When did this movie become so popular?

Doughboy

Actually it was a big hit when it opened. I remember seeing in the theater and it was packed. Plus I recall the box office numbers being huge. It might actually be the most successful entry in the franchise.

As for the movie itself, I like it. It's a solid 3-star comedy. If we're comparing it to all-time classic Christmas flicks like It's a Wonderful Life, of course it's nowhere in the same league. But I prefer it to the likes of Scrooged or Home Alone.

I guess it depends on how much you can tolerate Cousin Eddie, since he's got his biggest role by far in this one. But I love the character, so I didn't mind. I do think the kids are arguably the weakest of the series(ironically the two actors have had the most success out of all the pairs).

And I know they didn't travel anywhere, but the absence of "Holiday Road" kinda sucked.

jeffkjoe

True or false:

Did Cousin Eddie appear in all of the Vacation movies?

Brack

False. Or no, since you didn't phrase it as a statement.

Brack

Christmas Vacation is a classic. Silly fun.

jeffkjoe

You're right on both accounts!

Long live Clark W. Griswold!

Bluelitespecial

Holiday movies never have to be perfect cinema, it still fun to watch. Besides people can relate to the Griswold's dysfunctional family.

Seantn

Only one I've seen that I didn't like was Vegas Vacation. It was the first one I saw and I was bored to tears. I kept wondering if I had made a mistake, as I thought it was supposed to be a comedy.

SpaceBoy

This move is the best, now Christmas vacation 2 that's a real mess One of the few movies I had to turn off and return unwatched.

CharlieK

I don't think it's overrated. I think it's as popular as it deserves to be. It's a well made movie with a surprising amount of heart for the genre - great for a Christmas movie. I love the scene of Clark watching home movies in the attic. I look forward to seeing it every year.

clappj

Yeah, but it's easily the second best one.

mndtrp

I like Christmas Vacation way more than I like It's a Wonderful Life.

The main scene I like, is the one where Clark cuts down his own tree to replace the one that was burned. He says something along the lines of "We needed a coffin, I mean a tree. There are no lots open on Christmas Eve, so I solved the problem." He then proceeds to cut off the bannister railing, in order to "fix" it.

Boba Fett

Juliette Lewis, yes. Johnny Galecki, hell no.

I'd say Anthony Michael Hall's career is far more respectable and substantial.

JP5683

Christmas Vacation 2 is stupid. So stupid.

1 is great. Simple.

Parcher

christmas vacation is magnificent comedy.

fiver

I hate hate hate this movie. Everywhere I've ever worked, I've been able to tell who would have the same movie tastes as me by whether or not they bring up this movie. I only saw it last year in full and couldn't believe anyone would recommend it to me.

Now Vegas Vacation is by far the only really good National Lampoon movie - just about every line is a classic.

Michael

Gerry P.

Wow... never knew #2 existed. "Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure."

Scary.

Doughboy

He has made a comeback in the last 5 years with The Dead Zone and a minor role in The Dark Knight. But there was a while there post-Brat Pack where the dude wasn't doing much aside from getting offed by Edward Scissorhands.

Johnny Galecki may never have achieved the level of stardom that Hall did, but the guy's been working consistently for 20 years now.

Charlie Goose

I'm not a big fan, but it's the best Chevy Chase movie, which is akin to labelling a cow turd as the sweetest smelling cow turd in the entire pile of cow turds. The only part of the the movie that I find watchable is Chase's freakout near the end.

Toad

Overrated? Who's rating it?

It's a classic in my family. It's not a piece of cinematic gold, but it's a silly, fun movie.

kvrdave

We watch it at least 4 time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I love when cousin Eddie throughs the dog food on the light bulbs in Clark's shopping cart. And did you check out the sock in his pants in that scene? There are so many classic lines from that movie. It ranks even with A Christmas Story in my book.

tylergfoster

I saw it fairly recently and I thought it was a bit dopey. There were some funny gags, but it was no Vacation. I've never seen Vegas Vacation and even if it sucks I'd like to, I wish Warner would do another double-feature of Christmas and Vegas Vacation and then I'd own all four of the real movies.

I think if I'd grown up on it I'd like it a lot more. As it is I grew up on Home Alone and I love Home Alone.

The Infidel

Anthony Michael Hall is a bigger star than Johnny Galecki will ever be. Period.

As far as the movie goes, it is definitely a classic comedy, and there should be no doubt why it's as popular as it is still. I can't hear "Mele Kalikimaka" without thinking of Nicolette Scorcese on the diving board in the Griswold's back yard.

Doc MacGyver

Xander

Hands down my favorite holiday movie. Also one my family quotes regularly, especially this time of year.