Christmas Vacation (1989)
The Cast
Chevy Chase .... Clark Wilhelm Griswold, Jr.
Beverly D'Angelo .... Ellen Griswold
Juliette Lewis .... Audrey Griswold
Johnny Galecki .... Russell 'Rusty' Griswold
John Randolph .... Clark Wilhelm Griswold, Sr.
Diane Ladd .... Nora Griswold
E.G. Marshall .... Art Smith
Doris Roberts .... Frances Smith
Randy Quaid .... Cousin Eddie Johnson
Nicholas Guest .... Todd Chester
Julia Louis-Dreyfus .... Margo Chester
Brian Doyle-Murray .... Mr. Frank Shirley
Apparently around this time of year, Christmas Vacation is shown at many local theatres across the U.S. This would seem to suggest to me that this movie is quite beloved across America, & pulls the heartstrings of many moviegoers worldwide. The question I'd like to know the answer to, is whether people love it for Chevy Chase, or for the somewhat wacky family Christmas tale that it tells? Well, I miss seeing Chevy Chase in movies, so that's my answer.
I don't know about you, but the Bannick family Christmases weren't anything to make a movie about. They were mostly boring, tedious affairs populated by the relatives that you haven't seen since last Christmas, who often were heard to remark "I haven't seen him since he was knee-high to (insert name of some farm animal)" about how I was growing. I'm fairly certain I've only used that statement in an ironic fashion throughout my lifetime, & I will never be able to say it in a serious manner. The grandparents would make an appearance, various aunts, uncles, cousins, girlfriends, boyfriends, etc. It was a tumultuous time of year & that's why I'm glad they're all dead.
Well, if you're still paying attention, have no fear, they still live. Unfortunately, the Griswold Family Christmas as envisioned by Clark Griswold (Chase) is one of a dream world where time seems to have stopped at the end of the 50s. The kids adore & respect their father, the wife dotes on the husband, & basically Father Knows Best. If that reference doesn't work for you, try Pleasantville on for size. Clark almost deludes himself into believing that he & his family actually live that life. The harsh realities of his tragic genes come to the forefront & he comes to embrace the zaniness of his family, as well as retrieve the Christmas spirit he nearly lost.
Ably directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik (who also directed uber crapfest The Avengers) in his first feature directing job, Christmas Vacation's strengths lie in the acting abilities of Chevy Chase. Even though many of the situations that occur during the movie are ricockulous to even fathom, you gotta think they've happened to someone at some point. That seems to be the way Chase approached the part, as he did throughout the other National Lampoon Vacation movies: an everyday guy coming to terms with the craziness of the world around him. Chase is talented enough to make this truly unbelievable family seem like the annoying neighbours down the street, real & closer than you want.
There's a wonderful supporting cast, with many soon-to-be familiar faces (Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki, Julia-Louis Dreyfus, Brian Doyle-Murray to name ... them all) populating the family & neighbours & such. The story is entertaining, though it's borderline LCD humour. If not for the dignity that Chase put into his performance, it would probably be viewed as more of a forgettable holiday comedy of errors. As a Christmas movie, it hits all the right notes, 5 outta 5.
Regular movie rating: 4 outta 5.