National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)

Directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik. Starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid, Johnny Galecki, Juliette Lewis, E.G. Marshall, John Randolph, Doris Roberts, Diane Ladd, William Hickey, Miriam Flynn, Mae Questel, Brian Doyle-Murray, Sam McMurray, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Nicholas Guest. [PG-13]

Who knew that the key was staying home? Best and funniest of the Vacation pictures has the Griswolds readying their house (and their sanity) for a holiday visit from the in-laws. After sitting out for the Euro-adventure, John Hughes returns to the series as screenwriter, basing the script on a different short story he had written for National Lampoon (“Christmas ‘59”). Many vignettes will ring of uncomfortable familiarity to most viewers (few things are more universal than holiday blues and aggravating family gatherings), but that doesn’t make them any less humorous; only really falters with a few of the more outlandish gags and plot turns, like a SWAT team incursion toward the end, and an overcrowded house where some extended family members get almost nothing to do. Features one of Chase’s more endearing performances (despite all the chaos he inadvertently causes, and a profanity-laden breakdown for the ages), plus D’Angelo proves skillful at subtle and grounded humor, and even though a little of Randy Quaid goes a long way, he gets a lot of the funniest and weirdest lines. The tacky eyesore of Christmas lights alone is worth the price of admission (even though it’s true that they’re not blinking…). Final film appearance for Questel, voice of Olive Oyl and Betty Boop. 14 years later, a made-for-television spinoff/sequel called National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure aired on NBC.

75/100