Christmas Vacation (1989)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Jeremiah S. Chechik

Writer (WGA):

John Hughes (written by)

Release Date:

1 December 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Yule crack up!

Plot:

The Griswold family's plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster.

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | Christmas Bonus | Boss | Neighbor | Locked In Attic

US TV Schedule:

Mon. July 6

2:50 PM

MAX

Cast

Chevy Chase	...	Clark Griswold
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
Miriam Flynn	...	Cousin Catherine Johnson
Cody Burger	...	Cousin Rocky Johnson
Ellen Hamilton Latzen	...	Cousin Ruby Sue Johnson
William Hickey	...	Uncle Lewis
Mae Questel	...	Aunt Bethany
Sam McMurray	...	Bill

Also Known As:

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (UK) (complete title) (USA) (complete title)
National Lampoon's Winter Holiday (UK)
Hilfe, es weihnachtet sehr (Austria) (TV title) (West Germany) [de]
Le sapin a les boules (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
¡S.O.S.! Ya es Navidad (Spain) (TV title) [es]
¡Socorro! Ya es Navidad (Spain) [es]
Ett päron till farsa firar jul (Sweden) [sv]
Fars fede juleferie (Denmark) [da]
Hjelp, vi må på juleferie (Norway) [no]
Joulupuu on kärvennetty (Finland) [fi]
Karácsonyi vakáció (Hungary) [hu]
Que Paródia de Natal (Portugal) [pt]
Schöne Bescherung (Germany) (video title) [de]
Un Natale esplosivo (Italy) [it]
Witaj swiety Mikolaju (Poland) [pl]

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Finland:K-3 (2003) (DVD) | Finland:K-7 (2007) (DVD) (as part of Vacation Collection) | Finland:S (1990) (VHS) | Netherlands:6 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Spain:7 | Sweden:7 | UK:PG (cut) | USA:PG-13 | West Germany:6 | Singapore:PG | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Breckenridge, Colorado, USA

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

After Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) unsuccessfully attempts to demonstrate his handiwork with the house Christmas lights to his family, he asks his son, Rusty (Johnny Galecki), to help him check all the light bulbs again. Rusty looks at his bare wrist, pretending to have a watch, and excuses himself. Looking at a bare wrist and pretending to have a watch is one of Chevy Chase's trademark gags.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Clark faints after being told of bonus he starts to fall right; next camera angle shows him falling to the left.

Quotes:

Clark: Aunt Bethany, does your cat eat jello?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Gilmore Girls: Pulp Friction (#5.17)" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Here Comes Santa Claus

Oh, what fun it is....

A comedy with laughs is good.

A comedy with feel-good laughs is better.

A comedy like "Christmas Vacation" is great.

When the Griswolds go on vacation, disaster is a certainty. But staying home to celebrate Christmas with some far-flung relatives (who obviously weren't flung far enough) leaves room for not only some top-drawer fun but also time to reflect on family, love, goodwill, belief in one's self....

Who expected so much from Chevy Chase?

After watching "Christmas Vacation", you will.

Nine stars. And when you light up your house this Christmas, make sure there's a nuclear reactor nearby.