Christmas Vacation (1989)

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 | Winter

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:

The only Vacation movie to not feature the Lindsey Buckingham song "Holiday Road" throughout the entire film.

Goofs:

Continuity: Ellen is looking at the house when the Christmas lights first go on with the light switch. When the switch is turned off she leaves and Clark returns. The extension cord is not plugged in when Clark picks it up. If that was the case the lights would not have turned on with the light switch.

Quotes:

Eddie: [walks in with a bound and gagged Mr. Shirley tied with a big red ribbon] Ho ho ho, Merry Christmas, Clark.
[to Mr. Shirlet]
Eddie: You about ready to do some kissing?

Movie Connections:

References Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

Soundtrack:

Mele Kalikimaka

Funny, Funny, Funny

This is the one Christmas movie that I don't anyone can ever get tired of. Chevy Chase returns in the third installment of the Vacation series as Clarke W. Griswold as he tries desperately to maintain his sanity during the holidays with all of his relatives coming to stay under his roof and enduring all the mishaps along the way.

This is the funniest film in the series plain and simple. Chevy Chase has never been better. Christmas Vacation is filled with countless jokes and gags that it's impossible not to laugh.

10/10