This is my official "Christmas Day" movie that I watch every year. Unfortunately I couldn't find my blu ray last year, so I substituted it for another great Christmas classic... Batman Returns.
In each of the Vacation films, it was a running gag that they always seemed to recast the Griswold children for each one. In this one, Rusty was played by Johnny Galecki, who would later play Leonard on "The Big Bang Theory".
I had a comment in this video where I was like "I hope the kids are the same in the others...I LOVE Johnny Galecki and Juliette Lewis!" ...in retrospect would've been so so funny if I kept that in 😂
The whole reason it started was a scheduling thing. Anthony Michael Hall was unavailable for European Vacation due to prior movie commitment (16 Candles, IIRC).
@@mem1701movies One of the fun things about the films is pausing during the movie to ask, "wait, are these the same kids?", but she won't have to be bothered by that now, thanks, Matt.
When Dad was still alive, she would call him Sparky, in reference to this film. :-) He was a DIY kinda guy (only he didn't have the same fails as Clark did).
@@ShanelleRiccio Yeah, we moved into a new home (for us, was an old farmhouse) when I was 15, and the first thing Dad did was have us help rewire the house! It was an experience, but turns out he was right. The entire upstairs had originally been wired using extension cords! My dad was brilliant, but Mom always called him Sparky. He called her "Yo Johnson", her maiden name (though her first name was not Yo). My friends called my dad Tinman, because his heart ticked due to a Teflon Mitral valve in his heart. You would hear him coming from outside the room. he never could sneak up on anyone except Mom. I think she deliberately pretended not to hear him so he would get a thrill by her "surprise", lol.
Can confirm she was indeed a voice of Betty Boop. Original I think is up for debate but she is a very iconic voice nonetheless. Pretty sure she is the “I wanna be loved by you” Betty snd is just an incredible actress.
I deeeeefinitey was missing that context (having skipped right to the third Vacation movie) but yeah I'm totally on board with Clark now!! ready for more Vacation. and thanks so much for watching :):)
The thing about Clark is, he always wants to be the Great Provider, the best Father, Husband, even host , but he is constantly over extending himself and falling on his face
Came to say the same. Still amazes me watching all the falls in the early season of SNL that he didn’t have more broken bones and injuries (at least not that I heard of).
Chevy's "impression" of President Gerald Ford consisted entirely of pratfalls, stemming from a single incident of Ford slipping on the stairs coming off of Air Force One.
Huh, I'm not real familiar with Chase's style and I just watched Christmas Vacation this weekend. I'd have to imagine that taking so many pratfalls and whatnot would really take a toll on someone Chase's size long term (he's like 6'5"-6'6", right?).
@@ShanelleRiccio to which I say I am jealous of anyone with any career at all... MY DAY WILL COME!!!! I done drew the Angel on my RU-vid thingy and everything! Lol!
For me, the “National Lampoon”-branded films are a sub-genre of a continuum of movies in a little universe that encompasses Ivan Reitman, Harold Ramis, John Landis, and John Hughes on the creative end and early-years “Saturday Night Live” and “SCTV” players on the performance end (plus Steve Martin and a few other hangers-on in this wacky theater company) starting with “Animal House” and continuing through “Meatballs,” “Caddyshack,” “Blues Brothers,” “Heavy Metal,” “Stripes,” “Vacation,” “Trading Places,” “Ghostbusters,” “Spies Like Us,” “Three Amigos,” “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles,” “Coming to America,” “Christmas Vacation,” “Great Outdoors,” “Uncle Buck,” and “Groundhog Day.” The creators (writers/producers/directors) and actors often collaborated with each other behind and in front of the camera, and so all these films feel like they’re set in the same comedic realm-and what a body of work, spanning 15 years.
THIS right here is what I was talking about!! That's exactly what I wanted to know!! thanks so much for writing. It's like they were a theater troupe..but making movies together!!
Yes, so true!! You see a lot of the SCTV alumni (ie John Candy, Rick Moranis, Eugene Levy, Harold Ramis) and the SNL/Second City crossover alumni (Bill Murray, Steve Martin, Dan Akroyd, Chevy Chase etc) on screen and it’s always fun to name the movies where they appear together.. and it could keep you busy for a while because there are a lot of movies!!!!
It's been a tradition in my family to watch this movie every Thanksgiving after dinner. We've done this since I was a little kid. Oddly enough, I've never seen the other movies in this series, but kinda knew that they always existed.
yeah everyone is telling me I've got to go back and watch, but I do feel this movie stands alone, especially because I started to really enjoy Clark as a character
I had no idea but the fans here are telling me and I think that’s so funny!! At first i was disappointed it wasn’t these kids, since i especially love Juliette Lewis, but i am here for a running gag!! 😂😂
@@ShanelleRiccio There are a few other running gags you'll pick up on after eventually seeing the first. The seemingly odd placement of poolside model here being one of them. And your "why aren't they freaking out more" when they're under the trailer in the opening scene ...well, they've been in the car with him before. Only watching the third in a series, there is a lot of development you miss
I like Clark. He just wants everyone to be happy and have a good time. And even though he's optimistic most of the movie, he's aware of the consequences should he be wrong. But he doesn't allow himself to openly show it, so he bottles up his emotions. That's pretty compelling.
@Shanelle Riccio As a 10 year old boy (born in 1966) I remember seeing a book on our coffee table called "Bored of the Rings" which was published in 1969 by Signet for the Harvard Lampoon. This was the first time I saw the word "Lampoon" and it made a lasting impression on me, so when the NL movies started hitting the screen, I was prepared for the hilarity that would ensue. Seeing that you didn't seem to be aware of the existence of the National Lampoon brand prior to the films, I decided to do a little research and refresh my memory. Sorry for the length. I promise, this is the "Abriged Version". The Harvard Lampoon was established in 1876 as a long-standing tradition of the campus, influencing the later National Lampoon Brand in its evolution from illustration-heavy publications to satirical wit, ranging from short fiction to comic strips. National Lampoon was started by Harvard graduates and Harvard Lampoon alumni Doug Kenney, Henry Beard and Robert Hoffman in 1969, when they first licensed the "Lampoon" name for a monthly national publication. It was an American humor magazine that ran from 1970 to 1998. The magazine started out as a spinoff from the Harvard Lampoon. National Lampoon magazine reached its height of popularity and critical acclaim during the 1970s, when it had a far-reaching effect on American humor and comedy. The magazine spawned films, radio, live theatre, various sound recordings, and print products including books. Many members of the creative staff from the magazine subsequently went on to contribute creatively to successful media of all types. Now here's the link to the movies ... During 1975, the three founders (Kenney, Beard, and Hoffman) took advantage of a buyout clause in their contracts for $7.5 million. About the same time, writers Michael O'Donoghue and Anne Beatts left to join the NBC comedy show Saturday Night Live (SNL). Also at that time, the National Lampoon Show's John Belushi and Gilda Radner left the troupe to join the original septet of SNL's Not Ready for Primetime Players. The magazine was a springboard to the cinema of the United States for a generation of comedy writers, directors, and performers. Various alumni went on to create and write for SNL, The David Letterman Show, SCTV, The Simpsons, Married... with Children, Night Court, and various films including National Lampoon's Animal House, Caddyshack, National Lampoon's Vacation, and Ghostbusters. As some of the original creators departed, the magazine remained popular and profitable as it had the emergence of John Hughes and editor-in-chief P.J. O'Rourke, along with artists and writers such as Gerry Sussman, Ellis Weiner, Tony Hendra, Ted Mann, Peter Kleinman, Chris Cluess, Stu Kreisman, John Weidman, Jeff Greenfield, Bruce McCall, and Rick Meyerowitz. In 1989, the magazine was acquired in a hostile takeover by a business partnership of producer Daniel Grodnik and actor Tim Matheson (who played "Otter" in the 1978 film National Lampoon's Animal House). In 1991, the magazine (and more importantly, the rights to the brand name "National Lampoon") were bought by a company called J2 Communications, headed by James P. Jimirro. J2 Communications' focus was to make money by licensing out the brand name "National Lampoon". The company was contractually obliged to publish at least one new issue of the magazine per year to retain the rights to the Lampoon name. However, the company had very little interest in the magazine itself; throughout the 1990s, the number of issues per year declined precipitously and erratically. The magazine's final print publication was November 1998, after which the contract was renegotiated, and in a sharp reversal, J2 Communications was then prohibited from publishing issues of the magazine. J2, however, still owned the rights to the brand name, which it continued to franchise out to other users. In 2002, the use of the brand name and the rights to republish old material were sold to a new, and otherwise unrelated, company which chose to call itself National Lampoon, Incorporated. Which is where we stand today. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Lampoon_(magazine)#:~:text=National%20Lampoon%20was%20started%20by,for%20a%20monthly%20national%20publication.
The interesting thing about John Hughes is that his movies followed one certain age group. The teenagers that loved Sixteen Candles were given a more mature High School movie the following year, with The Breakfast Club. Pretty in Pink and Ferris Bueller's Day Off were both really about transitioning out of High School (following year), and the next year we got Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, which is the first time Hughes really treated those kids watching like adults. So I think a lot of people that got into Hughes as a young teenager, and followed him through their High School years, were jarred when he put out Home Alone and Christmas Vacation, which both felt like they were going for a younger audience (despite some adult content). Then he found this weird space, where he just wrote for 7 year old kids. I'm sure there's a story about why his writing took such a turn.
@@ShanelleRiccio If you have a harmful habit that contributes to your success, find a way to mitigate it? Chevy really should have gotten some training from Martial Artists, and Stunt Guys; then he could find a way to keep up the hits without destroying himself.
Clark Griswold is a great character. He is a family man through and through, he wants his family to be happy and fulfill, what he thinks there expectations are. But he messes it up, like we all often do, we try our hardest and it just doesn’t works out, well sometimes it does, but never as planned.
Hey, As an Aussie, gonna confirm that trivia point at 19:36. Growing up in Newcastle, there was one house that went all out every year that was colloquially called "The Griswold House" by all the locals. They actually moved house one year after building a replica of Elvis Presley's "Graceland" and the yearly trek became one to "Graceland" instead, however the fact remains that the Griswolds was well established in our culture.
This is one of the best christmasmovies ever...LOVE this....its a classic... Chevy Chase does it supergreat here and the chemistry between and cousin Eddie is epic.....like the chemistry between Steve Martin and John Candy in Planes trains and Automobiles. John Hughes was a genious. I like the lampoon movies,especially this one,the Las Vegas vacation and Going to Europe....
Cousin Eddie and his family first appeared in Vacation, which is why you were so lost when Eddie appeared. They next appeared after this in Vegas Vacation. They are the relatives that no one in real life would admit to. Love Clark! You aren't familiar with him as of this viewing, that's why he confuses you. Most of us were very familiar with him already as the everyman always wanting to do the right thing and succeed for his family but being the most unlucky guy ever. For me, this is one of a handful of Christmas movies that must be watched every year. The humor never gets old for me and the family.
@@ShanelleRiccio favorite part ? Hard to tell when you've known this movie for 30 years ! That changes over the years. I was 12 when I first saw the Film and I'm 42 now. As a 12-year-old you like other parts than as a 42-year-old ! I would say today I love the movie as a whole !
@@ShanelleRiccio My favorite part is when Clark tells Randy to help him check the lights, and Randy says "oh, look at the time! Gotta do my homework . . . feed the hog . . ." He checked a wrist with no watch, either. This actor is the Johnny Gilecki (From Big bang Theory) and this is where he learned comedy. Chevy Chase gave him some tips and even gave him some one-liners to work with.
Clark Griswold is a family man, who truly loves his family. He always gets idealistic, grandiose ideas for his vacations, and they never go the way he wants them to. He is not perfect, and has obvious flaws, but is emotionally invested in his family. Often to the annoyance of his children.
Chris Columbus’ fall out with Chevy Chase is what led him to direct home alone. John Hughes felt bad for Columbus and promised him that he was going to make another Christmas movie and wanted him as director
Very fair assessment of how we don't get much of a look into Clark's character in the beginning, but if you had seen NLV first, you'd come in knowing his undying dedication to trying to make his family happy despite himself is his charm.
This movie works as a stand alone. You should never have to do "homework" to appreciate a movie. I think John Hughes knew that, and the movie is one of his best.
I agree. I think I watched all of them (or at least 4- the two first ones, this and I think another sequel) and I consider Christmas vacation the best one. That's the only one I own and want to rewatch during the holidays.
Are you kidding?! Clark W. Griswald is the ultimate family man/ father! He over does everything when it comes to family! He’s so loving yet sarcastic… hilarious! Always reminded me of my father. Lol 😂
Chevy Chase did such great physical comedy on SNL and I remember when my parents allowed me tostay up late to watch I laughed so hard at him I was crying... I do like it but there are very few who can achieve that kind of comedy effectively.... The best ones I remember... keystone cops,Chevy, and Jaleel White as Steve Urkel... I enjoy it, because I loved Tom and Jerry growing up.
Oh I love this film. I watch it every Christmas. At least once. The impact on me is it doesn’t even feel like Christas until I’ve watched this, Scrooged, and A Christmas Story.
This movie has a lot of running gags that when you see the others you will enjoy. The Wally World mugs they drink from is from the first movie, and to this day I still refer to Walmart as Wally World
This movie is required viewing for me every Christmas. As a side note, I always imagined Beverly and Chevy being so comfortable with each other after the previous two films that they easily ad lib stuff without missing a beat.
4:15 That sound effect is a type of orchestral drum called a timpano (plural timpani). Unlike most other drums, timpani have a definite pitch, which can be altered by using a foot pedal. So, to create that sound effect, the drum is hit and then the pedal is pressed to raise the pitch as the sound decays.
Shitter was full! I can't say or watch that without laughing. I'm sure a good bit of my affinity for this movie is nostalgia, but I'm 42 so I was the perfect age when I saw this and it's stuck.
I went and saw this when it was first released in the theater. The most excited I became was when I realized one of the granddads was EG Marshall from 12 Angry Men. I was a weird teenager.
electrician here, it's a controlled outlet. usually they are installed in rooms with no ceiling lighting so you can plug a lamp on the top part of the outlet and control it with the switch and still have an alarm clock on the bottom that will work when the switch is off. the thing here is that someone must have used an old outlet that was set to be a controlled one.
I think physical getting hurt comedy is something you're more accustomed to when raised on Bugs Bunny and Merry Melodies cartoons, and you're as desensitized to violence by the end of the '80s, like Gen-X-ers.
yeah I'd agree with you there. I used to watch a ton of this in cartoons, its been a whillleee but I found myself actually feeling hurt watching this 😂
When I was a little kid, whenever I saw the cover art on the vhs I thought it was a prequel or sequel to The Santa Claus (the Tim Allen one). When I got a little older my parents and I watched Vegas Vacation (4th and final of the original series) and so that one is the one that holds a special place in my heart even though I know technically the first Vacation movie and Christmas Vacation are better. I tried to watch the new reboot/sequel Vacation with Ed Helms but I decided to abandon it a few minutes in, that is SUPER rare for me. I enjoy most of the films in the series and this one is most heartfelt of them all, the rest have much more of a cynical edge to them.
Just like A Christmas Story, I watch this movie every year around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Maybe it is because I was a young kid in the 80's, or just my love of all things 80's, but this movie gives me that great, warm feeling all day after seeing it. John Hughes passed way too soon.
This movie just gets more and more popular every year. It was funny and different in 1989 but has become an essential Christmas classic over the years.
The station wagon in this movie is not the infamous station wagon, the Truckster, seen in the first movie, National Lampoon’s Vacation. In fact, that first station wagon was a custom build to be as ridiculously hideous as possible.
This is my favorite Christmas movie. I started my own tradition the year my daughter was born because it turned out to be the one thing to completely hold her interest for the entire length of the movie. I started watching it every day in December through Christmas Day 6 years ago and have ever since. Even though I watch it every day in Dec still, she would lose interest after about 20 minutes the 2nd year. You may have already found this out but Mae Questel (Bethany) was the voice of Betty Boop and Olive Oyl on Popeye. She even voice Betty Boop in Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
This movie, along with White Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life, is an absolute _MUST_ watch every December. Other Christmas movies may be either watched or skipped, but not those three.
Clark is a family man he always wants them to have the best but he's an underdog life seems to show up and kick him while he's down but he's a great dad and husband. I love this movie cause I didn't have a dad around and I would of loved to have one like Clark. 🥰
What you have to understand is that National Lampoon started out as a magazine for kids.... that magazine absolutely pulled no punches and made fun of absolutely everything. Still waiting for a live-action Mad Magazine
Not the same station wagon. The first one was a fictional car called, "The Family Truckster". The one in this movie is a Ford Taurus wagon. Yes, that's Julia Louise Dreyfuss.
I like prat falls when done well. Chevy did it so much on SNL he injured his back and had to take time off. If I remember, I was not much older than 11 or 12 at the time! Lol.
@@rmnffx :( he suffered for great art! pratfalls really are so hard, I couldn't imagine if that was my entire lifeblood as a performer...I'd ruin my body too lol
I saw this movie in the theater, and I was not expecting much since the "European Vacation" was not very good. OMG was I surprised! This is a must watch for me every Christmas, and pretty much any other time I see it on. IMO this is better than the first Vacation movie.
I watch this movie every Holiday Season. My Fav! I haven't watched this movie as many times as Star Wars.....but it is definitely up there in views! Great Review Shanelle!
You should watch the first National Lampoon's Vacation movie. Cousin Eddie was in that one as well. Also, I love how you watched Clark's rant in it's entirety and fast forwarded it just to save time. That was hilarious!!!
I consider Animal House the only *REAL* National Lampoon movie. The founder of National Lampoon died shortly after he wrote Caddyshack (not a National Lampoon film) His name was Doug Kenny. There is an EXCELLENT Netflix movie (fairly recent film too) about him and the creation of National Lampoon called “A Futile and Stupid Gesture” that I think you would really enjoy. Will Forte plays him and it is very funny but also really interesting story about National Lampoon Magazine, SNL, and Animal House
that part with the xmas lights made me crack up a lot as a kid - we had a similar type of house where our xmas lights outside would only be on if our front porch lights were also on similarly with the bathroom, my mom always needed to leave the bathroom light on or energy wouldn't go to the wall outlets for her curling iron to heat up
Who has never seen this classic Xmas film? Wow I feel sorry for you. This is a tradition in most family’s homes. This film has been a part of my life since I was 10 lol yes I’m old
I'm late to the party, but Aunt Bethany is played by the legendary Mae Questel, who was the one and only voice of Betty Boop. She was a very talented voice actress, at one time she was doing both of the voices of Popeye and Olive Oil for Fleischer Studios during WWII.
I love your honesty and great eye for detail. You're a bright bright and aware girl. Good reaction. Not afraid to dislike a movie and give an honest opinion. Respect.
thanks Ryan! I'm definitely aiming for that analytical element but want to always communicate my love for film -- and I will tell you if I'm not into something! haha
You really gotta watch the first Vacation. This movie has so many call backs to it and it’s the best of the entire franchise. This movie if you wanna talk continuity errors has the weirdest of all. In every Vacation film before and after this Rusty is older than Audrey. However in this movie only Audrey is older than Rusty. Rusty is played by a young Johnny Galecki who would go on to be David on Roseanne and Leonard on Big Bang Theroy. Aunt Bethany is played by the legendary voice of Betty Boop while Uncle Lewis is the voice of the Professor on Nightmare Before Christmas. John Huges always tries to incorporate Ray Charles in his films and here it’s during the attic home movies scene.
It is Julia, you are right. This is my Family's favorite Xmas movie. Love Chevy Chase, he made 4 of These Vacation movies. The original Vacation movie, European Vacation, Christmas Vacation, and Final Vegas Vacation. Boomers grew up on physical Comedy, the 3 Stooges, Abbott and Costello. We love Clark
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