National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik, starring Chevy Chase. Reprising the role of Clark W. Griswold from the National Lampoon’s Vacation movies, there is one thing that Clark wants: a “good old-fashioned family Christmas” with his whole family there. To make sure everything goes to plan, he needs his wife Ellen, played by Beverly D’Angelo, as well as his kids. So, everything should go smoothly, and that includes getting a Christmas tree and putting lights on the house. But, of course, nothing ever goes as planned. When all seems to be going great, his leech of a cousin, Eddie (played by Randy Quaid), shows up uninvited, bringing his family and living in their RV on Clark’s driveway. To make matters worse, Clark’s boss, Mr. Shirley (played by Brian Doyle-Murray), cans the Christmas bonus that Clark and his coworkers truly need, especially Clark.
This is more than just a great Christmas movie. It has everything a holiday film needs: funny and memorable lines, serious moments, and some heartfelt scenes as well. All of this is thanks to the man who wrote the script—one of the most talented writers and directors of the ’80s, John Hughes. When he writes a movie, he doesn’t just create characters; he makes them real and relatable. When you watch this film, you might recognize a little of Clark, or his son Rusty, or even Cousin Eddie in someone you know. John Hughes is more than talented—he’s an artist who has created some of the most timeless ’80s films, such as The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and many more. Chevy Chase truly embodies the role of a real dad in this movie. He doesn’t act like most ’80s sitcom dads or the “Mr. Nice Guy” character; he plays a father who just wants a good Christmas. Although he’s pushed past his breaking point when everything goes wrong, his portrayal feels genuine. This movie is so great that it’s the number one Christmas movie everyone should watch. I give this movie two silver bars, one for decent directing and overall good acting, and the second bar for decent special effects and good script writing. I’ll see you the next time you want to come back to the movies.