Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) plans an extravagant family Christmas for his wife (Beverly D’Angelo), kids (Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki), parents (John Randolph, Diane Ladd), and in-laws (E.G. Marshall, Doris Roberts). But Griswold vacations never go as planned, and one disaster after another occurs, including the arrival of redneck Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid).
The word that best describes Christmas Vacation is consistency. It never shifts in tone or changes in any significant way. Just once ever two minutes it offers up a bland slapstick joke and then follows it with a saccharine moment. The jokes aren’t funny, and the emotions are both forced and ineffectual, but they do come consistently.
National Lampoon’s Vacation was a surprise hit in 1983. It put the everyday Griswold family on the road as they traveled for the perfect vacation at Wally World. Naturally, everything went wrong and Clark found several innovative ways to go berserk. With Chevy Chase supplying wackiness and Beverly D’Angelo adding sex appeal, Vacation did wonders with its thin script. Perhaps it was having Harold Ramis (director of Groundhog Day, and writer of Animal House, Stripes, and Ghost Busters) at the helm, but whatever the reason, they squeezed every ounce of humor from the concept, and made an enjoyable film.
Naturally, there was a sequel, with the Griswolds going to Europe, and just as naturally, it was lacking. And that brings us to Christmas Vacation, which once again returns to the same, long-empty pool. This time the family doesn’t go anywhere, but that doesn’t change the formula. To make up for the lack of movement, extra characters are shoved into every frame, but most of them have only a few lines and no personality. Veterans John Randolph, Diane Ladd, E.G. Marshall, and Doris Roberts are wasted as no more than furniture. Unfortunately, Randy Quaid is allowed to speak as redneck Cousin Eddie, spewing out jokes that were old before moving pictures were invented.
First time director Jeremiah S. Chechik lacks Ramis’s comedic background and gift for timing. With the retread of a script, the actors needed some real help from a gifted director. Instead, they got advice from the man who went on to direct the horrendous The Avengers.
The film is also known as National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.