As in its funnier predecessors, National Lampoon’s Vacation(1983) and European Vacation(1985), the plot here revolves around the Griswold family, led by Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo.
This time, having already destroyed an American theme park and most of Europe in the previous movies, the family stays at home, and, of course, is beset by a series of disasters during the Christmas holiday.
It’s silly in the extreme, and the only relief comes from Randy Quaid’s performance as an obnoxious relative.
One suspects that actress Juliette Lewis leaves this one off her CV, as might director Jeremiah Chechik, who went on to make the infinitely more enjoyable Benny and Joon(1993).
Clark W Griswold Jr
Chevy Chase Ellen Griswold
Beverly D’Angelo Cousin Eddie
Randy Quaid Catherine (Eddie’s wife)
Miriam Flynn Rusty Griswold
Johnny Galecki Audrey Griswold
Juliette Lewis Clark W Griswold Sr
John Randolph Nora Griswold
Diane Ladd Art (Ellen’s father)
E G Marshall Frances (Ellen’s mother)
Doris Roberts Aunty Bethany
Mae Questel Uncle Lewis
William Hickey
Director
Jeremiah Chechik
Related Posts
Insatiable (1980) One of the all-time adult blockbusters, mainly because of the much-awaited return of adult superstar Marilyn Chambers, who had taken…
Teen Wolf (1985) In this likeable, if lightweight, comedy, Scott Howard (Michael J Fox) is a teenager who longs to be a little…
National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985) Co-scripted by teen-pic maestro John Hughes (The Breakfast Club et al), this politically incorrect sequel to 1983's National Lampoon's Vacation from…
BMX Bandits (1983) Teenage BMX riders Goose (James Lugton) and PJ (Angelo D’Angelo) become friends with Judy (15-year-old Nicole Kidman in one of…
Porky's II: The Next Day (1983) The huge success of Canadian comedy Porky's (1981) - it grossed over $110 million - convinced the main creative talents…
Long Riders, The (1980) In post-Civil War Missouri, the James-Younger gang are heroes to the local people but when one of their number gets…
Nightmare Before Christmas, The (1993) After another successful celebration in Halloween Town - which is populated by vampires, ghouls, fiends, mad scientists and other strange…
Clark W Griswold Jr
