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.
Having already destroyed an American theme park and most of Europe in the previous movies, this time the family stays at home, and, of course, is beset by a series of disasters during the Christmas holiday.
The Scrooge in the film is Frank Shirley (Brian Doyle-Murray), the Napoleonic CEO of the company where Clark works. There, Clark’s big project is the ‘Crunch Enhancer’ – a “non-nutritive cereal varnish,” Clark explains to a colleague. “It’s semi-permeable . . . it coats and seals the flake, prevents the milk from penetrating it.”
Shirley has taken notice of the innovation, if not Clark’s name. Clark is confident this recognition will translate into a big, fat holiday bonus – which will pay for the swimming pool he’s already put a down payment on as a surprise Christmas gift for his family.
Then come the tropes – and the gratuitous slapstick: Clark gets in a road rage contest when the Griswolds drive to a Christmas tree farm and careens beneath a gigantic tractor-trailer; things go haywire when an experimental lubricant is applied to Clark’s sled; as he puts up his exterior house lights, Clark staples his sleeve to his gutter. Stuff like that.
The film really comes alive when Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid in the role of a lifetime) shows up with his dilapidated trailer, chemical toilet, and motley brood in tow, including a large dog named Snots.
Nothing says ‘Christmas’ like watching Eddie in front of Clark’s home in his bathrobe, Meister Brau in hand, emptying his trailer’s toilet into the sewer, and volunteering to Clark’s yuppie neighbours: “Merry Christmas! Shitter was full!”
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 Frank Shirley
Brian Doyle-Murray
Director
Jeremiah Chechik
Video
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Shirley has taken notice of the innovation, if not Clark’s name. Clark is confident this recognition will translate into a big, fat holiday bonus – which will pay for the swimming pool he’s already put a down payment on as a surprise Christmas gift for his family.
