National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation – 1989 Chechik
Some hits (the entire squirrel slapstick sequence, getting stuck in the attic, any scene with Randy Quaid) and misses (the sledding scene should’ve been cut) but enough redeeming qualities to archive- especially as a “writer as auteur” stud of John Hughes
Family, holidays and suburbia
Clearly Chevy Case is a singular comedic talent
Lifting the pool scene from Fast Times at Ridgemont High
There are some formal elements at work here with the reoccurring countdown of the advent calendar
Hughes- wrote this (or at least released) the year before Home Alone– a rich period for writing- family, Chicago, holidays
There are little touches that reward repeat viewing like how the Grandpa has the swimsuit babe poster above his head in the bunk beds
I also appreciate the touch of Chevy taking off the post on the stairwell with his chainsaw- a riff on It’s a Wonderful Life
Recommend but barely- not close to the top 10 of 1989
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