• 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