22 minutes, 22 seconds: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

In this week's installment of 22 minutes, 22 seconds, we look at another festive favourite... from the golden decade of Christmas movies, the 1980s.

And for a little festive cheer who's better to turn to than 1980s comedy icons Chevy Chase and writer-producer John Hughes? (I can't believe I just wrote that!)

Anyway, I'm sure I'm not the only one who remembers watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation many, many times while growing up. Mixing together cynicism, wacky physical comedy, rabid squirrels, irritating in-laws and ultimately a realisation that family and traditional values ARE important, Christmas Vacation is the ancestor, for better or worse, of contemporary festive films like Four Christmases, which is currently raking in the dough at the American box office (despite a near unanimous critical panning).


Anyway, at 22 minutes and 22 seconds into National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Ellen Griswold (Beverly D'Angelo) and daughter Audrey (a very young Juliette Lewis) are in the kitchen and taking strain as both sets of grandparents and a growing number of other family members converge on their household. Audrey is moaning about sharing a bed with her brother, and Ellen, well, despite her smiles she isn't exactly taking things well either.


Ellen: Well, I don't know what else to say except that it's Christmas and we're all in misery.


Ellen lights up.


Frances Smith (Ellen's mother) from off-screen: Ellen, are you smoking again?!



Ellen: Noooooo!



There's no better way to take out your family frustrations during the festive season than on an unsuspecting cabbage.

If you want a little more Christmas Vacation action, make sure to check out the always amusing Movies in 30 Seconds with Bunnies and their take on the film.

Comments

MJenks said…
This is on my list of favorite films only because I watched it so much as a kid. Plus, lines like "Sh!tter was full" have worked their way into my list of comedic lines I've stolen from other places in order to get a cheap laugh from a crowd.

Plus, I've done the "look kids, a deer" and given someone the middle finger trick before.
Pfangirl said…
I definitely need to squeeze in a viewing of this film before/on next week Thursday. I haven't watched the film in several years now.

Apart from screening Dinner for One, South Africa doesn't have any movies or Christmas specials that are shown every year on TV during the festive season.

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