National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - PG-13

Silly humor for the holidays; some iffy

Rating: PG-13 for profanity and sexual situations Studio: Warner Home Video Directed By: Jeremiah S. Chechik Cast: Randy Quaid, Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo Running Time: 97 minutes Release Date: 12/01/1989 Genre: Comedy

Common Sense Note

Parents should know that much of the slapstick humor is obviously directed at preteens, from the cartoon opening to an impossibly high-speed sled ride, but some profanity and mild sexual references make this a questionable choice for the under-13 set. Many laughs depend on mishaps like falling from ladders or traveling in a car stuck underneath a big rig, but nobody gets hurt. A pet cat, however, gets electrocuted. The foul language is toned down a bit from the previous Vacation movies, but moderate to extreme profanities are sprinkled liberally throughout the show. This movie makes all of its characters look ridiculous, but the only negative stereotype is of a busty woman who sells lingerie in the local mall.

Families who see this movie might discuss sequels. Why is a sequel rarely as good as the original? Is there a temptation on the part of moviemakers to essentially repeat a winning formula? If you've seen the other Chevy Chase Vaction movies, did you find anything in this movie suprising?

Rate It!

Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Andy Davis

The story and most of the humor is blandly reheated from Vacation and European Vacation, but Chevy Chase's best lines add some luster to this holiday edition.

Clark Griswald (Chevy Chase), a hard-working father of two teens, is determined to show his family a fun-filled, old-fashioned Christmas. By the time all of the in-laws and a crude second cousin show up, Clark has 25,000 lights stapled to the house and this predictable comedy is in full swing. Lowbrow, potentially offensive humor makes this best for older viewers.

For a moment during the opening scene, it looks like we're going on the road again with the Griswald's. Actually, the family is just going to the country to chop down a 40-foot tree for an old fashioned Christmas at home, the first in a string of overblown escapades in Clark Griswald's quest for the perfect holiday. "I just know how you build up things in your mind," warns his loving but slightly confused wife, Ellen.

But this fanatical family man won't be deterred until his miserly boss has been kidnapped and a SWAT team descends on his house to the tune of "Here Comes Santa Claus."

For those who enjoyed the original, NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION offers virtually the same story and characters with more predictability and less help from the supporting cast. Those who found Vacation utterly tasteless will find this to be slightly (but not much) cleaner. Chevy Chase has some good moments, and those who enjoy his double-talk and pratfalls will find some redeeming value in this lukewarm movie. His frustration at 250 strings of Christmas lights and his overtures to a busty sales lady are among the movie's best moments.

The producers attracted some decent talent to act as Clark's foils, but neither the stuck-up neighbor (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), nor the disgusting second cousin (Randy Quaid), nor the boss who stiffs Clark on his Christmas bonus (Brian Doyle-Murray) generate any laughs to speak of. The Griswald kids might as well be cardboard cutouts with their eyes permanently rolled.

One inherent problem parents will have with this movie is how it juxtaposes juvenile humor with sexually suggestive scenes and strings of profanity. If it's a kid-friendly Christmas movie you're after, you can't go wrong with the animated classic em>How the Grinch Stole Christmas -- not to be confused with the more recent live-action version. Other good choices are The Santa Clause or I'll Be Home for Christmas.

Rate It!

Content		CS	adults	kids
Content
Sexual Content Some flirting with a lingerie sales lady leads to some provocative dialogue and camera angles. Later on, she appears in a daydream stripping out of her bathing suit. The camera cuts away before she finishes.
Violence Many laughs depend on mishaps like falling from ladders or traveling in a car stuck underneath a big rig, but nobody gets hurt. A pet cat, however, gets electrocuted.
Language Some profanity.
Message
	Social Behavior This movie makes all of its characters look ridiculous, but the only negative stereotype is of a busty woman who sells lingerie in the local mall.
	Commercialism
	Drug/Alcohol/Tobacco Adults drink too much.