National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

An excellent comedy, ideal for the Christmas holidays. Though perhaps never an excellent comedian, Chevy Chase was born for the role of the goofy Griswold, and his idea of how to spend the Christmas holidays is so dazzling and enthusiastic that, given the avalanche of mishaps, everybody will sympathize with him, not to mention the fact that they will often struggle with fits of laughter during them. It’ll never become one of my Christmas cult-classics, but whenever there's a shortage of quality stuff on TV and I want to set the right atmosphere, Christmas Vacation will always be the perfect choice. (2012-12-17)

If I had seen the film when I was younger or in a different mood, perhaps it would have thrilled or impressed me, but as it is, it's just a series of scenes where I don't really find anything to laugh about. I guess I'm nitpicking too much about the logic, which is a bit offbeat for a crazy comedy, but on the other hand, it didn't strike me as that crazy either. I will always associate Home Alone with Christmas more. (2014-02-11)

A must-see film for me every Christmas. Love, Christmas traditions, and fake emotions are all around me, and the Griswold family can always make me relax and have a good laugh. After all these years I know exactly who will say which line and when, but it still does the trick and I always have a royally good time watching it. (2016-07-01)

Perfectly average mainstream humor in the style of putting up a Christmas tree, the tree falls down, I prepare the lights, the bulbs don't light up and then they do and then they don't again. I fall off the stairs, I fall off the ladder, I fall off the roof - basically a lot of shenanigans. It doesn't really offend me, because apparently, due to the Christmas theme, this tomfoolery can do without farting, vomit, and other favorite props of American crude comedies. But it also doesn't manage to excite me and the cult status of this Christmas comedy simply pass me by. Perhaps my more critical view is also contributed to by the fact that I mind the perfect example of American indifference towards the environment and obsession with consumption. If it's a Christmas tree, then a proper tree, onto which I can drive my car to the forest, if it's light decoration, then one that would occupy a smaller city power plant. It could be seen today as a satire on consumerism, but that definitely wasn't the intention. Moreover, the conflict motif with the main character's boss and its resolution is so silly that director Chechik can be happy with 3 stars. The only thing that impressed me was the charming Beverly D'Angelo in the role of the mother. She didn't get much space, but she still showed what it means to have charisma and charm. Overall impression: 50%. (2013-01-08)

This movie perfectly captures what I can imagine as a "terrible American comedy". Weak script, exaggerated characters, nonsensical scenes, pseudo-crazy situations, unfunny jokes, and ubiquitous American awkwardness. Never again. P.S. Johnny Galecki was annoying and irritating even as a child... (2021-12-28)