National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Poster
Comedy
Family

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) Review in 2025

8.5/10
Blockbuster

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is a hilarious holiday classic about a well-meaning but hapless family man trying to make the perfect Christmas for his family.

97 minutes
English (Dubbed: None)
Age group: 13-25, Interests: Comedy, Family
Director:
Jersey Bellini
Budget: 25 million USD
Gross: 71 million USD

Family-Friendly Rating

Is this movie suitable for family viewing?

This movie is perfect for family movie nights, but be warned: it's a bit of a disaster movie, so don't expect a perfect holiday experience.

CineReview Recommendation

This movie is a must-watch for anyone who loves comedy, family movies, or the holiday season. It's a classic and a staple of Christmas movie nights, and it's sure to bring laughter and joy to audiences of all ages.

Spoiler Alert!

Hover to reveal spoiler summary

The movie follows Clark Griswold's (Chevy Chase) disastrous Christmas plans, including a disastrous trip to the Christmas tree farm, a disastrous dinner with the in-laws, and a disastrous Christmas Eve party that ends in chaos and destruction.

Review Details

story8.00/10

The story is classic National Lampoon: a well-meaning but hapless family man trying to make the perfect Christmas for his family, but everything that can go wrong does. It's a relatable and hilarious take on the holiday season.

acting9.00/10

The acting is top-notch, with Chevy Chase delivering a standout performance as Clark Griswold. The rest of the cast is also great, bringing their characters to life with ease and humor.

characters9.00/10

The characters are well-developed and relatable, especially Clark Griswold, who is played perfectly by Chevy Chase. The supporting cast is also great, including Beverly D'Angelo as Ellen Griswold and Randy Quaid as Cousin Eddie.

direction8.00/10

The direction is solid, with a good balance of humor and heart. The pacing is quick and the jokes are well-timed, making it a fun and entertaining watch.

cinematography7.00/10

The cinematography is decent, but not particularly noteworthy. The film's color palette is bright and cheerful, which suits the holiday theme, but the camera work is a bit straightforward and lacks any real flair.

Pros and Cons

Pros

The movie's humor is spot-on, the characters are relatable and well-developed, and the acting is top-notch. The story is classic National Lampoon, with a well-meaning but hapless family man trying to make the perfect Christmas for his family.

Cons

The cinematography is a bit lacking, and the pacing can be a bit slow at times. However, these are minor complaints in an otherwise excellent holiday classic.

Notable Quotes

"Clark Griswold: 'I'm gonna get that Christmas tree, and I'm gonna decorate it, and I'm gonna hang those lights, and I'm gonna make this the best Christmas ever!'"
"Cousin Eddie: 'Merry Christmas, Clark!'"
"Ellen Griswold: 'Clark, you're not even a good liar.'"

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