Monday, December 24, 2012

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

Warner Bros.
Directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik
My rating: 2.5 stars out of 4
IMDb
(Blu-ray, Warner Bros.)

Chevy Chase has a string of very bad luck leading up to Christmas while trying to keep his bickering family together. Chase's slapstick style is often hilarious, but can get a bit predictable. The best moments are at the Christmas dinner table, especially after the arrival of the forgetful Aunt Bethany and her cigar-chomping, toupee-wearing husband. It can be rather crude at times, but for the most part is able to balance it with authentic insights into the absurdity of family and holiday traditions.

No comments:

Post a Comment