Watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation from 1989 is a classic holiday comedy that has cemented its place in the hearts of many through the years. The film stars Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold, a man determined to give his family the perfect Christmas despite a series of unfortunate mishaps. The movie begins with the Griswolds preparing for their extended family members to arrive at their home in the Chicago suburbs. Clark is determined to have the perfect Christmas, going as far as to cover the entire house in Christmas lights and set up a massive Christmas tree in the living room that is too large to fit in its stand, leading to some comical moments as Clark tries to make it work.

As the family members, including Clark's parents-in-law and his cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid), begin to arrive, chaos ensues. Clark's uptight neighbors are irritated by the excessive Christmas lights and sue the Griswolds in an effort to get them to take the lights down. Clark's boss unexpectedly shows up with a large bonus check, but not before delivering a scathing rant about the company's financial troubles. And just as Clark is trying to navigate these obstacles, his extended family members start bickering and fighting with each other, leading to some uncomfortable moments at the dinner table.

The madness continues as Clark's efforts to make the perfect Christmas fall apart. His Christmas lights cause a power outage, leaving the family in the dark for several hours. His attempts to create a winter wonderland in the backyard lead to a disastrous incident involving an out-of-control toboggan ride. And even his seemingly foolproof plan to surprise the family with a swimming pool turns into a disaster.

Through it all, Clark's wife Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo) tries to keep the peace, while their children, including their teen daughter Audrey (Juliette Lewis), look on in side-splitting amusement. Clark's determination to make the perfect Christmas eventually reaches a breaking point, but things take a heartwarming turn as the family comes together to celebrate the holiday in their own special, imperfect way.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is a classic comedy that has stood the test of time. Chevy Chase shines as Clark Griswold, delivering hilarious one-liners and deadpan reactions to the various catastrophes that befall him. Beverly D'Angelo is the perfect foil as Ellen, providing a calming presence amidst the chaos. And the supporting cast, including Randy Quaid as Cousin Eddie, add to the hilarity with their over-the-top antics.

At its core, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is a movie about family and the joys and frustrations that come with the holiday season. It's a reminder that the perfect Christmas doesn't exist, but that the imperfect moments can be just as special. Through its outrageous humor and heartwarming moments, the movie has become a beloved holiday classic that continues to entertain audiences year after year.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is a 1989 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5 and a MetaScore of 49.