National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Critics Consensus

While Christmas Vacation may not be the most disciplined comedy, it's got enough laughs and good cheer to make for a solid seasonal treat.

65%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 37

86%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 221,645
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Movie Info

This is the third in the "National Lampoon" series about the Griswold family. In this sequel, the Griswolds must deal with a holiday with their in-laws.

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Cast

Chevy Chase
as Clark Griswold
Beverly D'Angelo
as Ellen Griswold
Randy Quaid
as Eddie
Juliette Lewis
as Audrey Griswold
Johnny Galecki
as Rusty Griswold
Diane Ladd
as Nora Griswold
John Randolph
as Clark Griswold Sr.
E.G. Marshall
as Art
Doris Roberts
as Frances
Mae Questel
as Aunt Bethany
William Hickey
as Uncle Lewis
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
as Margo Chester
Nicholas Guest
as Todd Chester
Miriam Flynn
as Catherine
Nicolette Scorsese
as Mary
Brian Doyle-Murray
as Frank Shirley
Ellen Hamilton Latzen
as Ruby Sue
Billy Hopkins
Cody Burger
as Rocky
Heidi Levitt
Snots the Dog
Sam McMurray
as Bill
Keith MacKechnie
as Delivery Boy
Natalija Nogulich
as Mrs. Shirley
Tony Epper
as Bozo #1
Hank Hooker
as Bozo #2
Alexander Folk
as Swat Officer
Jeremy Roberts
as Cop
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Critic Reviews for National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

All Critics (37) | Top Critics (7) | Fresh (24) | Rotten (13)

  • In National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Chevy Chase's family Christmas tree is a little full with a lot of sap, much like this movie. But it's a big-hearted fullness and it's a smoothly stirred sap.

    Dec 2, 2014 | Full Review…
    Hollywood Reporter
    Top Critic

  • Solid family fare with plenty of yocks.

    Nov 27, 2007 | Full Review…

    Variety Staff

    Variety
    Top Critic

  • The new film does little more than reintroduce these familiar characters (with new actors playing the children, who would otherwise be college age by now) and let them get on one another's nerves in earnest.

    May 20, 2003 | Rating: 2/5

    Janet Maslin

    New York Times
    Top Critic

  • As always the visual gags are more prevalent then the verbal ones, and are lit up in neon so you can't miss them.

    Apr 17, 2001 | Rating: 1/5 | Full Review…

    Ali Barclay

    BBC.com
    Top Critic

  • One of the great unanswered questions in Hollywood is how Chevy Chase still gets work.

    Feb 13, 2001 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

    James Berardinelli

    ReelViews
    Top Critic

  • Sequence after sequence seems to contain all the necessary material, to be well on the way toward a payoff, and then it somehow doesn't work.

    Jan 1, 2000 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

    Roger Ebert

    Chicago Sun-Times
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (37)

Audience Reviews for National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

  • Dec 11, 2015
    Christmas Vacation is an occasionally charming dysfunctional family holiday film that is nonetheless not as funny as it could be. It doesn't quite reach the Christmas classic heights it could have. Rating: 53
    Bradley J Super Reviewer
  • Dec 17, 2012
    A solid holiday film, but an inconsistent one at that. It's also a movie whose humor, at times, leaves a lot to be desired, like the sled scene and large amounts of time time where nothing really funny happens. I still think it is a fun film, if you want to have a few laughs this holiday season but it's not something that will stick with you forever. Chevy Chase is funny, but the film, and the franchise in general, is mostly about the situations Clark finds himself in and there's not really much that would separate this film than, say, Christmas with the Kranks. Well other than the fact that one is solid and the other sucked. You can figure out which is which. Really I don't have much to say about this film, it speaks for itself and it's solid escapist entertainment during the holiday break. The film doesn't really offer a lot in the way of material that you can dissect or analyze. Still it's a fun flick.
    Jesse O Super Reviewer
  • Dec 22, 2011
    An outwardly bizzare and outrageous Christmas classic and one of my favorites. The best thing about this movie is that though it fancies itself a bad movie with hammy acting and a plotline filled with unpredictable disaster, it had enough laughs to make it great. It has everything a dysfunctional family could hope for, including an old aunt with short term memory loss, uptight neighbors, over dose on decorations, and everyone else showing half hearted emotion that strangely comes together at the end. Too many ROFLcopters come into play for anyone to seriously knock this movie.
    Jackson W Super Reviewer
  • Dec 20, 2011
    It is, without a doubt, the funniest family Christmas film of all time. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is a modern classic that's good family fun. Writer John Hughes brilliantly captures the American family, and creates fun, authentic characters that are relatable. Chevy Chase leads an all-star ensemble cast that includes Beverly D'Angelo, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Randy Quaid; all of whom give great performances. It's a near perfect holiday film with a positive message and a ton of laughs. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is a wonderful film that's sure to brighten up the holidays.
    Dann M Super Reviewer
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