Crappy Holidays!
"National Lampoon's Christmas
Vacation"
Chevy Chase was, at one time, funny in movies; even in
movies with "National Lampoon's Vacation" in the title. But by the time the
third installment creaked onto the screen, his every move was canned, every joke
recycled, every improvisation
... more stale. Normally, this would be just another lame
comedy on cable. But throw in the element of Christmas, and suddenly the
filmmakers are allowed to add rank sentimentality to the poo jokes and
sophomoric innuendo. After staring down a salesgirl's cleavage and 'rasslin'
with the string of lights on top of the house, Chase's Clark Griswold weeps
while looking at holiday snapshots and suddenly it's a winter wonderland. The
poo jokes are more honest. (Everett Collection) Close