Tonight may be the night that I finally get into the Christmas spirit.
Every year, there are a few movies that my wife and I like to pop into the DVD player as December 25 creeps closer. But none screams out 'Deck the Halls!' better than what I may finally view again tonight - National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. There are so many scenes jam-packed into 97 classic minutes.
From the moment the movie opens with Clark's family truckster careening down the highway on their journey for the perfect tree, you know your cheeks are going to hurt until the final credits roll. There are so many highlights to choose from:
- Clark and Rusty hanging lights on the house. So many that now even YOU, when you pass a crazy-lit house while driving, you immediately reference that home to The Griswolds:
Aunt Bethany: "Is your house on fire, Clark?"
Clark: "No, Aunt Bethany. Those are just the Christmas lights."
- Eddie emptying his RV dumper in front of the Griswold estate:
Eddie: "S#&*@^%
Clark: "Ah yes. You checked our s#&*@^%
- Snot, Eddie's dog:
Eddie: "If you scratch his belly, Clark, he'll love you until the day you die."
Clark: "I really shouldn't, Eddie. My hands are all chapped."
- Drinking eggnog out of Marty Moose cups and the ensuing rant that follows when Clark's Christmas bonus turns into the Jelly-of-the-Month gift:
Clark: "Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out into the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?
Eddie: "Naw, I'm doing just fine, Clark."
I really could go on and on and on...but instead of doing that, I'm going to suggest that you run to your nearest video retailer, grab Christmas Vacation, get a snack and beverage (adult or otherwise), sit back and enjoy quite possibly one of the greatest holiday movies created. Ever.
Ho, ho, ho
D & G
