An NYPD officer tries to save his wife and several others taken hostage by German terrorists during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles.
Follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England.
It's Christmas time and the Griswolds are preparing for a family seasonal celebration, but things never run smoothly for Clark, his wife Ellen and their two kids. Clark's continual bad luck is worsened by his obnoxious family guests, but he manages to keep going knowing that his Christmas bonus is due soon.Written by
Rob Hartill
When Clark leaves a gift for his boss Mr. Shirley, he tells Clark to leave it on the table with the others. If you look at the gifts on the table and also at Clark's gift, you will notice that all of the wrapped gift boxes are the same shape. Each gift is wrapped with a different color of wrapping paper, but all of the boxes are shaped the same. See more »
Goofs
Due to being partially being filmed in Burbank (Griswold's residence) one can occasionally spot California vegetation in the background, such as ivy climbing telephone wire and southern California coniferous trees. See more »
Quotes
Clark:
I simply solved the problem. We needed a coffin... Er, a tree. There are no lots open on Christmas Eve. Lewis burned down my tree so I replaced it as best I could. Voilà.
Ellen:
Are you okay?
See more »
Crazy Credits
The opening credits feature a cartoon of Santa delivering the Griswold family's Christmas presents while also getting electrocuted, hit by bricks, setting his pants on fire, falling into the snow and being chased by a rolling snowman head See more »
Alternate Versions
To receive a PG certificate in the UK all cinema and video versions were cut by 2 secs to remove the swearing from 'We're gonna have the happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny fucking Kaye.' See more »
This is probably the best Vacation film to come from the National Lampoon series. There are so many laughs to go around (thanks to writer John Hughes) that it boggles the mind (and it might be the final time Checy Chase brings belly laughs). Here, the Griswalds don't go on a vacation, but instead the family stays in Chicago where there relatives come to town and hell will come too. Randy Quaid makes this film a treat by having just laugh out loud moments on the screen. Great fun for the whole family (I think). A+
54 of 68 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you?
| Report this
This is probably the best Vacation film to come from the National Lampoon series. There are so many laughs to go around (thanks to writer John Hughes) that it boggles the mind (and it might be the final time Checy Chase brings belly laughs). Here, the Griswalds don't go on a vacation, but instead the family stays in Chicago where there relatives come to town and hell will come too. Randy Quaid makes this film a treat by having just laugh out loud moments on the screen. Great fun for the whole family (I think). A+