"Christmas Vacation" discussion -- 12/1/02 - 12/7/02

[slade]

This is a thread to discuss the technical and/or thematic merits of "Christmas Vacation".

The purpose being to foster intelligent discussion of films without resorting to "It's a piece of crap." or "It's the greatest film ever." (And so that we all can gain a bit of a film education from everyone.)

We'll discuss a new film each week. Either morticia or I will post the film in this forum in advance, and lock the topic until the first day of discussion.

Thanks everyone. We are open to any ideas about running this forum.

****SPOILER WARNING**** of course this entire thread is going to be full of spoilers.

Oh, and be careful--"Yule crack up."

[Indyphantom]

I bought this DVD super cheap recently. It's pan and scan which is why it will probably take me awhile before actually watching it.

I haven't seen it since the theatre. I like the Vacation films, but this is the least memorable. I think Randy Quaid was the highlight, if I recall.

[MrTony]

I'm pretty sure the DVD of this movie is open matte, but there's still image missing on the sides.

I really don't know what there is to say about this movie except that it's hilarious and I watch it every Christmas. And that Juliette Lewis is easily the worst Audrey.

[Morticia]

I myself just picked this up, I haven't ever seen it all the way through but I am aware that many people see it as a Christmas classic (my brother included) and it got a lot of votes in a hurry. Yes, too bad it's not OAR, but hey, I didn't spend a lot on the disc...if I rented it 1 1/2 times it would have paid for itself.

I suppose I could pose a question -- what makes this a good Christmastime movie? Would you be interested in watching it in June (just cause "yule crack up" -- the season has nothing to do with it) or is it season-specific?

For instance...just to clarify what tiny point I'm trying to make here -- I can watch The Nightmare Before Christmas any time of the year, it's that much fun. I do try to watch it especially around the Holidays (Halloween & Christmas) but really I can enjoy this one year 'round.

On the other hand, I feel silly watching the TV version of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" if it's not December. How about "Christmas Vacation" ? -- for you CV fans!!

[MrTony]

I've thought about it, and I think the reason Christmas Vacation has become a holiday classic (aside from being funny) is that it's one of the few Christmas movies that deals with the stress of the holiday season. Everyone can relate to dealing with relatives, fitting holiday planning around work (something I can definitely identify with), and just wanting everything to be perfect when it never is.

I used to be able to watch this movie at any time of the year, but I've just seen it too many times now, so it pretty much comes out during Christmas season and that's it.

[EM3]

I love Christmas Vacation! I watched it while putting up the tree this year. Fiber optic tree saved the marriage this Christmas Season. I know for me it has to be that time of the season for me to watch something like that. I am even like that around Halloween each year I have a slasher fest. So at Christmas I have a Holiday movie blowout. My wife would like it now if she could get Christmas in Conneticut the B&W version on DVD. Watching a movie like that in the middle of summer just doesn't "feel" right to me.

[SilentBob]

Well after a 1 am viewing of the movie i have finally come around to respond to this thread. I watched the movie from the original source a movie print and except for a few scratches and dust it was in pretty good shape. I think its up there with A Christmas Story as one of the best Holiday classics as i think (sadly its true) that everyone has 1 or more Griswold family member or moment each year. I think that's why its so well loved by all (ok most people) cause we all come across one of these situations during the holidays. My Turkey goes in early yet i have the opposite reaction to it cooking. . . . it hardly cooks at all. We start at 10 am and eat the bird at 11 pm at night. Why cause our oven was crap. The tree would always be a treat yet a big hassel to keep watered and standing upright til' the season was over. The movie might over do it with a bad situation after another. But in a way we canall relate to them in one way or another. So be aware of your relatives and weird moments to occur.

[SidcupMartin]

Well, I picked this one up recently and having never seen the theatrical version before only the TV edit I was on the floor after hearing the 'Danny f***ing Kaye" tirade

Great stuff

[Morticia]

I, too, had only seen parts of the movie on TV and had heard from various sources about what a classic it was. I finally broke down and picked up this disc and "A Christmas Story" at a really great price (but P&S, for shame) just for Film Class.

It's agreed, we've all had our Griswold family moments. I grimaced at the reality of the 'too big' tree...chuckled at the Christmas lights that wouldn't light, groaned at the freak relatives. I laughed out loud at the Danny F*ing Kaye speech. Good stuff.

Anybody else want to admit that they noticed Cousin Eddie sporting a 'chubbie' while shopping for dog food?



A very funny and subversive moment right there...

[slade]

Originally posted by SilentBob
I watched the movie from the original source a movie print and except for a few scratches and dust it was in pretty good shape.

So, did you pay attention to the sides of the picture much? What information are we missing with only the P&S available? Does anyone know the reluctance to release this on DVD?

Originally posted by Morticia
Anybody else want to admit that they noticed Cousin Eddie sporting a 'chubbie' while shopping for dog food?

I don't know that I'll explicitly admit it, but, I will say I know what you're talking about.

----

I actually watched this movie way back in the beggining of Dec., but wished that I had a pen and paper handy while watching it, b/c there was lots that I wanted to say here, but forgot by the time I got back to actually post about it.

Classic movie though. It makes me laugh out loud every time I see it.

After watching it this year, it struck me that we find absurd things so funny. Why do you suppose that is? I've been paying attention since then and nearly everything that I've noticed is funny, is absurd. What is it about the absurd that makes us laugh?

[SilentBob]

Originally posted by slade
So, did you pay attention to the sides of the picture much? What information are we missing with only the P&S available? Does anyone know the reluctance to release this on DVD?

Well i noticed Cabbage Patch kids were onsale for $31.97. But it didn't seem to have a lot of detail missing really in the end. Just the occasional hand, and other body parts added in and that's about it. The opening seemed a bit better though with the wider 1.85:1 format. Overall the P&S is well bad but nothing too bad to really change anything about the film.

[TheKing]

I relate to this film probably better than I do to any other X-Mas movie. I also consider this to be the high water mark in the Vacation Series. The reason: This film seems to be well grounded in reality.

The first Vacation was great because it had a good grounding in reality. The story was believeable, the characters weren't over the top, and it's only in the final third of the film that the story finally veers off over the edge of realism.

You get to European Vacation, and that film starts unrealistic. Winning a trip on a game show where you dress up as pigs? The host having the hots for the train wreck known as Audrey (without a doubt the worst Audrey)? And the whole film seems to lack a good foundation. The fact that the jokes just weren't as funny this time around didn't help either.

For Christmas Vacation, they got back to their roots. The film started with a good foundation in reality, and built up from there. Sure there are unrealistic scenes (the sled ride, the lights, the final act), but they aren't overpowering. The core is the interaction of the family, and trying to make it through the holidays in one piece. On that level, the film scores higher than any other in the series. Beyond that, it's hilarious! So many great sequences, classic lines, and one of the finest tirades ever filmed.

Vegas Vacation is just over the top. It's funny at times, but it just doesn't feel like a Vacation movie. Still, I'd rather watch this one than European Vacation.