Why I waited until I had seen this film for what must be the fifteenth time to comment on it, I don't know. It has taken me a while to decide exactly what I think of the film. It is a movie that I can never go through a Christmas without watching at least part of it. Although it plays homage to "It's a Wonderful Life", it does not quite align itself as a classic, nor does it sustain itself in humor and delight as "A Christmas Story". This movie is supposed to be over-the-top and sometimes it is difficult to suspend the disbelief. Randy Quaid as Eddie simultaneously induces nausea and laughter. That may be the best way to describe "Christmas Vacation."
There are maybe a total of twenty minutes that I now frequently skip in my annual Christmas watching. What can never be missed, however, are: Any scene with Aunt Bethany, both attempts of lighting the house, all the scenes with Todd and Margot, the opening scene of finding the Christmas tree, the brilliant title animation, Clark Griswold's great monologue after receiving his "bonus", and the payoff during the reading of "Twas the Night Before Christmas". This a just a great highlight reel of really funny Christmas moments.
There are maybe a total of twenty minutes that I now frequently skip in my annual Christmas watching. What can never be missed, however, are: Any scene with Aunt Bethany, both attempts of lighting the house, all the scenes with Todd and Margot, the opening scene of finding the Christmas tree, the brilliant title animation, Clark Griswold's great monologue after receiving his "bonus", and the payoff during the reading of "Twas the Night Before Christmas". This a just a great highlight reel of really funny Christmas moments.