“Is your house on fire, Clark?”
synopsis
Clark Griswold wants nothing more than to create the perfect family Christmas. Unfortunately, every part of his grand plan goes spectacularly wrong—from disastrous decorating attempts and surprise relatives to a squirrel rampage and a Christmas bonus fiasco. As the holiday spirals into chaos, Clark’s determination to make everything magical only makes the situation more ridiculous.
pairs well with ...
mini-review
Few movies capture the stress and absurdity of family holidays as hilariously as this one. Chevy Chase’s earnest but hopelessly overambitious Clark Griswold has become a cultural icon of festive meltdown. Packed with endlessly quotable moments and escalating slapstick disasters, the film remains one of the most beloved Christmas comedies ever made.
Eggnog in a ridiculous glass and the comforting realization that no family holiday could possibly go this wrong.
Absurdist's Corner
Clark staples thousands of lights to his house and nearly shuts down the neighborhood power grid—all to impress relatives who mostly complain the entire time.
fun facts
The screenplay was written by John Hughes, who also wrote Home Alone.
The famous Christmas light display supposedly uses 25,000 lights.
Cousin Eddie’s character was so popular he later got his own spin-off holiday movie.