There are a few 80s Christmas movies that I really love including Scrooged (1988, starring Bill Murray) and A Christmas Story (1983, though it is set in the 1940's), but I did not choose either of those. There are several 80s movies that are not necessarily Christmas themed, but definitely are Christmas-related like Die Hard (1988), Better Off Dead (1985), Gremlins (1984) or Trading Places (1983), but those might make a good issue for next year. My favorite 80s Christmas Movie (and possibly my favorite Christmas movie from any decade) is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

Here is the trailer for this outstanding holiday favorite:

Christmas Vacation was released in theaters on December 1, 1989. It debuted at #1 that week at the box office grossing over $11 million opening weekend. It went on to gross over $71 million in the theaters while adding another $35 million in video sales. This was quite successful and the film has gone to become a cult favorite for many (like me!).

The film was written by the great John Hughes. This is one of his few films not focusing specifically on teenagers (like Planes, Trains & Automobiles which I covered in a Thanksgiving issue). Christmas Vacation is the third installment of Vacation movies which follow the Griswold family on a hilarious adventure. It revolves around the Griswolds trying to have a "fun, old-fashioned family Christmas."

The star of these films is Chevy Chase who plays "Clark W. Griswold," but the other characters help make this film truly special. Beverly D'Angelo plays "Ellen Griswold" his wife and in this film his children "Audrey" and "Rusty" are played by Juliette Lewis and Johnny Galecki respectively. One of the best characters is "Cousin Eddie" played brilliantly by Randy Quaid. The film was rated PG-13 for "crude and sexual humor, and strong language" so it is not best for children, but that makes it even funnier for adults. And, oh yeah, it ends with a positive holiday message which is always nice as well.

The first time you watch Christmas Vacation you may chuckle a few times, but not think that it is as special as I claim it is. It really has subtle nuances that I find truly hilarious and many of those you do not pick up until the second, third, fourth, ...fortieth time you watch it. I still find myself appreciating new subtleties each time I watch it. At least for me, I can watch it any time of the year (and not just in December) and I cannot say that about most holiday classics.

If you have never seen National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, I highly recommend you watch it at least once, but twice if you can spare the time. If you have seen it, but did not appreciate it the first time, give it another try. And if you are already a fan, I don't need to tell you any of this (you probably have already watched it this month). Though I enjoy some of the others too, Christmas Vacation is definitely my favorite 80s Christmas Movie.

I thought in celebration of that fact, I would give you my top 10 lines from the movie. I also included links to the scenes in the movie where these lines came from. Most of the scenes are taken out of context, but still are funny regardless. Hope you enjoy it.

Here is OLD SCHOOL'S TOP 10 LINES FROM NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION:

10. "If I woke up tomorrow with my head sewn to the carpet, I wouldn't be more surprised than I am now." [was included in the movie trailer]

9. "You want to hurry this up, Clark? I'm freezing my baguettes off." [link to video of entire house lighting scene]

8. "This is a full-blown, four-alarm holiday emergency here. We're gonna press on, and we're gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny fucking Kaye. And when Santa squeezes his fat white ass down that chimney tonight, he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse." [link to video]

7. "Yes it is, it's a bit nipply out. I mean nippy out, what did I say, nipple? Huh, there is a nip in the air." [link to video of entire shopping scene]

6. "I don't know if I oughta go sailin' down no hill with nothin' between the ground and my brains but a piece of government plastic." "Do you really think it matters, Eddie?" [link to video of entire sledding scene]

5. "What are you looking at?" "Oh, the silent majesty of a winter's morn... the clean, cool chill of the holiday air... an asshole in his bathrobe, emptying a chemical toilet into my sewer." "Shitter was full." [link to video]

4. "Hey Griswold. Where do you think you're gonna put a tree that big?" "Bend over and I'll show you." "You've got a lot of nerve talking to me like that Griswold." "I wasn't talking to you." [link to video]

3. "That's the gift that keeps on giving the whole year." [link to video of entire bonus scene]

2. "Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?" [link to video]

1. "...and I want to look him straight in the eye and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, fore-fleshing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey shit he is. Hallelujah. Holy shit. Where's the Tylenol?" [link to video]

So that will wrap up this Christmas Eve issue of Kickin' it Old School. Thanks so much for reading. I want to take a moment to wish all of you the merriest Christmas ever and truly all the best in the coming new year! If you are interested in reading more of my 80's related issues, please click there for a summary. If you are interested in reading more of my Top 10 lists, please click there for a summary of those. You can also click on the Archives in the upper left hand column or use the Google Search Box at the top of the right hand column to find any other issues you may have missed. If you are a fan of Kickin' it, please pass the word and let others know to give it a try (and of course come back often!). Peace and much love.

Check this out: I thought this little cartoon was kind of funny, so I decided to share it. Disclaimer: this cartoon does not represent the opinions or views of Kickin' it Old School or its affiliates...

Quote of the day: "But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, ‘Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" -Clement C. Moore from The Night Before Christmas

Here is the entire poem for your enjoyment...