It's that time of year folks, time for my holiday themed Throwback Thursdays! And I thought I'd start out with what many would consider a cult classic -- "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."
If we're being honest, I've never fully sat down through the entire movie (please don't come for me children/teens of the 80s). Prior to watching it with friends on Sunday, I'd mostly only ever seen bits and pieces during my childhood. You can thank my mother, a teen in the 80s, for that.
Anyway, I didn't go into it with really any expectations. I knew some of the pop culture references and remembered memorable scenes -- such as Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) getting his shirt stapled to the roof while hanging lights -- but it all was relatively new to me.
This movie is the third installment of the National Lampoon's franchise and sees Clark, his wife Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo), teen Audrey (Juliette Lewis) and son Rusty (Johnny Galecki) hosting family for the holidays in their Chicago home.
Clark is dead set on making sure this Christmas is as memorable and enjoyable as the ones from his childhood. And he certainly gives it his best shot, although with some hiccups along the way.
Those hiccups include purchasing an all-too-large tree that breaks windows, struggling with creating the best light display in the neighborhood and inadvertently terrorizing his uppity neighbors -- all while waiting not-so-patiently for his coveted Christmas bonus.
I'll admit, Christmas Vacation isn't my absolute favorite Christmas movie, but it was still enjoyable. Watching Clark going certifiably insane over the course of the holiday season is extremely relatable.
I'm pretty sure we've all been there. The holidays can become extremely stressful, all because we want to create something fun and memorable for our loved ones. Sure, I'm not crawling all over my roof (I'd probably be told no) or having a relative kidnap my boss for my Christmas bonus (if you're my relative reading this... do NOT kidnap my boss) but the stress Clark feels is still pretty understandable.
I'd certainly recommend watching "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" at least once in your lifetime. It's considered a classic for a reason. It's got a plethora of funny moments, memorable lines and overall doesn't get too bogged down with any extra storylines.
So, with the holiday season finally here, consider adding this movie to your watchlist. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" is rated PG-13 and may be streamed on Hulu, Max, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV and Vudu.
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Laura Jameson is Managing Editor of The Express.