On the podcast this week, Steven and Sean are dealing with the family—oh, the terrible family—and trying not to go absolutely insane during the holidays in the 1989 film from Jeremiah Chechik, Christmas Vacation.
It’s the most!
Wonderful time!
Of the year!
Unless you’re Clark Griswold, that is. Let us all thank our lucky stars that we don’t have to risk falling off our roofs, getting stuck in our attics, or dealing with an Uncle Eddie. At least, I’m hoping your holidays don’t involve any of those things. If they do, then you have our sincerest condolences. Nobody should have to live a single day like Clark, much less several.
It’s such a dang shame for him, too. Here’s a hard-working man who only wants to give his family a happy, memorable Christmas. Instead, all he gets in return is numerous near-death experiences.
Clark Griswold is all of us in 2020.
Is he without his faults? Heck no. The man sank away his entire year-end bonus on a pool before he ever got the cash, inadvertently terrorized his admittedly yuppie-punk neighbors way too often, and could have burned down his house with the 25,000 Christmas lights he strung up. That’s not even mentioning his clear anger management issues. Oh, his poor wife. She’s a saint for supporting him through all the craziness that he brings upon his family.
Still, through all the dry turkey-eating, cat-killing, squirrel-chasing, boss-kidnapping, sewer-exploding insanity, the Griswolds keep the true meaning of Christmas in mind. It’s all about spending time with your loved ones, even if you do wish you could kick them out of the house for good.
(Also, Sean said this was the second Vacation movie in the opening. He couldn’t have been more wrong about that. This is actually the third Vacation movie. That guy should get his film lover’s certification taken away. Posthaste!)
(Recorded on October 19, 2020)
Links to Stuff We Mentioned:
Christmas Vacation trailer - YouTube
