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The Throwdown is a Christmas clash of epic proportions! We’re diving into National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, It’s a Wonderful Life, and more. Packed with laughs, trivia, and fiery debates, we explore the best scenes, characters, and unforgettable moments of these holiday classics.
In this episode, we look at National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, It’s a Wonderful Life, and Christmas with the Cranks, breaking down iconic moments, holiday nostalgia, and the enduring appeal of these festive favorites. Expect snowy chaos, timeless humor, and heartfelt redemption.
By the Numbers:
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
Directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik | $71.3M box office | 68% Rotten Tomatoes - Home Alone (1990)
Directed by Chris Columbus | $476.7M box office | 96% Rotten Tomatoes - It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Directed by Frank Capra | $3.3M initial box office | 94% Rotten Tomatoes - Christmas with the Cranks (2004)
Directed by Joe Roth | $96.6M box office | 5% Rotten Tomatoes - Noelle (2019)
Directed by Marc Lawrence | Disney+ exclusive | Audience Score: 53% Rotten Tomatoes - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
Directed by Larry Roemer | Made-for-TV special | 95% Rotten Tomatoes - A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Directed by Bill Melendez | Made-for-TV special | 83% Rotten Tomatoes - Elf (2003)
Directed by Jon Favreau | $225.1M box office | 85% Rotten Tomatoes
Main Cast:
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
- Chevy Chase (Clark Griswold)
- Beverly D’Angelo (Ellen Griswold)
- Randy Quaid (Cousin Eddie)
- Home Alone (1990)
- Macaulay Culkin (Kevin McCallister)
- Joe Pesci (Harry)
- Daniel Stern (Marv)
- It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
- James Stewart (George Bailey)
- Donna Reed (Mary Bailey)
- Lionel Barrymore (Mr. Potter)
- Christmas with the Cranks (2004)
- Tim Allen (Luther Krank)
- Jamie Lee Curtis (Nora Krank)
- Dan Aykroyd (Vic Frohmeyer)
- Noelle (2019)
- Anna Kendrick (Noelle Kringle)
- Bill Hader (Nick Kringle)
- Shirley MacLaine (Elf Polly)
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
- Billie Mae Richards (Rudolph, voice)
- Burl Ives (Sam the Snowman, voice)
- Paul Soles (Hermey, voice)
- A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
- Peter Robbins (Charlie Brown, voice)
- Christopher Shea (Linus, voice)
- Tracy Stratford (Lucy, voice)
- Elf (2003)
- Will Ferrell (Buddy the Elf)
- James Caan (Walter Hobbs)
- Zooey Deschanel (Jovie)
Fun Facts & Movie Mistakes:
- National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation: Chevy Chase improvised the sap-covered attic scene, and the Griswold house reused sets from Bewitched. Rusty Griswold’s age changes and Clark’s lights are unrealistically plugged into one outlet.
- Home Alone: Joe Pesci avoided Macaulay Culkin to seem scarier, and Daniel Stern filmed the tarantula scene with a live spider. The fake gangster movie Angels with Filthy Souls was created for the film. Buzz’s tarantula is oddly calm, and Kevin’s ticket mysteriously vanishes.
- It’s a Wonderful Life: Jimmy Stewart’s WWII PTSD influenced his performance. Snow was made from cornflakes and soap. George Bailey’s hair changes between scenes, and snow footprints appear before the characters enter.
- Elf: Will Ferrell ate real cotton balls,
