Summary

Chevy Chase only skipped oneNational Lampoon ’s Vacationfilm , which just happens to be the franchise ’s uncollectible . The firstNational Lampoon ’s Vacationmoviewas based on a short narration by John Hughes , who also pen the screenplay . Looking at the line - up of amusing natural endowment in front of and behind the camera on the original , it ’s little surprise it was such a success . The resulting dealership has been a assorted dish , with 1997’sVegas Vacationbeing a lowlight whileNational Lampoon ’s Christmas Vacationis often considered the secure of the dealership .

Christmas Vacationwas also a gamy detail the serial never reached again . While there was an elbow grease to boot the place with 2015 ’s bequest sequelVacation- which feature cameos by Chase and Centennial State - star Beverly D’Angelo - it welcome a lukewarm response and it appear there are no Modern outings in the works . pass on the popularity of theVacationfilms in their heyday , it ’s almost a surprise there was n’t a bigger effort to create more spinoffs .

National Lampoon ’s Christmas Vacation is a vacation classic , and it ’s important to know where to depend to stream , rent , or buy it .

Collars of Clark and Ellen in Christmas Vacation

Christmas Vacation 2 Is A TV Movie Sequel Without Chevy Chase Or Beverly D’Angelo

Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure made Randy Quaid the lead

The only spinoff wasNational Lampoon ’s Christmas Vacation 2 : Cousin Eddie ’s Island Adventure , a 2003 tv set movie that air on NBC . As the title of respect signal , this made the slovenly Cousin Eddie ( Randy Quaid ) the main character . The tale date Eddie getting fired from his nuclear plant job when a chimpanzee outperform him in the role , but when his ex-husband - employers become concerned he might sue , they volunteer him a holiday in the South Pacific . However , he and the family line - including Clark and Ellen ’s daughter Audrey Griswold - soon become shipwreck on an island , and Eddie has to save the day .

National Lampoon ’s Christmas Vacation 2 can be rented or purchased from iTunes , YouTube or Amazon .

Neither Chevy Chase nor Beverly D’Angelo seem inChristmas Vacation 2 , and it ’s obscure if they were even approached . It ’s entirely possible they were never need , since there ’s no real space for their characters in the tale . The spinoff go far six years after VegasVacation , which have middling recap and was a financial disappointment . The move to TV is intelligible , as it appeared at the time the enfranchisement was finished on the prominent CRT screen , but the brand itself still had some name value .

A collage of stills from National Lampoon Vacation and National Lampoon Christmas Vacation

Why Christmas Vacation 2 Is The Worst Entry Of The Franchise

Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure makes Vegas Vacation look like a comic masterwork

BothVegas Vacationand 2015’sVacationdroppedNational Lampoonfrom their titles ; the former due to a falling out between producer and the brand , and the latter becauseNational Lampoonhad no involvement with its production . Both are fallible picnic but still manage to enkindle some belly laugh . Sadly , the last incoming to useNational Lampoon’sin the title wasChristmas Vacation 2 , which is harrowingly unfunny , with the spinoff choose for the lowest - common - denominator humor at every level . Cousin Eddie is a sport supporting character reference , but have him the confidential information is a calamitous choice .

Quaid could be hilarious in the previous flick , but the writers ofChristmas Vacation 2didn’t know what to do with the part outside of wee-wee him dumb and charmless . The film itself was understandably shoot tattily , being take on obvious backlots with the casual , terrible green filmdom effect to fill up in for an exotic location they did n’t have the budget to travel to .

Ed Asner is at least nurse as Eddie ’s ill-humoured uncle , andCousin Eddie ’s Island Adventurenabbed a cameo from Eric Idle , who antecedently appeared inNational Lampoon ’s European Vacation . Even ardent fans ofNational Lampoon ’s Vacationwill have a rough time withCousin Eddie ’s Island Adventure ; it ’s punk , feels race and was made with no love or finesse . Chase and D’Angelo were wise to stay out ofNational Lampoon ’s Christmas Vacation 2 , which holds a dismal 2.7 military rating on IMDb .

Josh Hartnett looking shocked in Fight or Flight

Christmas Vacation 2 Actually Broke The Griswold Recasting Curse

Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure finally brought back one of the Griswold kids

There’san unofficial rule within theNational Lampoon ’s Vacationfranchise that each picture show must remodel the Griswold kids Rusty and Audrey . Some famous face have played the children over the years too , including Juliette Lewis , Anthony Michael Hall and Johnny Galecki . Of course , several factors went into recasting the role for each entry , including actors decline to return or aging out of the part , but against all betting odds , National Lampoon ’s Christmas Vacation 2broke this curse by bringing back Dana Barron as Audrey .

Throughout 4 Vacation movies in 14 years , Rusty and Audrey Griswold are always meet by different actors while remain teen . Here ’s why .

Barron played Audrey in the original , but when Rusty performing artist Anthony Michael Hall declined to return forEuropean Vacationto superstar inWeird Science , the choice was made to recastbothroles . To date , National Lampoon ’s Christmas Vacation 2is the only time in the enfranchisement one of the Griswold child actors rejoin to their role . In Barron ’s case , there was a 20 - yr gap between appearances - but it ’s a tangible shame her return was n’t for a respectable movie .

the poster for National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2

Clark and Ellen in National Lampoons Christmas Vacation with movie poster blurred in the background

The Griswolds standing by their stationwagon in National Lampoon’s Vacation

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation