This Christmas, spend some quality time with the Griswolds. This third entry in the popular Vacation comedy series finds the dysfunctional family staying safe and sound at home for the holidays. The comforts of home become too close for comfort when the clan is besieged by a bevy of visiting relatives, and unwelcome complications arise at every turn.

Family man Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) plans a traditional, old-fashioned Christmas. He anxiously awaits a holiday bonus from his Scrooge-like boss in order to afford the gift of a swimming pool for his wife and two children. Inevitably, things go from bad to worse. The family tree-cutting expedition turns into trouble, the outdoor decorating proves disastrous, and the bonus pay falls through. Add to that a feud with yuppie neighbors and the unexpected arrival of slob Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) and his redneck family camped outside in their RV, and Clark’s dream of a perfect holiday becomes a nightmare.

Filled with hilarious vignettes and featuring familiar faces (such as Juliette Lewis, Beverly D’Angelo, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus), this sequel stands on its own and rivals the original Vacation for sheer laughs. What is most surprising, however, is the simple, heart-warming charm at the core of the picture, despite its many zany set-pieces and over-the-top characters. Chase clearly rules the roost, and his comic performance can be judged amongst the best of his career. Randy Quaid tries hard to steal the show, and nearly succeeds. If you’ve never treated yourself to a showing of this funny flick, take the time this holiday season to do so. This 1989 comedy has become a perennial favorite—you will most likely find it on cable television sometime this December. It holds up well nearly two decades after its creation. If the stress of shopping and holiday hustle and bustle gets you down, lighten things up with one of the best holiday comedies ever made. Just as the tag-line reads: “Yule Crack Up!”

Seasons Greetings from your friends at the New River Voice and FeatureFilmReview.com!

Walter Simpkins is Senior Writer of featurefilmreview.com. Please e-mail comments to him at walter(@)featurefilmreview.com. Send him a virtual fruitcake.