model air rifle,” despite the fact that all the adults around him tell him that it will “put his eye out!” He sets out to convince everyone, especially his parents (Darren McGavin, Melinda Dillon) that this is the perfect Christmas gift. Not surprisingly, he runs into opposition.
NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION, 1989, Warner Bros., 97 min. Dir. Jeremiah S. Chechik. Suburban dad Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) finds his plans for the perfect Christmas going awry thanks to a visit from obnoxious brother-in-law Eddie (Randy Quaid), but the slapstick antics give way to a surprisingly touching finale that perfectly sums up Hughes’ feelings about home and family.