Dr. Mac Christian Movie Reviews: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
- Layne McDonald
- Aug 18
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 20
“It’s slapstick, satire, and seasonal chaos wrapped in Christmas lights — but is Clark Griswold’s holiday disaster a family tradition or a moral migraine?”
📖 Quick Snapshot
Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) wants to give his family “the perfect Christmas.” Of course, everything goes hilariously wrong: exploding turkeys, electrocuted cats, redneck in-laws, and a boss who cancels Christmas bonuses. It’s a comedy classic, no doubt, but not exactly squeaky-clean.
🗣️ Language & Profanity
Profanity count: Around 20–25 words, including God’s name in vain, “hell,” “damn,” and some stronger four-letter ones.
Name-calling galore: “Idiot,” “moron,” “jerk,” etc.
Memorable rant: Clark unleashes a profanity-laden tirade near the end (the famous “jelly of the month club” meltdown). Definitely NOT kid-friendly.
😬 Inappropriate or Questionable Content
Sexual innuendo: Clark ogles a lingerie saleswoman and has fantasies about her. Several crude jokes sprinkled throughout.
Drinking/alcohol: Heavy use, especially Cousin Eddie with his beer and Clark’s eggnog-fueled stress.
Violence (slapstick style): Electrocuted cat, flying squirrel, exploding turkey, chainsaw scenes — played for laughs, but could unsettle younger kids.
Greed & materialism: Much of the plot revolves around Clark’s obsession with bonuses and the “perfect” Christmas.
✝️ The Christian Parent Grading Scale
Category | Grade | Explanation |
Biblical Truth & Redemption | D | No Christ-centered truth. The “happy ending” is about money and family, not redemption. |
Suitability for Kids (6–12) | D | Inappropriate humor, profanity, and sexual jokes make this one rough for kids. |
Language & Cleanliness | F | Frequent profanity, God’s name in vain, crude jokes. |
Family & Emotional Engagement | B+ | Adults laugh hard — it’s quotable and culturally iconic. |
Overall Christian Values | D- | Message is shallow: family matters, but at the cost of lots of sinful humor. |
🛠️ The Filter Fix
This is one where VidAngel or Enjoy Movies Your Way becomes a lifesaver:
Strip out profanity (especially the rant).
Cut the lingerie scenes and crude humor.
Tone down alcohol-related scenes if desired.
With filters, the movie still has slapstick silliness but sheds the biggest moral problems.
🧑⚕️ Dr. Mac’s Verdict
🚦 Red Light (without filters) | Yellow Light (with filters) — Christmas Vacation is a holiday classic, yes, but it’s riddled with profanity, sexual innuendo, and crude humor. For Christian families, it’s not safe unfiltered. With filters, you can salvage it into a slapstick romp about family chaos at Christmas.
Best Age Range: 13+ (with filters)
Family Discussion Starter: “What truly makes Christmas ‘perfect’? How does God’s gift of Jesus change our perspective on traditions?” (Luke 2:10–11).
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