It’s been more than a few decades since it was first released, but National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation has lost none of its luster, remaining a holiday season staple for generation upon generation of fans.
And, to hear star Chevy Chase tell it, there’s a simple reason for that: It’s funny.
“I think it’s basically the humor in it. It’s very much like today or 100 years ago, it’s your basic physical humor, it’s comedy. People love that,” Chase tells The Pop Break.
He will be on hand when the 1989 classic screens on Thursday, Dec. 18 at the Betty Wold Johnson Stage of Prudential Hall at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, New Jersey, with the film set to be followed by a conversation between the iconic actor and his wife, Jayni.
Chase, who has been touring Christmas Vacation for a few years now, said audiences “enjoy it, and I enjoy it because we get of lots big laughs and there’s lots of people, and that’s a big deal for me, so it means a lot.”
The film, penned by John Hughes and the third in the beloved Vacation comedy franchise, concerns dad Clark Griswold, played by Chase, working to make sure his family has a cheerful holiday season – by any means necessary. It’s a raucous, wacky and ultimately heartfelt slice of life that, as Chase puts it, is timeless.
“It’s been almost 40 years or something since the movie was made, but it’s still right there. It still feels modern,” he said.
Chase first introduced the world to Clark Griswold in National Lampoon’s Vacation in 1983, and has played the character in five films, the most recent being 2015’s Ed Helms-starring Vacation – “That was hardly more than about three minutes, so that didn’t really matter,” Chase said of that film.
Might the world see Chase play Clark again? Never say never.
“Of course, I’d love to,” Chase said. “Once in a while Warners and I talk and think about things like that, but for now we’re happy doing what we’re doing.”
