Chevy Chase is an absolute genius. He could be named Christmas Comedian for the century and nobody else out there would be able to even compete. Will Ferrel you might say? Ah, baloney. He’s funny and all, but is nothing more than a mere clone of Chevy Chase and he is isn’t nearly as cool. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is by far the most awesome Christmas movie ever created, and I’m sure most people would back me up on that. The story is so hilarious and even I’ll admit it’s slightly exhilirating. But, hey, what good (cough) GREAT old time movie isn’t like that?

I mean, movies such as ELF or THE SANTA CLAUSE or A CHRISTMAS STORY are nothing compared to Christmas Vacation. You have Clark Griswald, the corny fun-loving father of the movie. Seriously, nothing beats the scene where he plasters over ten-thousand multi-colored ligts across the span of his house and nearly capsizes the mansion next door to his home. Sometimes, you just wish more people in the real world had that kind of wild Christmas spirit, even if it does involve a nearly suicidal attempt to saw down a pine tree in the neighbor’s yard in order to replace the tree that was accidently burned down in their own living room.

Although gas leaks, squirrels with rabies, and extremely dried-out turkey don’t exactly piece together the perfect Christmas, they do meld together to form the perfect comedy. I can’t recall how many times I’ve rewound the scene where the entire Griswald family is running helplessly throughout the house from the wild squirrel who lives in the Christmas tree.

Although the movie is over ten years old, it never seems to get old at all, and every single Christmas, my family and I are sure to make time to watch it in our den.
“Elf” is a good movie, and I’ll admit, very fun to quote afterwards, but it seems to just lack the pizzaz and creativity that Christmas Vacation seems to hold. You’re always missing out when there isn’t any old ladies wrapping their cats as Christmas gifts for the family, middle-aged men accidently sledding throughout the whole town and even through Wal-Mart, and crazy husbands getting caught lingerie-shopping for their wives by their young elementary-age sons.

Any Christmas movie can supply the contemporary elves, reindeer, over-excessive amount of eggnog, bag o’ presents and fat man in a suit. It takes a definite one-of-a-kind movie to present the hilarious antics that Christmas Vacation presents and still hold the warm, inviting Christmas spirit within.

“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vaction”, “The Santa Claus”, “Mircale on 34th Street”, “Elf”, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, “Home Alone” all these movies are good in their own ways. But in my opinion they don’t even hold up to the awesomeness of “A Christmas Story.”

“A Christmas Story” is both funny and one of the most imaganiative movies I have ever seen in my short seventeen years of life; granted I probally can’t remember the movies I watched in like the first four. But what’s the chance I actually saw a good movie at that age.

The narration by “the voice” added to the understanding of the young man named Ralphy who’s soul asspration throughtout the entire movie is to convince his parents to get him a “Official Red Rider B.B. Gun with a compass in the stock and this little thing that tells time” which at that age is probaly the coolest thing a child could think of; something that shoots things and can break other stuff.
My objective in all of this though is not to trash all the other Christmas movies out there, I am a huge Christmas fan and there are some movies out there that I still consider my favorite movies. But it’s just that when it comes down to Christmas movies, there just isn’t one that can honestly challenge the legacy that “A Christmas Story” has made for itself. I mean “Elf” is a funny holiday classic, but without Will Ferrel, that movie wouldn’t be any good. “National Lampoons Christmas Vaction” is also funny but if it weren’t for Chevy Chase that movie wouldn’t even be worth mentioning. Now, with “Home Alone” I would try and say that that movie has an actor that makes it all worth to watch, but unfortunatly, all they have going for them is the fact that the little kid in the movie was cute.

“The Grinch”, and “The Santa Claus” once again if not for Jim Carey or Tim Allen no one really would have gone to see them. Although I would have gone to see “The Grinch” even if Jim Carey wasn’t a part of it (I’m a huge Dr. Seus fan, but who isn’t. Dr. Seus rules.) But “The Santa Claus” is very lucky it had Tim Allen he’s a funny guy. Then there’s “Miracle on 34th Street” it’s just inspritational, going for that whole spirit of Christmas, and they achieve it too. But I personally like a good comedey.

But what did “A Christmas Story” have going for it; no really big name actors, just an awesome script. It became a Christmas classic all because it had a story that so many people could relate to. All the other movies got their fame going thanks to big name actors. But “A Christmas Story” did the same thing by just being a great movie.