Tag Archives: Chevy Chase

MOV030: “Don’t Forget The Rubber Sheets And Gerbils”

Christmas with the family, a song and dance, and surviving more than the wilderness.

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The Past: National Lampoons Christmas Vacation (1989)

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Director: Jeremiah S. Chechik

Starring: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Juliette Lewis

Trivia:

  • The movie is based on John Hughes’ short story “Christmas ’59”, the second Vacation story to be published in National Lampoon’s Magazine (the first was “Vacation ’58”, which was the basis for the first Vacation movie). The Christmas story was printed in December 1980. The label on the home movie reel that Clark finds in the attic is labeled “Xmas ’59,” a further allusion.
  • Frank Capra III, the grandson of It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) director, Frank Capra, was the Assistant Director of Christmas Vacation (1989).
  • The Griswold’s neighbor’s house is the same house Murtaugh and his family lived in all the Lethal Weapon movies. The houses on this street are on the Warner Brothers Studios back lot
  • The house front from “Bewitched” (1964) and “The New Gidget” (1986) appears in the home movie that Clark is watching in the attic.
  • After Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) unsuccessfully attempts to demonstrate his handiwork with the house Christmas lights to his family, he asks his son, Rusty (Johnny Galecki), to help him check all the light bulbs again. Rusty looks at his bare wrist, pretending to have a watch, and excuses himself. Looking at a bare wrist and pretending to have a watch is one of Chevy Chase’s trademark gags.
  • Final screen appearance of Mae Questel, who’s film career began in 1930 as the voice of Betty Boop.
  • The old Dodge pickup that tailgates Clark and the family in the opening scenes of the movie was previously used as ‘Kurt Russell”s work truck in the movie Overboard (1987).
  • The only Vacation movie to not feature the Lindsey Buckingham song “Holiday Road” throughout the entire film.
  • When Clark shows his coworker Bill the brochure about the swimming pool he wants to put in his backward, he is seen drinking coffee out of a Tasmanian Devil coffee mug. Miriam Flynn (Cousin Catherine) would later go on to play the voice of Taz’s mother in the cartoon “Taz-Mania” (1991).
  • Chevy Chase appears in some scenes wearing a black Chicago Bears ball cap. He wears the same Chicago Bears cap throughout all four Vacation movies.
  • Just before Clark gets locked up in the attic, he pulls out an old present from a hidden slot, and it contains a card that reads “Happy Mother’s Day 1983, Love Clark”. The first movie, Vacation (1983) was released that same year.
  • In the scene when the police storm into the Griswold’s house, the song “Here Comes Santa Claus” sung by Gene Autry is used for the background music. Randy Quaid (cousin Eddie) is the third cousin of Gene Autry.
  • According to Randy Quaid, many of cousin Eddie’s characteristics (most notably the clicking of the tongue) were based off a guy that Quaid knew from when he grew up in Texas years ago who had similar traits.
  • A minor earthquake occurred at the time when they were filming the scene where uncle Louis and aunt Bethany arrive at the Griswold house.
  • All the presents that are on the credenza when Clark goes in to give his to Mr. Shirley are identically shaped and likely the same gift.
  • The brand of beer Eddie is drinking as he empties his septic tank is Meister Brau.
  • When shopping with Clark Eddie asks Clark if it was his company that “killed all those people in India”. He is referencing the Bhopal disaster, also known as the Union Carbide disaster in which leaks from a Union Carbide pesticide plant escaped into the air. Thousands of people died and many more were sickened.
  • When Clark is in bed trying to read the People Magazine with sticky fingers from the tree sap, the person shown on the cover of the magazine is Producer Matty Simmons.
  • The scene where the cat bites on the Christmas lights cord and gets electrocuted was nearly cut from the movie. Prior to the first test screening. the studio execs wanted the scene taken out, fearing that it might offend some viewers, but producer Matty Simmons begged them to leave the scene in, and they eventually gave in to his request. After the first test screening, the test audience had scored the cat electrocution scene as the No. 1 favorite scene throughout the entire movie.

Talking Points:

  • Did the Vacation Movies “Jump The Shark” with this one?
  • Continuity errors

What We’ve Learned:

  • You’ll get a whole quarter if you rub my boil
  • Always check your Christmas tree for squirrels
  • Cats and electricity don’t mix
  • If you want a Christmas bonus, kidnap your boss.
  • The Star Spangled Banner is a great Christmas carol
  • Play Ball!

Trailer:

Recommendations:
Ray: Kinda a snoozer for the “Vacation” franchise.. but still has some classic moments.
Steve: I think it’s hilarious! Stupid, but hilarious.
Jeff: Chrismas classic. Not my cup of tea and not that great of a movie, but think it should be on everyone’s Christmas watching list.

The Present: Burlesque

Director: Steve Antin

Starring: Cher, Christina Aguilara, Eric Dane, Cam Gigandet

Trivia:

  • Jessica Biel and Lindsay Lohan were considered for the role of Nikki.
  • Robert Pattinson, Kellan Lutz, Taylor Lautner were considered to play Jack, before the role went to fellow Twilight star Cam Gigandet.
  • Christina Aguilera’s first choice for the role of Nikki was Emma Stone.
  • Patrick Dempsey, Sam Worthington, Casey Affleck and Jamie Foxx were considered to play Marcus.
  • Tess asks Sean what happened to all the good dancers in LA, to which he responds “Dancing with the Stars” (2005/I). Their cast mate on this film, Julianne Hough, is one of the professional dancers on the Emmy-Winning show.
  • Shipped to theaters under the code name “Former Glory”.
  • The photo of seven-year-old Ali with her mother is actually a photo of a much younger Christina Aguilera with her real-life mother, Shelly Kearns.
  • Cher performed “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” completely live.

Talking Points:

  • Does the story break any new ground here?
  • PG-13? Did this keep too much burlesque out of burlesque?
  • Did it keep your attention?

What We Learned:

  • Christina shouldn’t cover Marylin Manson.
  • If you fall off the stage.. Legs Extended, Boobs Up
  • Cher’s Face is scary
  • You Don’t need a microphone to sing
  • Friends don’t chew on each others ear lobes
  • Gotta show a little leg, gotta shimmy your chest.
  • Cher wields a mean crowbar
  • Bus tickets to LA are ALWAYS one way

Trailer:

Recommendations:
Ray: Of course if your a Cher or Christina fan go see it.. otherwise.. its a rental.
Steve: Enjoyable…just let go and let it take ya. Visually looked excellent!
Jeff: A modern day Bob Fosse-esque film, enjoyable, although not that great. My sangria was wonderful with it.

The Future: Wrecked

No Poster Available

Starring: Adrien Brody, Caroline Dhavernas, Ryan Robbins

Trivia:

  • The film had a Global Premiere on 15th October 2010 at the Emirates Palace Hotel as part of the Abu Dhabi Film Festival. The film was warmly recevied by the audience, and was followed by a Q&A session with a number of the cast and crew (inc. Director, Writer, Producer and Adrien Brody) where they revealed that the film was shot in just 18 days.

Talking Points:

  • Anything new?

Summary:
The movie is about a man, simply called ‘Man’, who wakes up in a car after an accident, covered in blood and with no recollection of who he is or what he’s done before. When he goes through the contents of the car wreck he starts to suspect he has committed an armed robbery gone bad.

Trailer:

Excitement:
Ray: The Trailer gave a lot away…
Steve: Doesn’t look awful…
Jeff: Man vs Nature + Man vs His Past = Didn’t hook me

Coming Attractions

The Past: Santa Claus: The Movie
The Present: The Tourist
The Future: True Grit

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