Christmas Special: The Polar Express

The Polar Express (2004)

Synopsis
On Christmas Eve, a doubting boy boards a magical train headed to the North Pole. The story follows the boy as he embarks on a journey of self-discovery which shows him that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.

My Thoughts
I immediately love the attention to detail in this movie. Young Tom Hanks burns his arm on his radiator and knocks over some toys and just small things like that to make it seem realistic. He uses drawers as steps like all children have at some point in time. He begins to question Santa, like we all did. "The end of the magic" begins...or does it?

I did get quite confused when Tom Hanks narrates the beginning, so he's the boy...And he's the boy's dad...And he's the conductor...And he's the hobo on the train roof...My brain just couldn't handle it. It also tends to have some issues with this type of animation. It's kind of like black and white films in my head, takes a second to get used to it, but once my brain catches up it's pretty great. And you can make the imagery a lot more meaningful with a bit of animation.

If you were convinced that something was a dream, why would you even hesitate?!? If a train came thundering down mainstreet and someone offered to take me to the North Pole, I'd jump on that chance!








I've got a Golden Ticket!!





The music in this movie is one of the reasons that I love it. And whenever they do the impossible, it's fantastic. The table cloths that become tables, the hot chocolate shooting through the air into cups, pouring into three cups at once, etc...And now I'll have the Hot Chocolate song stuck in my head til Christmas...

The is one of the few movies that I think I'd like in 3-D. The scene where they come up to Flat Top Tunnel and the roller coaster scene through Glacier Gulch would probably be pretty cool...or make me throw up...

Look, Guys, I speak caribou! Just pull my beard. :-) That would be an interesting talent...

But I bet he gets sick of people tugging on his beard...





And then there's another roller coaster ride through the North Pole, which would probably look fun in 3-D. It seems like one of those movies that was made for 3-D. I don't usually like when they turn a movie into a 3-D movie, but when the movie was made for 3-D from the start, they're a lot cooler that way. As long as it's not just the occasional stunt thrown in to make you jump in your seat.

It feels a little slow when they get lost in the town and in the factory buildings. But all the roller coasters would probably be fun. When they follow the present down the line, it reminds me of the toilet bowl water ride at Deep River Water Park.

My sisters and I were just discussing how weird we think it is that none of the children were voiced by children. Most of the actors were in their 30s and 40s when this movie was made. How do they make their voices sound so young?? And I think Billy (the lonely boy) is the only one that has a name...I don't think they ever introduce themselves, but I might have just been not paying attention.

Has anyone else ever been creeped out by "Santa Claus is Coming to Town"? It makes Santa sound like some kind of child stalker. And when all the elves are chanting it before Santa comes out, it is the worst...Sooo creepy. And then they go into slow motion and make it even worse...



And the creepy, misfit puppet from the toy car made its way to a good home :-) And I think that it's kind of funny that Santa calls himself Mr. C. So mysterious. Seems like a simple enough movie, but I love the music and the animation once I adjust to it. I still find it a little weird that Tom Hanks was pretty much everyone...but it's a great one.

Random Facts
Michael Jeter's (Smokey/Steamer) last movie.

A close examination of all the ticket numbers reveals that they all contain the number "1225" in them. Pere Marquette No. 1225 was used as a model for the Polar Express locomotive. 12-25 also refers to the date of Christmas - December 25th.

The film used 3-D motion capture techniques to digitally record the physical performances of the actors before "skinning" them with their animated forms. All the children's roles were acted by adults using oversized props to get the movement right. (The first animated film to use this performance capture technology.)

This was the first mainstream film to be simultaneously released as a 35mm film and a 3-D IMAX presentation.

The train set seen at the end is a recreation of the new Lionel Polar Express train set combined with the older Lionel Berkshire and the older tubular track. 

The locomotive in the movie is based on the Pere Marquette 1225, a restored steam locomotive located in Owosso, MI. In fact, many of the sound effects of the film's train are recordings of the actual train. The train is often run between Owosso and nearby Chesaning for rides during festivals.

Listed in the Guiness Book of World Records in 2006 as the "first all-digital capture" film, where all acted parts were done in digital capture.

The real name of the Hero Boy is never mentioned.

In the beginning of the movie, Hero Boy looks at a picture of himself on a store Santa's lap. The store's name on the photo is Herpolsheimer's, an old department store in Grand Rapids, MI, Chris Van Allsburg's (author) hometown. Later the train passes by the store.

The premiere was also held in Grand Rapids.

The address spoken by the conductor early in the film "11344 Edbrooke" is the real address of Robert Zemeckis' (director) childhood home. The home is in a south side of Chicago neighborhood called Roseland.

Leslie Zemeckis (Sister Sarah/Mother) is married to Robert Zemeckis (director). 

It is the first movie to use the Imagemotion technology.

The Hero Boy has a University of Michigan pennant on the wall behind his bed. Chris Van Allsburg (author of the book) is a real-life graduate of the University.

The lonely boy is played by Peter Scolari, who starred alongside Tom Hanks in Bosom Buddies. It was the first significant role for both actors.

Before the Hero Boy boards the Polar Express, the clock shows that it is 11:55. The time does not change until the first gift of Christmas is given near the end of the film.

**Sorry it's been so long since my last post. Hopefully, everyone can understand the craziness of Christmastime!** :-)

Christmas Special: The Santa Clause Trilogy

The Santa Clause (1994)

Synopsis
Divorcee Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) is disgusted to learn that his ex and her new husband have tried - and failed - to break it to their 6-year-old son Charlie that Santa isn't real. On Christmas Eve, Scott reads The Night Before Christmas...then receives an unexpected visitor on his roof. When he inadvertently kills Santa and putts on Santa's now empty coat, he finds himself magically rectuited to take his place. He's taken to the North Pole and informed that is now Santa. Charlie is proud of his dad's new job, though Scott's convinced it's a dream...until his hair turns white, his beard refuses to stay shaved, he gains weight inexplicably (probably because of his sudden love of junk food). Now he's accepted it, but how can he keep it a secret from his disbelieving family?

My Thoughts
I have always loved these movies. I think it's mostly because of the idea that any random person could become Santa Claus. It sounds like a dangerous tradition, but how cool would it be if your dad became Santa?!? What if a girl put the coat? Could there be a female Santa Claus?!? It just had me thinking quite a bit when I was 8 years old...

Does anyone else really enjoy watching old Disney movies on DVD just to see what's "Coming Soon"? Haha...I love it! See what movies weren't even out yet when I was little that are now "classics" to little kids. Makes me feel old, but I love the throwback previews. The Santa Clause isn't exactly an 'old' Disney movie, per se, but it's gettin' there. :-)

Okay...Now the movie starts. With another rockin' company party. I want to work for one of these companies that throws awesome Christmas parties someday! I love seeing Tim Taylor somewhere besides Home Improvement. He was one of my favorites then and he continues to be a star in my mind. Between these movies and the Toy Story franchise, he's winning children over everywhere!

I think 6 is a little soon to be giving a kid a "firm grasp of reality". That's the ultimate imagination zone! Eric Lloyd (Charlie) is an awesome actor, though. He started his movie career in Heart and Souls as Robert Downey Jr.'s character as a child. Anyone who can play a young Robert Downey Jr. is awesome in my book. And he was young Bruce Wayne in Batman and Robin, too! I'm just glad he stuck with The Santa Clause movies...It's rough finding new actors to take over after a child actor moves on.



Haha. A Rose Suchak Ladder Company...That is so funny. I really want to see if I can find all those little references. "We're getting the Disney channel now." Good one, Tim Allen. :-) "I hope the guy who lives here is a tailor!" Maybe he meant a 'Taylor'? Haha...It'd be funny if they used Tim Taylor's house.

What is Santa's REALLY lactose intolerant? Poor guy...Drinks half the cup all the time anyway. Must be pret-ty gassy by the time he gets home...Poor Mrs. Claus.








I guess the best way to win your kid's affection back when you disappoint is just to become Santa Claus...Got that, all you dads out there? Go kill Santa and put his coat on and your kids will love you!









I think my favorite part about this whole movie is the mixture of magic and science. It's not just 'oh, there's Santa and that's that'. They explain a lot of it with state-of-the-art science and innovation. Elves are so smart...






Bernard...the best elf ever. He's a little touchy and impatient, but I guess someone has to keep them on their tight schedule. David Krumholtz is incredible. He will always be Bernard to me, but I love him as Charlie in Numbers, in 10 Things I Hate About You, in Serenity, and in his new show Partners. He's a great actor and I always just wanna fluff his hair whenever I see it. Love curly hair like that. :-)







I need to get some hot chocolate, shaken not stirred. I've been trying to perfect hot chocolate forever. Maybe if I added extra marshmallows? Marshmallow cream? More chocolate? All of the above? Haha.




I wonder what someone's reaction would be if little 5-year-olds started lining up and sitting on their lap. It's not his fault, but I'm guessing people would assume he's a pedophile...At least Scott didn't get arrested in the park!





Who remembers when they stopped believing in Santa? I was almost 10 I think...I remember being pretty old, but I held pretty firmly to that belief. I even remember getting close to being in a fight because people kept telling me I was stupid.





I love how there are British elves, too. I don't know why, but it really made me laugh. And Comet is such an awesome reindeer. I want a reindeer as a pet, as long as he's as awesome as Comet. I would really hate to be a mall Santa in a year when the cops are looking for Santa, though.

I love all the extras in the sleigh. Most of it's lame, but if I had a car with a cocoa dispenser in it, I'd gain 20 pounds!

ELFS...Effective Liberating Flight Squad. Genius :-) Black Ops elves...Makes sense.

That little kid, Charlie, learned a lot of lessons in this movie. And we would've lost Christmas without him! Thank goodness for Charlie :-) Saved until we find the next clause in the Santa Claus contract...And what the heck is Bernard eating when he's at their house?? Looks like they got the vertical take-off down, too. Those elves really are geniuses!

Random Facts
The zoo where Scott talks to Charlie is actually the Toronto Zoo in Scarborough, Ontario.

When Scott and Charlie are leaving the North Pole in the sleigh and pass by the moon, the moon has a distinct Mickey Mouse logo on it.

When Scott and Charlie arrive at the North Pole, the code that the elf enters into the pole for entry is 1239.

The scene where Tim Allen takes his son to the Denny's on Christmas Even is actually a Swiss Chalet restaurant in Oakville that had to be altered to reflect the Denny's chain.

During his tour of the workshop, Scott tries out a tool belt and shakes his head as if the tools aren't for him. This is a reference to Tim Allen's then-hit TV show, Home Improvement, where his character's life (Tim 'the tool man' Taylor) revolved around tools.

When the kids scream, "Let him go! Let Santa go!" it's a reference to Miracle on 34th Street.

When Scott is giving alternative names for Santa to the police officer in the interrogation scene, Scott imitated Ed Sullivan when he says the name, "Topo Gigio", which is not a name for Santa, but actually the name of a small Italian mouse puppet that appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Elves are scattered throughout the movie in Scott and Charlie's world. The little blonde girl walking away from the window at the opening of the movie; the little boy putting his jack on and wearing a red scarf as Scott and Charlie are led to their seat in Denny's; the girl walking behind the bench when Scott has kids lined up at Charlie's soccer game; the girl in the purple coat who walks by Scott and Charlie in the park when Scott wants Charlie to keep the secret; and the little boy in the blue turtleneck behind Charlie's desk during show and tell are all elves. They show up as a group at the end of the movie when Scott flies away from the Miller house, running and skipping off.

The role of Scott Calvin/Santa Claus was written with Bill Murray in mind. Scheduling conflicts with another film forced Chevy Chase to turn down the role of Scott Calvin. (Thank goodness, in my opinion...)

The ladder that appears to help Scott and Charlie get to the roof was made by the "Rose Suchak Ladder Co.", a reference to a question Charlie had asked about the line "There arose such a clatter" from the famous poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (The Night Before Christmas).

When Charlie and the new Santa return to the North Pole for the new Christmas, Bernard introduces the techno-savvy elf Quentin, who proceeds to tell Santa about the gadgets the sleigh now has. This is a nod to the James Bond character "Q", who is the technology master for Bond's vehicles.

When Scott and Charlie are driving the sleigh on the road, the truck they go by and ask about I-94 is driven by Jimmy Labriola, who played Benny on Tim Allen's show Home Improvement.

The DVD released bonus material containing 3 recipes on how to make Santa's favorite pizza, cookies, and hot chocolate, and short videos demonstrating the cooking procedures...I need to watch that part!

On older prints of the film, Tim Allen made a sarcastic remark in the movie, including the line "1-800--SPANK-ME". When a child decided to call the number, it turned out to be a phone sex line. The child's mother's complaint had the scene cut for future releases.

Tim Allen has a criminal record and Disney has a no hiring of ex-cons policy. An exception was made in this case (and for Toy Story, I guess)

When Laura looks at the Mystery Date game the music we hear is the jingle the old television commercials used for the board game.


The Santa Clause 2: The Mrs. Clause (2002)
Synopsis
Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) has been Santa Claus for the past eight years, and his loyal elves consider him the best one ever. But Scott's got problems. His son Charlie has landed on this year's "naughty" list, and if Scott doesn't marry by Christmas Eve - one very, very short month away - he'll stop being Santa forever.

My Thoughts
Here's the second installment of The Santa Clause trilogy. One of the few trilogies that, I believe, holds up to the original. It kept most of the original actors and held up the comedy and quality. These are some of my favorite Christmas movies, though. If you guys don't like it as much or have differing opinions, please share! :-) I know there are plenty of people out there who hate these movies, so share your opinions!

The elves in the North Pole control the Northern Lights...that totally makes sense. It distracts us from them! They're so smart...

Tim Allen has really embraced the Santa thing, and I'd say he pulls it off pretty well. The elves do a pretty good job, too. Being kids, who are acting like grownup elves, who act like kids...It's complicated.

The de-Santification process has begun!!! I love when Curtis says that one :-) He and Bernard are by far my favorite elves. The puppets in Santa's bedroom are a little creepy, though...




I just watched the new Rise of the Guardians movie, and now the Easter Bunny will always disappoint me unless it's Hugh Jackman...













I don't know why Curtis thought making a toy clone of Santa would be a good idea. Listen to Bernard!! Haven't we learned our lesson when it comes to thinking, learning machines?? Geesh...






The reaction 'Santa' has to hot chocolate is very similar to my own :-) It's a rush! Haha...Love it.

Scott's first date was fairly creepy...I mean there's Christmas spirit and there are crazy people. I'm pretty sure she's moving toward the crazy people end of the spectrum. And what's the deal with the principal? She's so anti-Christmas...I see the spirit of Christmas hitting her in the face in the near future.

And the problems with 'Santa' begin...All kids are naughty, toy soldier armies in the North Pole, and Commando Santa. But at least the real Santa has started making some dating progress :-) Pressure's on with his magic loss, though!












Carol makes me feel much better about getting into fights about Santa. At least I never got a bloody nose from my fights!

The beginning of the faculty Christmas party is more of what I expect in company business parties. Haha...Everyone just sitting around like a 6th grade dance. Don't really want to stay, but you can't leave until your parents come get you...If only Santa himself could go heat up all the Christmas parties!




People should listen to the 6-year-olds of the world more often. Lucy is pretty much a genius in this movie. We could all learn some lessons from little kids. :-)

I love the way they figure they can get back to the North Pole. No magic, no reindeer, no jet pack...Let's just pull a tooth out and get the tooth fairy to come fly me!

Tim Allen, the action hero! Who knew? Christmas is saved once again. I realize these movies were probably just money grabs for Disney, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy them. So judge all you want, but I still love these movies. :-)

Random Facts
Toy Santa's line, "You are a sad, strange little man," is also used by Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story. Also, when the Toy Santa says "I think Santa feels a little Buzz!" is a poke at him being "Buzz Lightyear" in Toy Story.

On the back wall of Lucy's room is a poster for the Disney cartoon Kim Possible.

When Santa is on his first date with the aspiring singer/songwriter if you look at her shirt, the face of Santa is that of Tim Allen.

Scott Calvin starts talking about cars and engines while talking to Carol Newman, and while walking through the toyshop, Santa picks up and tries on a tool belt (and likes it more than he did in the first movie...). These reference to Tim Taylor, Tim Allen's character on Home Improvement.

Late in the movie, when Scott is mostly "de-Santafied", he captures the Tooth Fairy. The Tooth Fairy, doubting that Scott is Santa Claus, tell him "I know Santa Claus. I'm friends with Santa Claus. You are no Santa Claus." This is a parody of Lloyd Bentsen's famous retort to Dan Quayle during the 1988 US Vice Presidential debate.

In the opening credits, several Jack-in-the-Boxes pop open. The last one to open is the same type of Jack-in-the-Box that is seen numerous times in Elf. (There seem to be quite a few references to Elf in this trilogy)

The line "Quit the chit-chat-Chet" comes directly off a season 1 episode of Tim Allen's Home Improvement where a man named Chet on the phone babbles too much during a game of "Stump the Tool Man."

Peter Boyle, who played Father Time in this film, previously played Mr. Whittle, Scott Calvin's supervisor, in The Santa Clause.

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause (2006)
Synopsis
As Christmas nears, Scott Calvin invites his in-laws (Ann-Margret and Alan Arkin) to join the festivities. The holidays take a chaotic turn when Scott discovers a way out of his "Santa Clause" and the mischievous Jack Frost (Martin Short) puts the big freeze on Christmas' big cheese! Unless Scott can save the day, it's going to be a very chilly Frostmas at the North Pole and all around the world. Will Scott be able to get his job back in the St. Nick of time?


My Thoughts
Last The Santa Clause installment. I even like the third one, which does not happen often, especially for Disney movies. This is usually the time when they start just sticking on sequels to suck money out of all the parents who have 8-year-olds, with the exception of these movies and the Toy Story movies, in my opinion. Yet another great, family-friendly Christmastime movie!

The little elf Trish at the beginning may look familiar. She's been in a lot of great movies: My Sister's Keeper; Definitely, Maybe; No Reservations; The Ultimate Gift.She's pretty great, and I hope she can make the transition between child actor to something a little more permanent.

I kind of lost my love for Curtis, but it's probably because he's growing up...It has been 12 years since they made the first one. Might be why Bernard couldn't be in this one...I'm guessing he started growing a beard and his voice dropped or something. Child actors can't play child elves forever...

It kind of makes sense for Jack Frost to feel slighted and possibly get a little malicious, but I really liked the version portrayed in the Rise of the Guardians. This is pretty close to being the same movie: The legendary characters coming together to fight the person trying to ruin Christmas, except in this movie it's Jack Frost, and in Rise of the Guardians Jack Frost helps them beat the Boogey Man.

One of the reasons I have a hard time giving second chances is because the people least deserving of a second chance are the best at convincing you that they deserve it...shown here by Jack Frost. He's a slippery one...see what I did there? ;-)






I feel so bad for the other reindeer. Everyone loves Comet so much and no one even talks to the rest of 'em! So sad...

Doesn't Santa have enough to deal with when Jack Frost is trying to steal his holiday and his wife is about to pop and his production is behind? He has to deal with the in-laws, too??






Movies like this are probably one of the many reasons psychiatrists get a bad name. That soft-talking, psycho-babble that Neil is constantly spewing is quite annoying. I'm sure it's supposed to be, but it gets a little old after two movies of it already.



It's like the Ghost of Santa's Past, but not a dream...Frostmas sounds horrible, though! And I don't understand why people even talk to Jack. He's obviously being sneaky, and Curtis was completely clueless. I feel like I would have put him under some sort of surveillance.







They may be trying a little hard to make the North Pole look like Canada, but it's pretty entertaining. So many maple leaves and hockey banners.





Hasn't everyone at least heard of Jack Frost? I never really thought he was on level with Santa and the Easter Bunny, but I've at least heard of the guy. He makes it snow and all that good stuff...






For a second there, when Santa was creating the jet-powdered scooter board, I saw some Tim Taylor in there. I wonder if he was using any Binford tools over there.

I wonder if the tangled ball of lights for the Christmas tree was a little poke at the National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. That's the only other place I've seen it so far...Maybe it came from some other classic movie...


How hard would it be to convince someone that the last 12 years of their lives happened wrong and that you're Santa and the North Pole Resort is really the North Pole? Jack Frost has brought the ultimate commercialization of Christmas to the big screen. It's such a bummer to see the depressed reindeer and elves being forced in the sale of the North Pole and the idea of Santa; but never fear, Lucy and Scott will save the day. The bad guy never wins...




The real Santa is back, Scott learned his lesson about the importance of family, and Christmas is saved! Turns out, Jack Frost is just a big elf at heart...and there's an extra Claus for this Christmas :-) Is Elf just a sequel of The Santa Clause 3??

Random Facts
The scrolling ticker sign in the toy factory reads "378 Years without an accident".

Jack Frost is seen wearing a black and white outfit with a pale and white look, referring to Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas, another character who believed that he could take over for Santa Claus. In the trailer, the tracks "What's This" and "Making Christmas" from that film are heard in the background.

Despite Bernard's non-appearance in the film, the novelization uses his character.

Peter Boyle's final film.

When Scott is making a distraction in Jack's North Pole, he says, "Well, this show stinks." But his mouth is saying, "Well, this show sucks." Done in order to keep the G rating, most likely.



**Sorry for the long post...I've decided to do the sequels all together...Hope that's cool with all my 3 viewers out there!** :-)

Christmas Special: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

Synopsis
It's Christmas time and the Griswolds are preparing for a family seasonal celebration, but things never run smoothly for Clark (or anyone else on Christmas...), his wife Ellen and their two kids. Clark's continual bad luck is worsened by his obnoxious family guests, but he manages to keep going knowing that his Christmas bonus is due soon.

My Thoughts
To tell you the truth, I've never seen this movie. I know I've been told I million times that it's great, but it has just never sparked my interest. I've sort of become a Chevy Chase fan, since I started watching The Community, and it does look entertaining and slightly similar to my own family Christmases, so I might enjoy it...Let's find out!

The animated beginning was pretty funny...showing us all the possible things that could go run if Santa tries to deliver presents to that 'unlucky' house...

Has anyone else lived through that embarrassing car ride, when the parents sing Christmas carols at the top of their lungs while the kids sit in the back seat rolling their eyes...and then the dad gets some road rage and ruins the whole Christmas spirit, but I guess they made it to the Christmas tree lot.

I wish it was always that easy to pick a tree...my family always took forever walking around and arguing over which one was better...Do we want a Blue Spruce? Nahhhh...Do we want that one? Big space...What about that one? Too crooked...If only a beam of light had come down and shown us which tree to pick... :-)





'The boss enters' scenes are always weird...I feel like most bosses probably don't walk around like a general entering a war room with have their troops marching behind them. Unless they are a general entering a war room...but you never know what those big corporate guys will do I guess.

And then the parents arrive...I never understood why in-laws don't get along. My parents' parents seemed to be okay, but they also had an entire country between them for most of the time. I do feel for the son, Russ...grandparents do tend to ask you for awkward favors that you can't say no to, because they're your grandparent.




I'm totally fine with surprise visits from old friends...but if you're planning on staying at my house for an entire month, could you at least let me know? That's kind of a long time...

At least Clark was smart enough to try the sled before his kids, but this movie takes the humor a little too far. I'm all for unrealistic humor, but the sled didn't need rocket boosters to make it funny...Come on, guys. I know a lot of people find that stuff hilarious. I guess I just need it to at least be in the realm of possibility for my poor logical mind to find it entertaining...




Then you get the old couple that's supposed to add all that ageism humor. They can't hear, they're always confused, and they're always yelling. They were only 80, though...I don't feel like that's super old. I guess it's pretty old...

I think the crazed squirrel in the new Christmas tree was the best part of this movie. Not positive why every person's reaction is to scream or faint, but squirrels are pretty quick...

"Fun, old-fashioned family Christmas". Yeah...that how all our Christmases go, too. I'm sure Dad's pep talk and Christmas magic will bring the family back together for Christmas...As always. The family comes together, the boss learns his lesson, the house gets surrounded by police cards...wait. Oh, it's okay, just Christmas at the Griswold house...




I was not a fan of this movie. And I know that my opinion might get be in some hot water with some people, but I just don't find this kind of humor entertaining. Parts of it were great. But the movie, overall, I just found to be trying way too hard to be funny...which makes things not that funny to me. Sorry, everyone who loves this movie...but I will most likely not be watching it again. :-\

Where I Recognize the Characters From:
Clark - Chevy Chase - The Community
Rusty - Johnny Galecki - The Big Bang Theory
Clark Sr. - John Randolph - Roseanne (which Johnny Galecki was also in)
Nora - Diane Ladd - Er and Touched by an Angel (John Randolph was also in both of these...)
Art - E.G. Marshall - 12 Angry Men
Francis - Doris Roberts - Everybody Loves Raymond
Eddie - Randy Quaid - Independence Day
Margo - Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Seinfeld and The New Adventures of Old Christine

Random Facts
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".

Frank Capra III, the grandson of It's a Wonderful Life director, Frank Capra, was the assistant director of Christmas Vacation.

The Griswolds' neighbor's house is the same house Murtaugh and his family lived in through all the Lethal Weapon movies. The houses on this street are on the Warner Brothers Studios back lot.

The house front from Bewitched and The New Gidget 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. (I didn't know that was anyone's trademark gag...Isn't it everyone's?)

Final screen appearance of Mae Questel (Bethany), who's film career began in 1930 as the 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.






The only Vacation movie to not feature the Lindsey Buckingham song "Holiday Road" throughout the entire film.

Chevy Chase appears in some scenes wearing a black Chicago Bears ball cap. He wears the same cap throughout all four Vacation movies.







In the scene when the police storm into the Griswolds' 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.

A minor earthquake occurred at the time when they were filming the scene where uncle Louis and aunt Bethany arrive at the Griswold house.

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's referencing the Bhopal disaster, also known as the Union Carbide disaster in which leaks from a Union Carbide pesticide plant escaped into the air, killing thousands of people and sickening many more.

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.

This is one of three films released in 1989 to feature an animated title sequence. The other two are Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (one of my favorites from when I was a kid) and Troop Beverly Hills.

The scene where the cat bites on the Christmas lights and gets electrocuted was nearly cut from the movie. Prior to the first test screening, the studio execs wanted the scene taken out, fearing it might offend some viewers, but producer Simmons begged them to leave it in, and they eventually gave in. After the first test screening, the test audience had scored the cat electrocution as the No. 1 favorite scene throughout the entire movie.






Clark (Chevy Chase) uses thirty words to describe his boss (Brian Doyle-Murray).





Despite being a "Christmas movie," Christmas Day is never actually seen. The film ends on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Special: Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

Synopsis
Sam the snowman tells us the story of a young red-nosed misfit reindeer who, after being ousted from the reindeer games because of his beaming honker, teams up with Hermey, an elf who wants to be a dentist (a busy profession for someone who lives with elves), and Yukon Cornelius, the prospector (which gave me Toy Story 3 flashbacks). They run into the Abominable Snowman and find a whole island of misfit toys. Rudolph vows to see if he can get Santa to help the toys, and he goes back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. But Santa's sleigh is fogged in. He looks over at Rudolph and gets a very bright idea...


My Thoughts
Since when is Rudolph Donner's son? Haha. I know that this movie came out quite a few years ago, but I don't think I've ever seen it...so I guess he's been Donner's son for a while and I'm just behind the times. But I've never heard that one before. Is he gonna end up like Persius? He's Zeus' son, no he's Poseidon's son. Rudolph is Donner's son, no he's Dasher's son! We need another origin story! :-)

In my opinion, Hermey seems similar to Buddy the Elf...An elf misfit who doesn't fit in with the elves that he lives with. He's not 4 feet taller than all the other elves, but he still doesn't even look like the rest of the elves, and he leaves Santa and the elves to find where he fits in the world. I guess he and Rudolph will probably join forces at one point or another. Team of misfits. :-)

I think if I had grown up watching this movie, I would have found it a little more enjoyable. I think it's a movie that should be introduced to people as children, not necessarily as 24-year-olds. It's a great Christmas treat, I think, but the animation or level of corniness may be a little beyond me at this point. It might just be the build-up of corn from all the other Christmas movies, but it's just starting to get to me...

It's so disappointing to see the people in charge of Christmas be so mean and discouraging to a little kid (deer...). Even Santa! So sad. Only one person accepts him for him, and it's a little doe that likes him. And they even take her away!








I thought at least Santa would be more accepting! The other deer are horrible, Santa's dismissive and horrible, and even his own father hates it and makes him cover it up with a fake nose!

Then he meets Hermey and the misfits unite! Is the abominable snowman just another misfit like them?? Or is he really just a monster looking for some scrumptious deer and elves to gobble up?









Yukon Cornelius...interesting character. He licks his ice pick to see if there's gold...wouldn't his tongue get stuck to it? And those dogs really have him trained :-) One question: What exactly is the poodle supposed to do? I think Corny fits into the misfit group pretty well...

Why are there always jack-in-the-boxes?!? I hate them! They creep me out...Are there really kids out there who put jack-in-the-box on their Christmas lists? Charlie-in-the-box? Maybe one of those would be okay...I hope the real Santa would be a little nicer to misfit toys. Fix them? Instead of just tossing them on an island all together? Oh, well I guess Santa didn't know about them...but what did he think happened to the misfit toys?? I may be over-estimating this Santa, too...He might just throw them out like he dismissed Rudolph...




I never realized how much Elf stole from this movie! The elf uniforms, the North Pole creatures, the traveling to and from the North Pole on chips of ice, the jack-in-the-boxes, the misfit elf...I mean, it's not a huge deal and I'm positive they did it on purpose with permission and all that, I just never would have noticed if I hadn't watched the two movies so close together.

I feel bad for the abominable snowman :-\ Everyone hates him, and he's just hungry! And the dentist elf took all his teeth out and pushed him off a cliff! That's just rude...






Oh well, as long as the misfits are now accepted. All is forgiven and the misfits are an integral part of the community now (even the abominable snowman). And Rudolph saves the day! Random: why is the sleigh pink and purple??

Random Facts
During the original network TV airing, commercials for General Electric featured Santa's elves from the show.

Although Yukon Cornelius says he needs "gunpowder" and he has a revolver tucked in his belt, the politically correct toys released in 1999 in America have a knife instead of a revolver.

Hermey is the only elf without pointed ears. He's also the only male elf with hair on top of his head.

Why is Dolly for Sue, who is apparently a perfectly ordinary doll, living on the Island of Misfit Toys? This gripping debate raged on for decades, until official word from Rankin-Bass recently decided the issue: Dolly for Sue is a "misfit" because she has psychological problems - she feels unloved.

Billie Mae Richards (Rudolph) also provided the voice for Smoothie Bear in a series of animated commercials for Kraft Peanut Butter.

Although the animations were filmed in Japan, the entire soundtrack for Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer was recorded in a studio near Yonge Street in Toronto, Ontario; most of the singing and speaking cast were Canadian.

The song "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was a seasonal standard long before it was used in the film.

Yukon Cornelius' stalwart sled dogs include a Cocker Spaniel, a Poodle, a Saint Bernard, a Collie, and a Dachshund.

At the conclusion of "Holly Jolly Christmas", Hermey the elf can be seen dancing and flirting with an equally attentive girl elf, suggesting a budding romance (sequel??). Also seen in "Holly Jolly Christmas", as Rudolph tests his nose pre-flight by firing it up to full power, the elf standing closest to him is wearing protective sunglasses.






Although the Rudolph the puppet - which still exists - appears to be about three feet tall when viewed on screen, it's only an illusion. In reality, "Rudolph" is palm-sized, about the same size a small kitten. 

The face of Sam the Snowman was intentionally designed to resemble singer-actor Burl Ives, who provided the voice for the character.

According to brother Ken Muller, Romeo Muller actually intended the elf to be named "Herbie", after a childhood friend. Rudolph's sweetheart was named "Clarice" in honor of the bride-to-be of another close friend.

Billie Mae Richards (Rudolph) and Paul Soles (Hermey) lived in the same Ontario retirement community during the years before Richards' death.

When Yukon Cornelius throws his pick axe into the ground and takes it out and licks it, he's checking neither for gold nor silver. The original concept for the special stated that Yukon was in fact searching for the elusive peppermint mine, which he found eventually (spin-off??).

When the film was first released, the technology of using an articulated metal armature inside the figures was considered so amazing that TV guide devoted four pages to the story. They failed to mention that the "new" technology had been pioneered years before, most prominently inside the gorilla King Kong.

In the original TV version of the show, Rudolph, Hermey the elf, and Yukon Cornelius visit the Island of Misfit Toys and promise to help them, but the Misfits are never mentioned again. After it was shown, the producers were inundated with letters from children complaining that nothing had been done to help the Misfit Toys. In response, Rankin-Bass produced a new short scene at the end of the show in which Santa and his reindeer, led by Rudolph, land on the Island and pick up all the toys to find homes for them, which has ever since been the standard version of the show run during the holidays.