For millions around the globe, the holiday season isn’t truly complete without a pilgrimage to the chaotic, heartwarming, and hilariously disastrous world of the Griswold family, specifically through the perennial classic, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Released in 1989, this film cemented its place in cinematic history as a quintessential Christmas comedy, a masterclass in relatable family dysfunction, and a testament to Chevy Chase’s comedic genius as Clark W. Griswold Jr. Its enduring popularity, fueled by quotable lines, iconic scenes, and a genuine underlying warmth, has led to countless re-watches and a special place in the cultural zeitgeist.
Given the immense success and beloved status of the original, it’s only natural that studios would attempt to recapture that lightning in a bottle. The National Lampoon’s Vacation franchise itself has seen several theatrical sequels, each with varying degrees of success and critical reception. However, tucked away in the annals of television history, largely forgotten by the mainstream, lies a lesser-known, direct-to-TV sequel that attempts to extend the Christmas chaos, albeit without the central Griswold family. This is Christmas Vacation Movie 2, officially titled Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure, a film that serves as a curious footnote in the franchise’s legacy, offering a glimpse into what happens when a beloved supporting character is thrust into the leading role.
Released in 2003, a full 14 years after the original Christmas Vacation, Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure aired on NBC, aiming to capitalize on the nostalgia and brand recognition of its predecessor. The premise was simple: take the breakout character of Cousin Eddie Johnson, played once again by the inimitable Randy Quaid, and give him his own holiday misadventure. While Eddie was undoubtedly a fan favorite in the original, providing much of the gross-out humor and unpredictable chaos, the question loomed large: could a character designed as a foil and a source of disruption carry an entire film on his own, especially one attempting to evoke the spirit of the original Christmas Vacation? The answer, for most viewers and critics, was a resounding "not quite."
The film opens with Cousin Eddie, ever the lovable ne’er-do-well, in a familiar state of unemployment and financial precarity. However, a surprising turn of events sees him land a job as a research subject at a nuclear facility. This seemingly legitimate employment comes with an unexpected perk: a free, all-expenses-paid Christmas vacation to a luxurious South Pacific island resort. Eddie, along with his long-suffering wife Catherine (Miriam Flynn, also reprising her role), and their children, including a grown-up Audrey Griswold (played by Dana Barron, who portrayed Audrey in the original National Lampoon’s Vacation but not Christmas Vacation), eagerly embark on what they hope will be a relaxing getaway.
Of course, this being a Vacation spin-off, things quickly go awry. On their journey to the island, Eddie’s signature clumsiness and a series of unfortunate events lead to their cruise ship becoming disabled. The family, along with a snobbish, wealthy family named the Snells (who serve as the film’s antagonists and comedic foils), find themselves shipwrecked on a deserted tropical island. What follows is a survival comedy, with Eddie’s unconventional methods and lack of common sense clashing with the Snells’ elitism and helplessness.
The plot then devolves into a series of slapstick gags and attempts at comedic mishaps. Eddie tries to fish with dynamite, struggles to build shelter, and inadvertently causes more problems than he solves. A significant portion of the humor relies on Eddie’s interactions with a mischievous capuchin monkey named Cheeta, who steals the Snells’ valuables and leads Eddie on a wild goose chase. The central conflict revolves around the group’s attempts to signal for rescue, with Eddie’s outlandish ideas often sabotaging their efforts. As Christmas approaches, the film tries to inject a dose of holiday spirit, emphasizing the importance of family and the true meaning of Christmas, even in the most dire of circumstances. Eventually, a rescue mission is mounted, and the families are saved, leading to a predictably chaotic but ultimately heartwarming (by Eddie’s standards) conclusion.
Randy Quaid, despite the limitations of the script, fully commits to the role of Cousin Eddie. He embodies the character’s unique blend of ignorance, good intentions, and unhygienic habits with the same gusto that made him a standout in the original. His physical comedy is still present, and he delivers Eddie’s signature drawl and bizarre pronouncements with conviction. Miriam Flynn, as Catherine, provides a much-needed grounding presence, serving as the calm, albeit weary, voice of reason amidst Eddie’s antics. Her performance is subtle but effective, conveying Catherine’s enduring love and exasperation for her husband. The inclusion of Dana Barron as Audrey Griswold is a nice nod to the franchise’s roots, but her character is largely sidelined, existing primarily to react to Eddie’s chaos. The absence of Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo as Clark and Ellen Griswold is palpable, and the film struggles to fill the void left by their iconic dynamic. Without the Griswolds’ more grounded, albeit still exaggerated, perspective, Eddie’s character loses some of its comedic contrast, becoming the sole focus of the absurdity rather than its disruptive force.
The humor in Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure is a far cry from the nuanced, often observational comedy of the original Christmas Vacation. While the 1989 film featured plenty of slapstick and gross-out gags (like the exploding sewer or the cat electrocution), it was always balanced by sharp dialogue, relatable family dynamics, and Clark’s escalating frustration. The humor in the sequel, by contrast, is broader, more reliant on Eddie’s inherent strangeness and the "fish out of water" trope. Jokes often fall flat, relying too heavily on predictable outcomes or uninspired physical comedy. The script, penned by Matty Simmons (who produced the original National Lampoon’s Vacation films but did not write Christmas Vacation), lacks the wit and timing that made the original so endlessly quotable. The attempts at heart and holiday spirit feel forced, tacked on rather than organically woven into the narrative.
From a production standpoint, Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure suffers from its direct-to-television budget. The tropical island setting, while visually appealing in some shots, lacks the cinematic scope and polish of a theatrical release. The direction by Nick Marck is competent but uninspired, failing to elevate the material beyond its made-for-TV origins. The pacing can feel sluggish at times, and the comedic beats often miss their mark due to a lack of precise timing and comedic rhythm.
Upon its release, Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure was met with largely negative reviews from critics and was quickly forgotten by most fans of the franchise. It failed to capture the magic, humor, or heart of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. The common criticisms revolved around its weak script, predictable jokes, the absence of the core Griswold family, and the feeling that it was a blatant cash-in on a beloved brand. It highlighted the challenge of spinning off a supporting character into a lead role, especially when that character’s appeal often lies in their limited, disruptive appearances.
The legacy of Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure is, unfortunately, one of obscurity and disappointment. It stands as a stark reminder that simply bringing back a popular character or a familiar title isn’t enough to recreate the success of a beloved original. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation resonated with audiences because it tapped into universal experiences of holiday stress, family expectations, and the chaotic pursuit of a perfect Christmas. It blended slapstick with genuine emotion, making Clark Griswold’s struggles relatable and his triumphs (however small) genuinely earned.
Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure, on the other hand, lacks this crucial blend. While Randy Quaid’s performance is commendable given the material, Eddie’s character, without the grounded presence of Clark and Ellen to react to and play off of, becomes less a source of comedic disruption and more a caricature. The film struggles to find its own identity, relying too heavily on the original’s name recognition while failing to deliver on the comedic or emotional front. It’s a film that exists, but one that few seek out, and even fewer cherish.
In conclusion, Christmas Vacation Movie 2, or Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure, is a fascinating, if ultimately flawed, experiment in franchise extension. It represents an attempt to milk more holiday cheer from a beloved property, but without the key ingredients that made the original a timeless classic. While it offers a chance to revisit Randy Quaid’s iconic portrayal of Cousin Eddie, it serves more as a cautionary tale in filmmaking – that some lightning, once bottled, is best left undisturbed. The true spirit of Christmas chaos, as far as the Vacation franchise is concerned, remains firmly rooted in the Griswold family home, forever lit by 25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights, and accompanied by the joyful, exasperated cries of Clark W. Griswold Jr.
