Christmas Nuts

Christmas has never been the idyllic, idealized time of year that we all pretend it is, and no movie ever captured the season's special blend of stress, therapy fodder and, yes, love, more than National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. You all know the story, penned by John Hughes, of Chevy Chase's legendarily well-meaning but bumbling character Clark Griswold, who wants nothing more than to have a good old-fashioned holiday with his family. The high jinks—brilliantly rendered by a cast that includes Randy Quaid, Beverly D'Angelo and a young Juliette Lewis—that ensue are, of course, something else entirely. Equal parts slapstick, dark comedy and sweet sentiment, the film also contains perhaps the best Christmas movie quote ever: "When Santa squeezes his fat white ass down that chimney tonight, he's gonna find the jolliest bunch of assholes this side of the nuthouse." That pretty much sums up the whole season right there. Catch the holiday spirit 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Lakewood Theater, 1825 Abrams Parkway. Call 214-821-SHOW.
Tue., Dec. 19, 7:30 p.m.