Chevy ChaseandRandy Quaidwill be hoping to rekindle some festive movie magic as they reunite for the new holiday comedy,The Christmas Letter. The pair most memorably worked together 35 years ago inthe classicNational Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, with Chase portraying the head of the Griswald family, Clark, and Quaid playing Cousin Eddie. While their new movie is not linked to the Vacation movies in any way, the reunion does have a certain nostalgic quality about it for fans.
The Christmas Letteris the directorial feature film debut of Tori Hunter, and is written by Michael Cunningham. Alongside Chase and Quaid, the movie is also set to star Angus Benfield and Brian Doyle-Murray, with the story centering on an unemployed copywriter who is annually demoralized by the Christmas letters he receives from a wealthy friend. Ironically, in an attempt to outshine his financially superior friend, he risks everything to give his family a vacation that will give him bragging rights in his own Christmas letter. Perhaps there will be some similarities toChristmas Vacationafter all.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
It is hard to believe that the paths of Chase and Quaid have not converged in almost three decades, with their last collaboration beingNational Lampoon’s Vegas Vacationin 1997. However, the comedy actors have had very different careers in recent years, and for Quaid in particular, a return to screens is one that comes on the back of many challenges. Quaid and his wife, Evi, have been involved in several legal battles, including charges of vandalism, burglary, and defrauding an innkeeper. In 2010, they moved to Canada after claiming that there was a conspiracy against them in the U.S., but in 2015 they were deported back to their home country.
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is a Tough Act to Follow
Although it has taken many years for Chase and Quaid to team up again on screen,The Christmas Letterhas a lot to live up to for those who hold nostalgic feelings about the Griswald’s disastrous festive family gathering inNational Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. In all, the pair starred together in four movies of the franchise, with the others being the originalNational Lampoon’s VacationandNational Lampoon’s European Vacation.
However, Quaid did appear in his ownVacationmovie several years afterVegas Vacation, in the holiday sequelChristmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure. The film became the only movie in the franchise to not feature Chase or on-screen wife Beverley D’Angelo, and was released as a made for TV movie in 2003. The film holds a 13% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes.
National Lampoon’s Vacation Stars Discuss Original Ending
Over 40 years later, Anthony Michael Hall and Dana Barron discuss what happened and why it was changed.
While Chase has continued to work frequently,appearing in the TV seriesCommunityfor five years, as well as several movies includingThe Very Excellent Mr. Dundee,Zombie Townand reprising his role as Clark Griswald one more time in 2015’sVacation, Quaid has only appeared in two projects in the last 14 years, one of which was never released commercially. For this reason,The Christmas Letter’s team up of the two actors could well be a chance for Quaid to remind fans of past glories while creating a new hit with Chase in the process.
The Christmas Letteris expected to be released later this year.
