Heartwarming / National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

• Rusty briefly looks as excited as his father when Clark first picks their Christmas tree.
• The scene where Clark gets locked in the attic. It might not sound that heartwarming, but while he's up there, he finds old recordings of his Christmases as a child from the 1950s. It's not that hard to notice a few Manly Tears running down the side of his face.
  • Clark watching the home movies is the first insight into why Clark is doing what he does. He doesn't just want to have a fun old fashioned family Christmas, he wants his fun old fashioned family Christmas. The magic of those old Christmases is why Clark insisted on having the entire family over for Christmas and it gives Clark's fanaticism real emotional depth.
• Also, his final line. Despite the hellish disasters all December long, despite the near loss of life and sanity, in the end, he gets what he really wanted: A loving family experience at Christmas.
  Clark: ...I did it.
  • A small one at the end when the credits begin to roll: Clark, with a sense of accomplishment from the above entry still lingering, happily pets Cousin Eddie's dog Snots, the one everyone is afraid to touch due to his sinus issues (who had begged Clark for a belly rub earlier).
  • The entire family, plus the Shirleys and the SWAT team, having a dance party at the end (including Mrs. Shirley dancing with elderly Uncle Louis, who seems to be enjoying himself for the first time in the film).
• After Clark blows up in front of the family on Christmas Eve and laments how wrong everything went, his father points out that, for all of Clark's fond childhood memories of Christmas, there were plenty of screw ups and disasters back then as well and it's something that can't be helped.
• The scene where Clark is reading "The Night Before Christmas" to the family. It's one of the quieter moments in the film yet it warms your heart at seeing everyone together and enjoying themselves.
  • Right before that is Clark's talk with his father and asking him if he'll read the poem. The response and his big smile summarize the entire situation.
    Clark Sr.: Nah, it's your house, your Christmas. I'm retiring.
  • When Clark is reading The Night Before Christmas, we see Frances, Clark's mother in law (whose husband, Art, is relentlessly critical of Clark), watch him with a warm look, enjoying the moment.
• Clark talking to his niece about Santa Claus. It's very sweet since he can't stand her father, and she finds life at the Griswold household stable.
• Doubles as a CMOA. Clark's father-in-law Art has been nothing but a Jerkass to Clark the entire film, putting him down constantly. However, when Clark learns that he's been denied of his Christmas bonus by his boss Frank Shirley and goes out on a tirade against Mr. Shirley for this, Art shows pity for this, finally understanding how much Clark has worked so hard to support Ellen and their family. Even when Clark finally gives Mr. Shirley the "Reason You Suck" Speech, Art is the first to stand up in support of his son-in-law and even gives Mr. Shirley a Death Glare, showing that he doesn't approve of the rich man for the way he treated Clark and the other employees.
  • The only reason Mr. Shirley is there is because Clark vocally wished he could berate him about cutting the bonuses, and Eddie took it literally, kidnapping Shirley. Obviously, it's a serious crime, but the not-so-bright Eddie thought it would calm Clark down and make him happy. Then on top of that, Clark, who's been nothing but vexed and contemptuous of Eddie since he showed up, fully admits (albeit in a snarky sort of way) that he's aware Eddie is a good person trying his best.
  • There's a capstone to this: When Mr. Shirley introduces his wife to everyone afterwards, he finally gets Clark's name right.
  • You may have to squint to see it, but Mrs. Shirley herself qualifies. Despite being a Trophy Wife, she isn't a snob: she's respectful to the Griswolds, shows great disgust towards her husband's cheapskate behavior (and calls him out on it), and later shares a dance with Uncle Louis.
• When Clark and Ellen discover that Eddie can't afford presents for his kids, they decide to pitch in and buy them some.
  • Also, Eddie talking to Clark about his financial difficulties in the first place. He's a proud (if not very bright) man, and he might be completely unaware that Clark can't stand him, but he obviously cares about his family, and he likes and trusts Clark enough to be open with him about his problems.
• The DVD Commentary featuring the director and about half the main cast going back and forth between laughing at the comedy and talking about how the heartwarming moments are making them cry all while praising everyone's performances.
  Beverly D'Angelo: (During the scene where Clark is watching old home movies) This is a good movie!
• Just before the squirrel sequence, everyone is gathered around in the living room, and Clark Sr. has Ruby Sue in his lap, reading her a story.
• When Frances badmouths Clark about the waste of time that his failed Christmas lights are, Audrey immediately stands up for her father in front of her.
  "He worked really hard, Grandma."
  • She also tells him that the lights look pretty, even though they're not lit.
• When the turkey bursts open with a horrible hissing sound and ugly grey-colored insides, Cathrine almost turning into an emotional wreck over putting the turkey in too early, but Clark reassures her it’s only “a little dry”. Even though it’s hardly edible, no one dares to criticize Cathrine’s cooking skills and at least tries to eat as much as they can. It’s kinda sweet that nobody had it in them to break Cathrine’s heart. But Eddie and Snot wholeheartedly enjoy the meal.
• Clark's parents are seen rubbing heads affectionately at dinner as a cute background event.
• Both sets of grandparents are happy to see Rocky and Ruby-Sue and enjoy spending time with them despite only one of the four being a blood relative of the two kids.
• The friendship between Clark and his coworker Bill seems surprisingly respectful and drama-free, given how unlucky Clark usually is.

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