Themes: Family Vacations, Nothing Goes Right, Ship Cruises
Main Cast: Randy Quaid, Miriam Flynn, Dana Barron, Jake Thomas
Release Year: 2003
Country: US
Run Time: 83 minutes
Plot
After four proper Vacation films, the people at National Lampoon churned out the first spin-off of the series. The direct-to-video National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure stars Randy Quaid as the lovable doofus made popular in the first and third entries in the series. Eddie and his clan are awarded a tropical vacation for the holidays, but their trip doesn't go quite as planned. With the whole family stranded on an island in the South Pacific, they're in for a Christmas like none before. Fred Willard and Ed Asner also star. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
The story begins with Cousin Eddie at his latest workplace, a nuclear facility where he 'works' alongside a monkey. When the monkey outperforms Eddie in every test (specifically mental agility), the decision is made to fire Eddie. Upon finding out the news, the two get into an argument which results in the monkey biting Eddie.
With Christmas approaching, Eddie is worried about what this job-loss will mean for him and his family and he decides to talk to his former boss. Although the thought never occurs to him, the nuclear company is convinced that Eddie will sue. As a preemptive countermeasure, they offer Eddie and his family (along with Audrey Griswold and Eddie's Uncle Nick) a free vacation to an island in the South Pacific. While on holiday the family takes a trip on a boat, while Eddie attempts to catch a shark the family gets lost and eventually shipwrecked on an isolated island.
Eventually Eddie is able to prove himself a man by providing for his family and they all celebrate Christmas together on the island. Shortly after, they are rescued.
Dana Barron, the original Audrey Griswold, returns in this movie. She is the only actor to reprise his or her role as a Griswold kid.
Eddie explains that his oldest daughter, Vicki, has become a Las Vegas stripper, making a reference to Vegas Vacation.
Audrey is the only Griswold to appear in all five movies, as Clark, Ellen, and Rusty are not seen in this movie.
Eddie mentions that he loved his old recreational vehicle which was seen in the first Christmas Vacation.
Eric Idle makes a cameo in this movie, reprising the same character he played in National Lampoon's European Vacation, a benevolent, innocent tourist who suffers at the hands of the main characters.
