If you are a fan of classic Christmas movies, there is no doubt that you have seen the timeless comedy film, “Christmas Vacation.” This movie has been a staple of holiday entertainment since its release in 1989 and has continued to be a favorite among audiences of all ages.
One of the most memorable scenes in the movie is when Clark Griswold, the protagonist, receives a gift from his boss. But what was the gift in “Christmas Vacation”? Let’s take a closer look.
Setting the Scene
The movie starts with Clark Griswold preparing to host his extended family for Christmas at his home. As he tries to make everything perfect for his guests, he faces several challenges and mishaps along the way. One of these challenges is his anticipation for a big bonus from his employer that he had been counting on to cover his family’s holiday expenses.
The Gift
After waiting for weeks for his bonus check to arrive, Clark finally receives a package in the mail from his boss. The package is wrapped beautifully with a big red bow on top, and Clark can hardly contain his excitement as he opens it.
As he tears off the wrapping paper and opens the box, he finds that it contains not a check but instead an enrollment in the Jelly of the Month Club. The camera pans over Clark’s face as he tries to hide his disappointment and maintain a smile while thanking his boss for this ‘lovely’ gift.
What is Jelly of the Month Club?
For those who are unfamiliar with what Jelly of the Month Club is, allow us to explain. It is essentially a subscription service where members receive different flavors of jelly every month throughout their membership period.
This gift may seem underwhelming compared to what Clark was expecting, but it turns out that this gift was actually quite valuable. In fact, it becomes one of the key plot points that lead to the film’s satisfying conclusion.
The Value of the Gift
At first, Clark is disappointed with his gift, but it turns out to be a blessing in disguise. When his boss refuses to give him the bonus check he was expecting, Clark becomes angry and decides to take revenge by kidnapping his boss and demanding his rightful bonus.
However, he later has a change of heart when he realizes how important family and holiday traditions are. This realization comes after he watches home movies of happy family moments from his childhood, which make him appreciate the simple things in life.
As a result, Clark releases his boss and invites him to spend Christmas with his family. His boss accepts the invitation and shows up with a big surprise – he had given Clark’s entire family an extra gift of $20,000 as an apology for not giving him the expected bonus check.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the Jelly of the Month Club gift may have seemed like a disappointment at first glance, it ultimately served as a valuable lesson for Clark Griswold. This lesson was that focusing on money can cause one to lose sight of what is truly important in life – family and tradition.
This timeless message is what makes “Christmas Vacation” such an enduring holiday classic. It reminds us all that even when things do not go as planned during holidays and festivities, we should still cherish what we have and find joy in spending time with our loved ones.