Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure is a 2003 direct-to-video sequel to the beloved holiday classic National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Unlike the original, this film shifts focus to Cousin Eddie Johnson (Randy Quaid) and his family’s misadventures, offering a quirky, albeit less celebrated, holiday comedy.
The story begins with Cousin Eddie being fired from his job at a nuclear testing facility after a mishap involving a chimpanzee outsmarting him. In a twist of fate, Eddie is accidentally bitten by a lab monkey during a routine experiment. To avoid a lawsuit, his employer compensates him with an all-expenses-paid family vacation to a tropical island. Eddie, his wife Catherine (Miriam Flynn), their children, and Uncle Nick (Ed Asner) set off for paradise, unaware of the chaos awaiting them.
Upon arrival, their idyllic vacation turns into a nightmare when their charter boat crashes on a deserted island. Stranded with no immediate rescue, the eccentric family must survive using their wits (or lack thereof). Predictably, Eddie’s bumbling nature leads to a series of comical misadventures, from attempting to hunt wildlife to accidentally setting parts of the island ablaze.
Amid the chaos, the film introduces a subplot involving a romantic entanglement between Eddie’s teenage son and a fellow castaway, which adds a touch of sweetness to the otherwise slapstick narrative. Meanwhile, Uncle Nick’s cynical one-liners and attempts to take charge serve as comedic highlights.
The climax involves the family’s attempt to signal for rescue, culminating in an over-the-top sequence where Eddie, thinking he’s saving the day, inadvertently puts them in even more trouble. Eventually, they are rescued by the same company that caused the incident, bringing their tropical misadventure to an ironic close.
While Christmas Vacation 2 doesn’t match the charm or humor of its predecessor, it provides a lighthearted and offbeat holiday experience. Fans of Cousin Eddie’s antics may appreciate his expanded role, but the film remains a niche entry in the Vacation franchise.
