Merry Christmas, my dear readers! On this special day, “7 Days of Christmas” comes to a close here at The No Seatbelt Blog with a new edition of Funko Friday. This time around, I showcase the two newest additions to my collection of Funko’s Pop! vinyl dolls, Clark Griswold and Cousin Eddie from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation! I was beyond excited when the toy company released figures of these two lovable characters from my favorite Christmas movie, and of course, I had to get them. 

Clark, the patriarch of the dysfunctional Griswold clan, sets out to give his immediate and extended family the happiest Christmas imaginable, but in true Griswold fashion, everything that can go wrong does. Whether it’s a dried-out turkey, a Christmas tree going up in flames, or a kidnapped boss, nothing is ever easy for poor Clark. He’s pictured here with his Santa suit that he dons in the movie, as well as his signature moose mug from which he downs egg nog in a fit of madness. The first time I ordered this figure, the mug was not only broken off, but was missing from the box altogether. Luckily, Amazon had a swift and efficient return system, and I was able to get a replacement in time to display him for Christmas, and to write this piece for the series. Of course, his Cousin Eddie doesn’t make things any easier for him when he shows up unannounced on Christmas Eve. Eddie, “whose heart is bigger than his brain” is depicted from the scene in which he stands outside on Christmas morning, in a bath robe, enjoying a cigar and beer as he empties the toilet from his RV into the sewer outside of Clark’s house. It’s one of the funniest scenes in the movie (and the bar is set high there), and Funko couldn’t have picked a better likeness for the character.

Already a favorite in my collection of these diminutive collectibles, Clark and Eddie will be on display in my house during the Christmas season every year from here on out, adding a little more joy to the holidays. If you’ve read any of this series, or anything here at The No Seatbelt Blog, I thank you. I hope you’ve enjoyed what you’ve seen here and continue to come back for more. Have Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!