In this holiday segment for the Revealing Men podcast, host Randy Flood and his colleague and son, Zach, take listeners through a laugh-inducing, scene-by-scene psychological analysis of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. It’s a humorous and insightful conversation about what Randy calls a “masterclass parody in holiday psychology.” This over-the-top,1980s-era movie unwittingly offers a real perspective on how psychodynamics in men and in their relationships dramatically manifest around the holidays. Granted, times have changed since then, and men can choose more conscious and balanced masculinities. Still, whether you’ve seen the movie or not, you’ll most likely recognize some of the characters’ traits and pressures to fulfill or fight traditional gender roles in the people around you or, perhaps, yourself.
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Emotional Presence Over Perfection
Randy notes that the characters of Clark, Todd, and Eddie each represent ways in which men “get lost in roles they didn’t choose.” Whether it’s Clark’s desire for the elusive “perfect” holiday, Eddie’s chaotic energy, or Todd’s controlled aesthetic, the movie portrays how societal pressures can script men and women into very particular roles, especially during the holidays. Even with its dated gender role pressures, the movie offers nuggets of insight. Zach says, “I’m really excited to talk about this stuff that men actually feel around the holidays, but don’t really ever name. [This movie is] a really good example of how art can just put something in front of us to talk about and think about and get us to laugh at the same time, which is what good art does.”
Randy and Zach admit to watching National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation together for years. Randy says, “Probably more than the Surgeon General recommends!” It reminds us, he notes, that “at the end of the day, Christmas [the holidays] isn’t about the perfect tree, the perfect lights, the perfect memories. It’s about presence, truth, boundaries, and genuine connection.”
As therapists, the work they do guides men away from masculinity as performance—proving, earning, engineering approval—and toward a grounded masculinity—one of character, emotional literacy, and relational depth. “We help men practice emotional presence instead of perfection,” Randy says.
Their wish for listeners and clients alike: Laugh more, stress less, and remember what actually matters this season. And, if you get the chance, watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
When the Holidays Are Over
As you move into the new year, ask yourself, “What version of masculinity am I living? Is it one that serves my highest self, or is it one I inherited that no longer fits?”
The Men’s Resource Center can help you take stock and plot a course forward. We provide in-person and online counseling, therapy, and coaching. Men can participate in men’s support groups as well as in individual sessions. For more information, call us at (616) 456-1178 or contact us online.
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