Chevy Chase Channels Iconic 'Christmas Vacation' Character for Lighting Ceremony in Illinois
Chevy Chase reprised his role as Clark Griswold for an epic lighting ceremony at Raising Canes.
No one does Christmas like Clark Griswold!
Chevy Chase, who portrayed the iconic character in the 1989 film, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, is back to spread more holiday cheer with a special appearance at a lighting ceremony in Illinois.
The actor, now 79, showed up at Raising Cane's restaurant in Morton, Grove, Ill. on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 29, where he recreated one of his famous scenes from the beloved holiday movie.
The comedian was tasked with lighting up more than 13,000 lights strung on the building during the filming of a holiday commercial for the restaurant chain, which was attended by hundreds of fans, according to the Chicago Tribune.
In a video of the festive event obtained by TMZ, the comedian appears with Raising Cane's founder Todd Graves, as he is given two extension cords to plug together in order to illuminate the whole building—but just like in the film, it takes Chase a few tries before he has any luck.
In an attempt to light the place up in a grandiose way, with a drumroll and all, Chase—much like his movie character—is faced with disappointment after the cords don't seem to be working. But once he gives it a second try, the restaurant lights up like a Christmas tree.
In the original '80s film, Clark spends hours decorating their family home with thousands of twinkling lights, before bringing out his whole family to see the display, which ends up being a major fail.
After messing around with the outlets and plugs to no avail, Clark ends up throwing a giant fit, before angrily forcing the two extension cords together one more time, right at the same moment his wife, Ellen Griswold (Beverly D'Angelo) flicks on a switch in a fuse box inside the house, causing the whole thing to finally light up.
Chants of "Hallelujah" from Hendel's "Messiah" then beings to play in the movie, with the audio also recreated at Raising Cane's event, as a group of carolers broke into the popular chorus once the restaurant's lights were aglow.
Following the lighting ceremony, Chase was also gifted with a recreated version of his family station wagon from the movie, which they use on their tumultuous journey to pick up their Christmas tree. In the clip, Chase and Graves are seen riding out in style, while waving goodbye to the screaming fans.
As Clark Griswold would say, "We're going to have the hap-hap-happiest Christmas!"
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