Alright folks, grab your panettone, maybe dust off that old VCR if you’ve still got one kicking around, because we’re heading back to the slopes – the Italian slopes of 1983, to be precise. Forget Die Hard for a second; for a whole generation of Italians, Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without the annual viewing of Carlo Vanzina's Vacanze di Natale (or Christmas Holidays, as the often-dubbed VHS tapes might have called it). This wasn't just a movie; it was the cinematic equivalent of flicking through a slightly faded, incredibly shoulder-padded photo album of Italy in the early 80s, set against the glitzy backdrop of Cortina d'Ampezzo.
### Snow, Sass, and Social Climbing
The setup is pure, glorious 80s chaos: disparate groups of Italians descend upon the posh ski resort town of Cortina for the Christmas break. You've got the wealthy, sophisticated Milanese industrialists bumping elbows (often literally) with the louder, perhaps less refined, working-class Romans. Think National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation but swap the Griswolds' suburban struggles for Italian class warfare played out amidst ski lifts and overpriced cocktails. Directed by Carlo Vanzina and penned alongside his brother Enrico Vanzina – sons of the legendary comedy director Steno, proving comedy ran deep in their blood – the film cleverly mines the humour from these social clashes, stereotypes, and the universal awkwardness of family holidays. It’s less about a driving plot and more about vignettes capturing the absurdity of the situation, all set against those breathtaking Dolomite views. Remember when location shooting felt this present in comedies, not just green-screen backdrops?
### The Kings of Cortina Comedy
You can't talk Vacanze di Natale without mentioning the cast, who became synonymous with Italian comedy for years to come. Jerry Calà absolutely owns the screen as Billo, the eternally optimistic, slightly sleazy piano bar singer whose catchphrases ("Libidine!" which roughly translates to intense desire or lust, "Doppia libidine!" Double!) became legendary in Italy. His residency at the glamorous Hotel Cristallo is central to the action. Fun fact: Calà's performance, seemingly effortless, actually cemented his transition from group comedy (with I Gatti di Vicolo Miracoli) to a major solo star in Italian cinema.
Then there's Christian De Sica (yes, son of that De Sica, Vittorio, director of Bicycle Thieves) playing the archetypal Roman trying to punch above his social weight, married into Milanese money represented by the elegant Stefania Sandrelli. Their dynamic, full of misunderstandings and simmering resentment masked by holiday cheer, is hilariously relatable even through the thick layer of 80s Italian specifics. Sandrelli, already a respected dramatic actress (Bernardo Bertolucci's The Conformist), showed her impeccable comedic timing here. And let's not forget the late Karina Huff as the American Samantha, adding an outsider's perspective (and navigating romantic entanglements). The ensemble cast absolutely nails the specific energy of the era.
### That Unmistakable '80s Vibe
Watching Vacanze di Natale now is like mainlining pure, uncut 1983. The fashion! Oh, the glorious, often baffling fashion – the moon boots, the vibrant ski suits, the big hair, the questionable knitwear. It’s all there in its unapologetic glory. The Vanzina brothers didn’t just make a film set in the 80s; they bottled the essence of the Italian 80s. The soundtrack is a killer mix of Italo-disco and international hits – Gazebo's "I Like Chopin," anyone? It instantly transports you. This wasn't just background music; it was the pulse of the parties, the ski slopes, the late-night bar scenes.
Filmed quickly and relatively cheaply (a hallmark of Italian genre filmmaking back then), much of it on location in Cortina, the film has an authentic, lived-in feel. The slightly grainy look, the way the snow crunches underfoot, the interiors of the hotels and chalets – it feels less like a set and more like we've stumbled into someone's actual (albeit chaotic) holiday. This grounding makes the sometimes broad comedy land even better.
### The Birth of the 'Cinepanettone'
This film wasn't just a hit; it was a phenomenon in Italy. Grossing around 3 billion Lire (a significant sum back then, maybe around €10-15 million today adjusted for purchasing power, a smash hit for Italian cinema), Vacanze di Natale essentially birthed a genre: the "cinepanettone" (literally "cinema panettone," the traditional Christmas cake). These holiday-themed comedies, often starring recurring actors like De Sica and Massimo Boldi (who appeared in later iterations), became an annual fixture in Italian cinemas for decades, varying wildly in quality but always aiming for that broad, festive appeal. Vacanze di Natale is the OG, the one that set the template. While critics at the time might have been mixed, audiences adored it, turning it into an instant cult classic that gets quoted and rewatched every single year in its home country.
### Still Worth the Trip?
Okay, let's be honest. Some of the humour hasn't aged perfectly. It leans heavily on stereotypes that might feel a bit blunt today, and the pacing reflects its vignette structure rather than a tight narrative arc. Watching it outside of Italy might mean missing some specific cultural nuances. But... does it still hold up? For sheer nostalgic charm and as a time capsule of a very specific time and place, absolutely. The energy is infectious, Calà and De Sica are genuinely funny, and the whole thing radiates a kind of innocent, slightly messy holiday spirit that’s hard to resist. It captures that feeling of being thrown together with disparate people during the holidays, amplified by the pressures of wealth, status, and trying to have the "perfect" vacation.
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Rating: 7.5 / 10
Justification: While some elements feel undeniably dated and its appeal is strongest within its cultural context, Vacanze di Natale remains a genuinely funny, incredibly influential, and atmospherically rich snapshot of 80s Italy. Its iconic status, memorable performances (especially Calà and De Sica), perfect capturing of the era's vibe, and role in launching a whole genre earn it major points. It loses a little for comedic elements that haven't aged as well and its sometimes loose structure, but its nostalgic power is undeniable.
Final Thought: More than just a movie, Vacanze di Natale is a brightly coloured, slightly gaudy postcard from the Italian 80s holiday scene. Pop it in your (metaphorical) VHS player if you're craving pure, unadulterated cinepanettone nostalgia and a reminder of when Christmas comedies felt a little less polished and a lot more chaotic. Libidine!