NECA National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Chainsaw Clark Griswold – Toyark Photo Shoot

For the third year in a row, NECA has released a special edition Christmas themed figure. Their first release was a set of figures based on Home Alone. Last year, we were treated to our first National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation figure with the release of the Santa Clark Griswold figure. This year, NECA has released a new version of the Clark Griswold figure. The Chainsaw Clark Griswold is based on one of the most memorable scenes from the classic film as Clark exchanges verbal jabs with his neighbors Todd and Margot. This 8″ retro Mego style clothed figure includes a vintage Cooper Goalie Mask, a chainsaw, interchangeable hands and Marty Moose mug.

The figure is available in stores and online now. Toyark sponsor Entertainment Earth provided the figure. Check out the photos and my thoughts after the jump.

Related Entertainment Earth links: Chainsaw Clark Griswold, Vinyl Idolz Clark Griswold, All Christmas Vacation Collectibles

NECA National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Chainsaw Clark Griswold 8″ Scale Figure

Pros

• Based on a great scene from the film
• Removable hockey mask
• Funny Clark head sculpt
• Good articulation
• Mask is same as Friday the 13th Part 5 poster mask & fits Jason Figures

Cons

• Mask can be a little tough to get on

Overall
As with many of NECA’s special Mego style releases, the chainsaw Clark figure comes packed in a collector friendly window box, as opposed to the plastic clamshell packaging. For the most part, the box is the same as the Santa Clark packaging. The photos on the side and back have been swapped out to feature this figure instead. Included with the figure is the vintage Cooper Hockey Mask, a chainsaw, interchangeable hands and a Marty Moose mug, which was also included with Santa Clark. A cardboard dio backdrop of the Griswold home entrance is also included.

I love the original Santa Clark release. The figure has a great “comedy” look to it and gave me a figure from my all-time favorite Christmas film. The Chainsaw Clark, to me, surpasses that one. It’s probably the most quoted scene from the film and a genuine laugh out loud moment the first time you see it. The wide-eyed, crazed look of the head sculpt is great, and I could see a lot of toy photographers playing up the comedy aspect in their own photo shoots. The hockey mask was a little difficult to get on initially. Thankfully, it’s cast in a soft vinyl material, allowing it to bend a bit without snapping the straps. I found turning the mask to the sides a bit helped sliding it on. It’s a nice tight fit on the head sculpt once on. The included chainsaw is excellent looking and is very easy to get Clark to hold it with both hands. The two handles disconnect, allowing you to slide them through the spaces in the hands. The range of motion is good enough to pose in a variety of ways with the chainsaw in hand, including lifted over the head. You can remove the vest if you’d like, for a more “indoor” Clark look. The interchangeable hands, which are not gloved, work well for this look. The Marty Moose Mug, which is the same one included before, works with the alternate hands only.

Fans of the Jason Voorhees Mego figures will be in luck with this release as well. The hockey mask included here is the same one seen in the original Friday the 13th Part 5: A New Beginning poster (though it wasn’t used in the film). I tested the mask with a Part 6 Mego Jason figure and it worked perfectly. I didn’t have a “Roy” Jason figure available to test on him.

If you’re a fan of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, then this is a recommended, fun pick up. It looks great with the Santa Clark, but is also a solid release on its own. Check out a few highlight photos below. After them you can find the full photo shoot.