Warner Bros.

Juliette Lewis has pretty much mastered the part of the slightly crazy, not so classy chick we all wish was our BFF (most of the time, anyway).

From Luke Wilson's sexually, uh, liberated wife in "Old School" to the seriously blood-splattered Mallory Knox in "Natural Born Killers," she's proven that she isn't afraid to take chances. And, for the most part, her risks have paid off big.

But Lewis wasn't always so edgy. In fact, back in 1989 she was playing what could be coined traditional roles, like her turn as Clark Griswold's daughter, Audrey, in "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."

Written by the iconic John Hughes and directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik, "Christmas Vacation" will go down in history as one of the best movies ever Chevy Chase's funniest flicks. Which is still a pretty big achievement.

As Audrey, Lewis perfectly captured the surly teen, forced to share quality time with her annoying family. Not surprisingly, she spends the vast majority of her screen time being mortified by her father's ill-fated attempts to create an amazing Christmas. She puts up with her dad as best as she can… though (like most teens) she doesn't say much. But that's OK, because her masterful eye roll pretty much says it all. Audrey endures never-ending family dinners attended by senile relatives, dangerous road trips and even more dangerous sledding (on government-issued trashcan lids), all with the true-to-life quiet annoyance of nearly every teen.

So if you're used to seeing Ms. Lewis as the risk-taking bad girl — or want to know what those Old Navy commercials she's currently in are all about — take this trip down memory lane. Seeing her as a disgruntled daughter (with amazing '80s blond hair) is a holiday gift indeed.

New Line

With Christmas upon us, we thought it'd be fitting to list our nine favorite characters from holiday flicks sure to put you and your family in a merry mood. Let's face it, there’s nothing better than sitting together with the gang and getting the heartstrings tugged, and the funny bones tickled, with a glass of eggnog by your side.

On a side note: We know our list is lacking in female characters — and those of color, for that matter. But don't blame us. Blame Hollywood!

9. Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin), 'Home Alone,' 1990

20th Century Fox

Macaulay Culkin came into "Home Alone" as an unknown and emerged as the most in-demand child actor since Shirley Temple. Whom does Culkin have to thank? None other than John Hughes, the '80s comedy legend who wrote the script for this holiday classic, and who created the lovable and wisecracking Kevin, a kid who gets even with some burglars when they try to rob his home.

8. Jack Skellington (Danny Elfman), 'The Nightmare Before Christmas,' 1993

Disney

You'd think the king of Halloweentown (the name says it all) would be a ghoulish, mean-spirited demon, but the rail-thin Jack Skellington (aka The Pumpkin King) is anything but. Sweet, confident, well-meaning and altogether charming, Jack is a leader in need of inspiration. He gets it when he discovers Christmas Town and tries to bring back some of that holiday cheer back home.

7. Willie (Billy Bob Thornton), 'Bad Santa,' 2003

Dimension

If you thought Ebenezer Scrooge was a party pooper, meet Willie, as embodied by a caustic and never-better Billy Bob Thornton. Every holiday season, Willie works as a mall Santa -- not to bring joy to children, but to rob the mall on Christmas Eve. Note to children: Stay off this guy’s lap.

6. Ralphie (Peter Billingsley), 'A Christmas Story,' 1983

MGM

What's a good Christmas film without an adorable kid in it? Before Macaulay Culkin slayed moviegoers in "Home Alone," cutie pie Peter Billingsley worked his way into the hearts of millions as Ralphie, a young boy out to convince his parents, teachers and Santa that a Red Ryder BB gun really is the best gift for him. Good luck with that one, kid.

5. Susan Walker (Natalie Wood), 'Miracle on 34th St.,' 1947

20th Century Fox

Before the gorgeous and talented Natalie Wood appeared in "Rebel Without a Cause" and "West Side Story," she was best known as the adorable kid at the center of this instant Christmas classic. Wood, as six-year-old Susan Walker, befriends a Macy's store Santa who's put on trial for claiming to be the real Kris Kringle. In return, he gets her a house. Hmm, Santa's never been that generous with us ...

4. Frank Cross (Bill Murray), 'Scrooged,' 1988

Paramount

Talk about a good bit of casting. In "Scrooged," an updated riff on Charles Dickens' 1843 holiday classic "A Christmas Carol," dry funnyman Bill Murray plays our generation's version of Ebenezer Scrooge, Frank Cross, a cynical and unrepentantly selfish TV executive who gets a visit from three sprits out to teach him a lesson or two.

3. Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase), 'Christmas Vacation,' 1989

Warner Bros.

You might have forgotten, but back in the '80s, Chase was best known for playing family man Clark Griswold in the hysterical "National Lampoon Vacation" movies. The best of bunch, "Christmas Vacation," finds Griswold on a mission to plan a perfect, good old-fashioned family Christmas. Things don't go quite according to plan for the poor guy.

2. George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart), 'It's a Wonderful Life,' 1946

RKO

There's a reason watching "It’s a Wonderful Life" with your family is a Christmas tradition, like eating turkey on Thanksgiving. There's nothing quite like watching a well-meaning sad sack get the sweet redemption he so deserves thanks to the help of a guardian angel. It helps that the man in question, George Bailey, is played by James Stewart. Who doesn’t love some Stewart over the holidays?

1. Buddy the Elf (Will Ferrell), 'Elf,' 2003

New Line

You knew we'd save the best for last. In what is arguably Will Ferrell's most endearingly hilarious flick, Ferrell plays Buddy, a grown man raised in the North Pole convinced he's one of Santa's little elves. Problem is, he's not. Buddy was adopted by Santa as an infant and brought back to the North Pole to be raised among the elves. When he sets off on a journey to New York City to find his real father, he has a bit of trouble fitting in.

(Originally published on Dec. 19, 2011.)

Also Check Out: Our 2 Favorite Hanukkah Movie Characters (Of All Time)

Warner Bros.

Comedy sequels fall into three categories: bad enough to make you wonder if the original was as good as you thought ("Weekend at Bernies II," "Evan Almighty," and far too many others); amusing but less entertaining than the first ("Ghostbusters II," "American Pie 2"); and -- rarest of all -- funny enough to stand on its own merits.

Here's hoping that the men-behaving-badly-again release of "The Hangover Part II" falls into the last group. In the meantime, here are five comedy sequels that aren't just worthy of the originals, but also righteously hilarious on their own.

5. 'Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay' (2008)

New Line

In most contexts, Gitmo is no laughing matter; but Harold (John Cho) and Kumar (Kal Penn) transcend political sensitivity. The odd-couple duo (Harold's organized, Kumar's a slacker) take their ganja-laced humor to the notorious military prison after getting arrested on a flight to the pot-nirvana of Amsterdam. Despite the presence of gun-toting government agents, "Escape" is no "Bourne" adventure; it's still a stoner comedy at heart, and with the help of friends like Neil Patrick Harris, H & K made us laugh almost as hard as they did in "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle."

4. 'Wayne’s World 2' (1993)

Paramount/Everett Collection

Most movies based on recurring "Saturday Night Live" sketches don't rank very high on "best" lists ("A Night at the Roxbury," "It's Pat"... enough said), so imagine our pleasant surprise when not one, but both "Wayne World" comedies ended up being watchable. As our favorite cable-access basement-dwellers from Aurora, Illinois, plan a music festival, we're treated to visions of Jim Morrison and Sammy Davis Jr., a host of cameos (including a hilarious Christopher Walken) and enough lowbrow zingers to please boys and grown-ups alike.

3. 'The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear' (1991)

Paramount/Everett Collection

Leslie Nielsen, may he rest in peace, was a master of physical comedy and deadpan humor -- both of which are constantly evident in this gut-busting follow-up to the police-drama parody "The Naked Gun." As perpetually clueless Lieutenant Frank Drebin, Nielsen showcased his ability to win a laugh from every line -- especially in his innuendo-filled scenes with love-interest Priscilla Presley or with his partner O.J. Simpson (it's OK to laugh; this was three years before he put on the bloody glove).

2. 'Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me' (1999)

New Line

Mike Myers' career will forever be remembered for his live-action comedies of the '90s and the animated "Shrek" franchise of the 2000s. In his spy-parody sequel to "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery," Myers pulled off a comic trifecta by portraying the titular man of mystery, the international supervillain Dr. Evil, and the grotesquely supersized henchman Fat Bastard. But Myers owes as much of his shagadelic success to his supporting players (including Mindy Sterling, Seth Green and Mini-Me Verne Troyer) as he does to catchphrases like "Yeaaah Baby!" and "I want my baby back, baby back, baby back… ribs."

1. 'Christmas Vacation' (1989)

Warner Bros./Everett Collection

It was tough deciding which Griswold family comedy deserved the honor, but in the end we have to crown this manic holiday classic our favorite. Of course, "European Vacation" was pretty damn funny (if you don't mind puerile gags about phallic-shaped sausages and porn-star wives), but it's ultimately too reminiscent of the far superior original to land the top spot. In "Christmas," we get to see Chuck wild-eyed about his oversized tree, over-the-top lights, and elderly and eccentric relatives. Nobody does slapstick like Chevy Chase, and no other cinematic family can make us laugh like the Griswolds.