"Deck the Halls" is actually a fun and enjoyable Christmas comedy. Of course it doesn't match the 1989 "Christmas Vacation". However, I will say that "Deck the Halls" is noteworthy and does compliment the genre well enough.
It is much in the same League as "Christmas Vacation", as it is the Holiday feud of two neighbors competing to have the role of the local Christmas guy - the guy who is the heart of the Christmas season. And things quickly escalates out of control in no time.
Danny DeVito and Matthew Broderick actually were great in their roles in this 2006 movie. But especially Broderick surprised with his performance in "Deck the Halls".
The movie is fun and entertaining for the whole family, and there are some good laughs throughout the movie. It was just a shame that there weren't more funny scenes though, because it would have lifted the movie further up.
If you want a fun movie for the Christmas holidays and want an alternative to "Christmas Vacation" then give "Deck the Halls" a chance. I have seen it for the past two Christmas holidays now, and believe that it will become a holiday tradition for me, just as "Christmas Vacation" is.