National Lampoon's Vacation


Starring: Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Anthony Michael Hall, Dana Barron, Randy Quaid, John Candy, Eugene Levy, Christie Brinkley
Directed by: Harold Ramis
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Adventure
1983

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: The Griswolds: Clark (Chevy Chase), Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo), Rusty (Anthony Michael Hall), and Audrey (Dana Barron) decide to take a road trip to Wally World. However, as soon as the trip begins, nothing goes right and the family starts to crack as disaster upon disaster piles up.

Review:

Tim: National Lampoon's Vacation is a classic comedy that spawned a number of sequels and was hugely influential in the movie world. What helps is that this is a very funny movie. The movie is entertaining, has a few funny moments, and a handful of laugh-out-loud ones. There is so much to like about this movie.

One of the film's strengths is the simplicity of its story- a family goes on a vacation, bad things happen. Sometimes the best movies are the most simple. This trip is one for the ages, and it is so fun for us to watch the hilarity and the disasters unfold. It also helps that writer John Hughes gives us a story about a family that becomes impressed on our memories. The Griswolds are such a classic American family, and we can all see a bit of our own family reflected in them. Without this family nucleus, the movie wouldn't have worked.

Chevy Chase is terrific as Clark Griswold. The movie depended so much on this character, and Chase gives everything you could ask. He is bumbling, but not in an overly comedic role. His restraint is what makes the role. Instead of being a caricature, his Clark Griswold feels like a real person. Chase has some great scenes where he can showcase his acting ability. My all-time favorite scene of the film is when he slams on the breaks and berates his family for wanting to end the vacation early. I laughed so hard I cried at his obscenity-laced tirade. Chase is fantastic here.

The rest of the cast is good as well. Beverly D'Angelo is very good as the long-suffering mother. She is often the straight man to the insanity happening all around her. I really liked her in this movie. Anthony Michael Hall is perfect as Rusty, and I really enjoyed his scenes with Chase. They have good chemistry and were believable as father and son. Dana Barron is fairly good as Audrey, but she was my least favorite Griswold. The movie also has some good supporting players, as Eugene Levy, John Candy, and Randy Quaid make some strong appearances.

I want to mention one more thing about my favorite scene (referenced earlier)- Chase says, "This isn't a vacation anymore- it's a quest." This was the best line of the movie and perfectly sums up the film's greatness. What starts as a vacation soon turns into a quest- that is what keeps us interested and fascinated as we root for the Griswolds to finally, finally reach Wally World.

I also have to mention the infectious "Holiday Road" song, which plays continually throughout the movie. I loved it, and couldn't help but grin every single time it played. Now, the movie has a great deal of strengths, but it isn't perfect. The film's conclusion is by far the weakest part of the film, and ends the movie on a low point.

Despite its occasional flaw, National Lampoon's Vacation is a classic comedy and one that is very entertaining. I really liked it and couldn't wait to sign up for another vacation with the Griswolds.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend:
National Lampoon's European Vacation, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation