National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)

One of the greatest movies of the 80's!

Got this movie for my Husband for his birthday. It's one of his all time favorite movies and couldn't believe I found it for him!! Amazon has all what you are looking for and you can't beat the free shipping! October 23, 2008

Hay Wire

National Lampoon's Vacation is one wild incredible movie. It is an insane mixture of side-splitting humor and unnerving adventure. Chevy Chase plays the part of the con-man father. Other actors include Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid, Dana Barron, Micahel Hall, John Candy, Imogene Coca, and Christie Brinkley.

There is one ridiculous scene after another as the family travels down the road to their vacation destination: the girl stirring the punch with her hand, the hamburgers with no meat, the biting dog, Aunt Edna in her hair rollers, the disaster in the desert, the dip in the pool. The fun goes on and on. Then there is the grande finale.

This movie made millions. It's classic comedy -- a real hoot. Don't miss it.
October 18, 2008

One wild and crazy vacation that is well worth taking...

As one would gather from my review of `Caddy Shack', there is just some humor that, while achieving much praise and cult status, I just don't really get. You'd expect that since I was not a huge fan of `Caddy Shack' that I also would find `National Lampoons Vacation' to be a bit of an overpraised comedy, but what you fail to realize is that Chevy Chase was my favorite thing about `Caddy Shack' and when you strip away everything I didn't really like about the golfing spectacle you are left with `Vacation', a film that I can very much enjoy.

The film tells the story of the Griswold family as they attempt to travel cross-country to visit the amusement park Wally World. Along the way they meet with many obstacles that strain their relationships and prevent them from attaining their end goal, of having fun. They meet up with oddball relatives who hit them up for money. They get stuck transporting a crotchety old woman to another relative's home. They break down, break up, fight, make up, get lost, endanger their lives and pretty much fall into every type of hazardous condition imaginable and yet nothing compares to what happens when they actually make it to their destination!

All of this is propelled by the hilarious performances by the cast, Chevy Chase in particular. As the everyman Clark Griswold, Chase develops a comical version of ourselves and this is a joy to watch. As he races up alongside the babe in the convertible, giving her the eye while his wife is asleep we can see what is running through his mind. Does he want to cheat? No. Does he like the idea of having the opportunity? Of course he does. Beverly D'Angelo is also wonderful as Ellen. She is the right sort of counterbalance to Chase's breed of humor and she helps ground the film and makes it more relatable. Imogene Coca is hysterical as the crazy Aunt Edna and Randy Quaid as a memorable cameo as bumpkin Cousin Eddie.

The antics that happen are outrageous and at times even ridiculous (Aunt Edna on the hood of the car = laugh riot), but it never feels that extreme because we are so wrapped up in that `this could really happen' phase. We see so much of our own family within the Griswold clan that everything they experience feels that much more believable.

Well, some may find it baffling that I enjoy this film so thoroughly yet found much to dislike in `Caddy Shack'. What can I say; they are too very different movies that leave me feeling very differently. The acting here is much more consistent in my opinion, as are the jokes and gags. I found myself laughing out loud here as apposed to concealing a halfhearted chuckle. I have not seen the other `Vacation' films, and I hear that they are not as good, but I'm definitely going to check them out because this one is a real keeper. September 26, 2008

Very Funny Movie!!

This is such a great movie. Chevy Chase is really funny in it. Actually all of the people in it are great. If you like funny movies this is one for you. All of the Vacation movies are funny. The one I really like is Christmas Vacation. The price isn't bad either. August 28, 2008

Can you see Steve Martin in this role?

The Vacation movies are those movies, that you can watch again and again and probably never get bored of them. That doesn't mean I want to watch them that many times thank you.

This particular Vacation movie is about crossing America with your family to get to Wally World for a holiday, and getting into all sorts of mishaps along the way. Chevy Chase is really good as Clark Griswold, although I did have moments where I saw Steve Martin in the role.

The usual mishaps are here, along with many more, so be prepared for some laughs. I suppose my favourite bit was the 'subplot' with Christie Brinkley as the hot girl in the red car. She reappears constantly throughout the movie, and has some fun with Mr Griswold. The French kissing bit was absolutely disgusting, as was the family death bit. Disgusting! Although better than the 'toilet humour' as it came to be known thanks to movies like American Pie.

Look out for a short but sweet cameo by an extremely dark haired Eugene Levy! He looks hilarious. Could that hair get any bigger?

The problem with the Vacation movies and some other movies of the same genre, is that I never find them that memorable. Whether it's just me, or it's the genre I don't know. It's a nice movie to watch on a sunny afternoon (I want to go on holiday again!), perfect for a lazy afternoon, but memorable? Not really. July 22, 2008

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