Starring: Dana Barron, Eddie Bracken, Christie Brinkley, John Candy, Chevy Chase Average Rating: Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Binding: VHS Tape Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, Original recording reissued, NTSC Label: Warner Home Video Number of Items: 1 Release Date: April 06, 1999 Running Time: 107 minutes Theatrical Release Date: July 29, 1983
Amazon.com: Vacation paved the way for the John Hughes movie dynasty of the 1980s. Written by Hughes (who would go on to write, direct, and/or produce The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Uncle Buck, Home Alone, and so on) and directed by Harold Ramis (Caddyshack, Groundhog Day, Stuart Saves His Family), the first Vacation movie introduces us to the all-American Griswold family: father Clark (Chevy Chase), mother Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo), son Rusty (future Hughes staple Anthony Michael Hall), and daughter Audrey (Dana Barron). They all pile into the car for a cross-country road trip to Walley World, stopping along the way to view the world's biggest ball of twine. John Candy, Imogene Coca, and Randy Quaid (as yokel Cousin Eddie) pop up along the way. The movie was a big hit, and was followed by several sequels--National Lampoon's European Vacation, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation--but this one is still probably the freshest and funniest of the bunch. --Jim Emerson
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.
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.
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.
Chevy Chase At His Best Vacation is about a family's cross-country adventures to Wally World. Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold is hilarious along with Beverly D'Angelo as his wife. This simple family encounters detour after detour to finally reach the amusement park in California only to find disappointment. Some nudity along with some language, film is still tame by today's standards. Would recommend along with Caddyshack as my two favorite Chevy Chase fims.
The Original & Still The Best I think this was one of Chevy Chase's best flick of them all and that this is surely the best and funniest Vacation saga of them all, because European Vacation, X-Mas Vacation, and Vegas Vacation weren't nearly as funny and European Vacation is where the Vacation installments started losing their touch, so this original Vacation, which was also the 1st installment of the Vacation series is clearly and evidently by far the best one and funniest of them all.
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