Review of National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) by Andrea P — 08 Oct 2010

National Lampoon's Vacation is full of laughs; and anyone who has ever had anything go wrong on a vacation will relate to this story immediately! The acting is great; the comedic timing couldn't have been better and the casting was very well done. The plot moves along at a very good pace; I wasn't bored and I doubt you'll be either, unless this type of movie just doesn't appeal to you. In addition, the cinematography was brilliantly done even when they used some matte portraits for backdrops. The film has its "feel good" moments as well.

It all begins when the Griswold family is about to take a summer vacation cross country in the family car. Destination--Walley World!--which, as you'll see, is not too loosely based on Disneyland. Before they even hit the road, Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) and his son Rusty (Anthony Michael Hall) are already having trouble--their new car for the trip never came into the dealership and the salesman (Eugene Levy in a great cameo) pushes them into taking the most awful looking station wagon you wouldn't even want to be seen dead in. Although Clark's wife Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo) wants to fly to California for their vacation, Clark insists on driving there and he has everything timed and scheduled practically down to the minute on his early 1980s home computer, a relic compared to the desktops and laptops we use today. Along for the family trip are Rusty and their daughter Audrey (Dana Barron).

And now here's where the review of this movie gets a bit challenging because to give away much of the plot will spoil the jokes and laughs for you. However, suffice it to say that practically anything that could go wrong does go wrong. While they remember to turn off the gas, electric, lock the house doors, and more, they can't even get out of their driveway successfully--they forgot to tie their suitcases down to the top luggage rack of the station wagon! They get lost or have brief detours several times along the way from Chicago to California; with each location providing yet another scenario that is very, very funny. There are one or two scenes that would be considered politically incorrect today but overall the funny scenarios are really well done.

Look for excellent performances by the wonderful Imogene Coca as Aunt Edna; James Keach as a motorcycle cop; Miriam Flynn as Cousin Catherine; Randy Quaid as Cousin Eddie; John Candy as a security guard at Walley World; Eddie Bracken as Roy Walley and Christie Brinkley in her film debut as a hot young woman driving a red Ferrari, who, shall I say, just happens to "slightly" attract Clark's attention along the way.

If you love Chevy Chase this is a must see and if you love great simple comedy you cannot miss this classic . . . .