Review of National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) by James S — 02 Aug 2009

With the inclusion of the older kids, the National Lampoons Vacation series headed into a more smuttier territory but it's original is still a decent comedy based around the Griswald family vacation.

Chevy Chase (whatever happened to him?) is the head of the household who decide to drive from Chicago to Los Angeles for the family holiday at Wallyworld with hilarious consequences. Okay, so hilarious may be stretching it a bit but there are some good laughs here.

Written by 80's comedy script machine John Hughes, there is much identifiable humour for anyone who has ever been of a long distance driving holiday. Much of it revolves around the usual getting lost, singing in the car, elderly relatives dying etc but it's still chucklesome enough.

Chase is great in which is probably his most memorable role, he has some great comic timing and there are a shed full of great visual gags, the best being the grandmother tied to the luggage rack after she dies.

Like many of Hughes' comedies, this is largely inoffensive and good natured fun. It doesn't come close to his masterpiece, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, but does provide a good helping of laughter.