Review of Vacation (2015) by Kevin1370 — 01 Aug 2015

This is quite possibly the most star-studded comedy out there since the second Anchorman, and that’s saying something. But that doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing. Hell, I laughed more to this than to any of the recent Adam Sandler movies. Well, that’s not saying much either.

National Lampoon’s Vacation revolutionized the 80s comedies. So its natural for Hollywood to do what it does best, which is milking the **** out of the franchise, between 1983 and 2015 there are total of six Vacation movies, and judging by their reviews the qualities took a severe dip after the original. American pie, anyone?

But the stories for all of these films are basically the same, a family that goes on a vacation that goes terribly wrong. A simple enough premise, which leaves the films’ quality solely based on their executions.

Now, before I get any further, I am aware that this new installment of Vacation is not doing so hot in theaters. With an embarrassing 29% on Rotten Tomatoes the last time I checked, this at first glance appears to be just another cash-garb on top an already overdone, stayed-passed-its-welcome franchise. The Hangover movies, anyone? But hey, it was either this or Pixels, and I swear Billy Madison is not getting any more of my money.

But back to what I was saying, yes I am aware that the movie has received some pretty bad reviews. So I went in with a very lay back attitude and expected very, very little from it. The theater that we walked into was empty. Let me repeat that so you can understand. On the opening day the theater was empty. That just confirmed my expectation even further. And then I sat through the trailers and the regal cinema train ride and the movie started and TO MY SURPRISE, my first laugh – I remember this very distinctly because I timed it – came at the 4 minute mark, that’s right ladies and gents - 4 freaking minutes into the movie I was not grinning not chuckling but downright laughing out loud.

And then I was like, is it my intelligence? How was I liking a movie that the majority of the sane moviegoers hated? But as the movie went on, I began to realize that maybe – just maybe – there’s more to the movie than what people give it credit for. Sure, it’s dumb and some jokes and downright offensive and some of the laughs are very thrown in there and just didn’t feel appropriate, it manages to take all of that very non-seriously. And I love comedies that know it is just some product to make people who have nothing to do with their life giggle and have a good time without being all high and mighty about it. And Vacation worked for me precisely because of that. There was a part when Ed Helmes character said something like, screw the original vacation the reboot will stand on its own. Of course, it was part of a conversation about the upcoming family vacation rather than the original movie but it was a very flat out wink to the audience that says “Hey we’re just doing what we do so take it easy” and I appreciated that. Simple, dumb, ridiculous, fun. And with the low expectations I had, this was exactly what I wanted and then some.

I admit, I have not seen the original, so maybe I would’ve been much more critical if I did. But hey, I didn’t see it so I could judge this movie purely from a silly comedy point of view without the nostalgic factor playing a part. Which I think is what a lot of people who dissed them movie seemed to have done. I mean it’s understandable; their childhood memories of a classic are tarnished by this piece of **** like WTF? But for me, stepping aside from the nostalgia for a moment and without judging a film that doesn’t even take itself that seriously and tone down the harsh attitude and unreasonably high expectation that reboots tend to generate – which I don’t understand why at all, I mean Total Recall anyone? Or Robocop? Reboots are baaaaad. Reboots are evil. But put aside all that and simply judge it as a dumb family road trip comedy, it is…still pretty dumb but definitely deserve more recognition than people are giving right now. The stars had amazing chemistry, some of the jokes were predictable but solid, and the whole slew of celebrities cameos made this journey very fun. Spoiler alert - when certain someone from the Walking Dead popped up I just lost it. Just for that alone, the fact that so many actors and actresses are willing to be part of this classic franchise regardless of its potential bad quality shows their love and appreciation for the movie, and despite all of its silliness, maybe we should appreciate it more as well? Just food for thought.

It’s not a perfect movie, hell, far from it, BUT, is it so horrendous that you have to stay away? Most definitely not, in my opinion, this movie was funnier than both the Hangover 2 and 3. So before I go check out the original Vacation, I will say this: go in with the right attitude and you’ll be surprised by what you’ll find.