Review of Vegas Vacation (1997) by Ryan C — 03 Feb 2014

The Vacation franchise maintains its integrity for one final Griswold family adventure. The Las Vegas location may not seem like the most promising setting, but this movie squeezes the most out of what Vegas has to offer.

Clark's bad luck at the tables, a funny trip to the Hoover Dam, and Wayne Newton attempting to woo Clark's wife away from him keeps things interesting. An always-memorable visit with Cousin Eddie adds a lot as well.

The series backs down to a PG rating; surprisingly, the comedy does not suffer. Chevy Chase is still funny with his naïve character with a knack for biting off more than he can chew. Beverly D'Angelo remains a pleasant complement to Chase.

While Marisol Nichols does nothing for the movie as the daughter, Ethan Embry as her brother is one of the best parts of the movie. It may not be quite as funny as the original or Christmas vacation movies, but it still has a very enjoyable balance of family sentimentality and goofy comedy.