With the release of the newly rebooted VACATION movie hitting theatres this weekend in the States, the UK release is set for August 21st, I thought now was as good as a time as any to catch up on the movie that started it all – to go on a road trip with America’s most relatable family in the 1980’s until The Simpsons turned up – the Griswold’s.
NATIONAL LAMPOONS VACATION tells the story of an all around America family The Griswold’s as they drive on a family vacation from their home in Illinois to Wally World in California. Everything is set for this to be the greatest vacation ever, however crazy family members, vandals and car problems are the least of their worries as things go downhill quickly, as the family are forced to really get to know one another as they try to retain their salinity on the long and bumpy road.
The first thing that immediately leaps out at you is just how phenomenally written this film is, boasting a script by John Hughes, pre-Breakfast Club/Ferris Bueller fame. It manages to walk a dangerous type rope of being incredibly humorously dark and yet still retaining its family friendly tone and vibe despite still being a 15 certificate rated comedy.
This dark yet friendly tone is heightened by through a strong central performance by Chevy Chase, who shines as the optimistic (to the point of insanity) Clark Griswold, who in the film best scene breaks down in a fit of sheer exhaustion and frustration at his family and their pessimism. It’s at this point where you are made to question Clark’s motives and his family’s safety, when he breaks down and destroys his bumbling dad persona and shows us and his family his true selfish nature and almost psychotic desire to have the perfect vacation when it is painfully obvious that the idea was destroyed a dead pet and grandmother ago.
The humour still stands up to this day, with the exception of some more ‘of the time’ jokes still present. Set pieces are still fun to watch, with the third act climax still providing some good strong belly laughs for those who can’t see where the film is heading.
Although deemed a classic in the United States, NATIONAL LAMPOONS VACATION still remains a cult classic in the UK, with a whole generation not really knowing much about it, let alone actually seen it.
While watching Vacation it becomes painfully obvious where a lot of todays comedies come from without Vacation there would be no Hangover series, no Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and certainly no We’re The Millers.
NATIONAL LAMPOONS VACATION is rare a comedy that achieves to not only provide in strong laugh out loud moments, but to also tell a dark and moral tale about an obsession for finding perfection within life.
Here’s hoping that this year’s reboot, VACATION, comes close to recapturing what made the original the classic that it is today.
Intrigued? Then check out the original trailer below.
