Search - National Lampoon's Vacation

Far superior to its sequels, National Lampoon's Vacation chronicles the trials and tribulations of the Griswolds (Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Dana Barron, and Anthony Michael Hall) as they trek cross-country in search of fun and recreation at the mythical WallyWorld theme park. Along the way, they get lost in East St. Louis (in what some may consider a racist scene involving black youths stripping the brand-new family station wagon clean while Clark Griswold [Chase] unwittingly asks a belligerent pimp for directions), stop to visit some hillbilly relatives (Randy Quaid is hilarious as the down-on-his-luck patriarch), pick up their cantankerous aunt Edna (Imogene Coca), dispose of her corpse after she passes away in the back seat, narrowly skirt death after crashing through a roadside billboard in the desert, and stay at a hotel where Clark is tempted by a seductive swimmer (Christie Brinkley). Having endured a journey more trying than Homer's -Odyssey, they finally arrive at WallyWorld -- only to find it is closed for two weeks for renovations. Wackiness ensues as Clark snaps and takes a security guard (John Candy) hostage. Chase is good as everyman Clark Griswold, as is D'Angelo as his wife, and Candy is a scene-stealer as a stodgy, dim-witted park security guard. Among the funniest scenes are Clark's swim at the motel, the visit to the Grand Canyon, and the encounter with the state trooper regarding Aunt Edna's missing dog. Much of the humor in National Lampoon's Vacation is indicative of the general lack of taste in '80s comedies (particularly their exploitation of racial stereotypes and incest humor), but a good portion of the film is still laugh-out-loud funny thanks to a game cast. ~ Jeremy Beday, All Movie Guide

Chevy Chase - Clark Griswold
Beverly D'Angelo - Ellen Griswold
Anthony Michael Hall - Rusty Griswold
Imogene Coca - Aunt Edna
Randy Quaid - Cousin Eddie

The cult favorite National Lampoon's Vacation gets an uninspired DVD release on this disc. The disc contains a standard full-frame 1.33:1 image that fails to reproduce the original theatrical aspect ratio. English and Spanish soundtracks have been rendered in Dolby Digital Mono. English, Spanish, and French subtitles are accessible. Supplemental materials are limited to production notes and a theatrical trailer. Since Harold Ramis' film is still quoted by adoring fans, it is a bit surprising this film has not received the same attention as Caddyshack. This disc has a weak picture, dull sound, and will not teach viewers anything new about the film. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

These movies have the touch and feel of National Lampoon's Vacation...
7	Tin Men (R)
4	Tex [Widescreen/Fullscreen] (PG)
22	Cadillac Man (R)
18	License to Drive (PG-13)
54	Major League (R)
6	Losin' It (R)
24	Revenge of the Nerds [Panty Raid Edition] (R)
47	Night Shift (R)
71	Stripes (R)
10	The Woman in Red (PG-13)
116	What About Bob? (PG)
21	Porky's/Porky's II: The Next Day (R)
4	The Chocolate War (R)
60	Porky's (R)
These movies have the subject or theme of National Lampoon's Vacation...
41	National Lampoon's European Vacation (PG-13)
24	It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (G)
14	Wild at Heart [Special Edition] (R)
6	Losin' It (R)
2	Last Resort (R)
11	Used Cars (R)
15	The Sure Thing [Special Edition] (PG-13)
1	Things Are Tough all Over (R)
S	Drive-In Clut Classics, Vol. 3 (R)
S	The Great Smokey Roadblock (PG)
2	Convoy (PG)
18	The Love Bug [Special Edition] (G)
6	The Last Detail (R)
6	The Hot Spot (R)
5	Sullivan's Travels [Criterion Collection] (NR)
17	Road to Bali
These movies followed National Lampoon's Vacation...
41	National Lampoon's European Vacation (PG-13)
These movies share cast/crew with National Lampoon's Vacation...
86	National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (PG-13)
90	Caddyshack (R)
41	National Lampoon's European Vacation (PG-13)
82	Sixteen Candles [Widescreen] (PG)
71	Stripes (R)
9	Club Paradise (PG-13)
39	Splash (PG)
60	Planes, Trains and Automobiles (R)
81	Home Alone (PG)
96	Groundhog Day (PG-13)
109	The Breakfast Club (R)
50	Weird Science [Widescreen] (PG-13)
17	Heavy Metal (R)
5	Armed and Dangerous (PG-13)
71	Uncle Buck (PG)
110	Ferris Bueller's Day Off (PG-13)
49	Nothing But Trouble (PG-13)
40	The Great Outdoors (PG)
46	Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (PG)
These movies cover the same subjects as National Lampoon's Vacation...
10	National Lampoon's Last Resort (PG-13)
These movies are similar to National Lampoon's Vacation...
48	Adventures in Babysitting (PG-13)
S	Are You Being Served?: The Movie (NR)
2	Back to the Beach (PG)
61	City Slickers (PG-13)
40	The Great Outdoors (PG)
3	The Long, Long Trailer
4	Lost in America (R)
2	Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (NR)
8	The Out-of-Towners (G)
60	Planes, Trains and Automobiles (R)
22	Summer Rental [Widescreen] (PG)
6	The Out of Towners (PG-13)
61	Road Trip [Unrated] (NR)
74	Rat Race (PG-13)
18	Johnson Family Vacation (PG-13)
S	The Lost Films of Laurel & Hardy: The Complete Collection, Vol. 4 (NR)
64	Are We There Yet? [Widescreen] (PG)
17	Fletch Lives (PG)
109	RV [Widescreen] (PG)
120	Little Miss Sunshine (R)