National Lampoons Vacation (1983) Movie Review

Director: Harold Ramis
Writers: John Hughes (screenplay), John Hughes (short story “Vacation ’58”)
Stars: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Imogene Coca, Randy Quaid, Anthony Michael Hall, Dana Barron, Brian Doyle-Murray, Eddie Bracken, Eugene Levy, Christie Brinkley, John Candy

Buckle up, folks, because the Griswalds are hitting the road for the adventure of a lifetime—a cross-country trek to Wally World Theme Park. Sounds easy-peasy, right? Well, think again!

It’s been a whopping 35 years since “National Lampoon’s Vacation” hit the big screen, and let me tell you, it’s like a vintage comedy fine wine. You’ve got Harold Ramis at the helm as director, who, just a year later, would become the legendary Dr. Egon Spengler in “Ghostbusters” (Ramis also co-wrote this gem). And let’s not forget the genius wordsmith John Hughes. Some might argue that this movie was the launchpad for Hughes’ illustrious career in ’80s cinema. Oh, and the cast? It’s a comedy dream team featuring Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Imogene Coca, Randy Quaid, Anthony Michael Hall, Dana Barron, Brian Doyle-Murray, Eddie Bracken, Eugene Levy, Christie Brinkley, and a fantastic cameo by the late, great John Candy.

All great journeys begin with an unforgettable song, right? Well, this one starts with Lindsey Buckingham’s “Holiday Road,” setting the stage for the hilarity to come. Here’s where we meet Eugene Levy, the car salesman trying to convince Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) to buy an absolutely hideous station wagon in a shade of sewage green with faux wood paneling. Seriously, I wouldn’t take that car if you paid me in gold bars. It’s so ugly that they had to make it specifically for the film because no one in their right mind would ever buy it.

But Clark Griswold, the eternal optimist and dad extraordinaire, has this trip planned down to the minute. When his wife, Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo), questions why they don’t just hop on a plane to Wally World, Clark explains that his demanding job has him missing out on quality family time. We’ve all been there, right? And thank goodness he didn’t listen to Ellen, because that’s what sets us up for a side-splitting Griswold family adventure.

The chemistry between Chase, D’Angelo, Michael Hall, and Barron is so tight that they genuinely feel like a real family, albeit a hilariously dysfunctional one. They even reprised their roles as the Griswalds a few times in “European Vacation,” “Christmas Vacation,” “Vegas Vacation,” popped up on “Family Guy,” and even had a “Hotel Hell Vacation” (in a video short). Michael Hall and Barron ventured on to other projects, with Michael Hall becoming a star during the early to mid-’80s, thanks to his role as Rusty Griswold. And yes, more John Hughes films were in his future.

Backing up this stellar cast is a supporting ensemble of comedy legends, hailing from “Saturday Night Live” and SCTV, including Brian Doyle-Murray, Eddie Bracken, Eugene Levy, Christie Brinkley, John Candy, Randy Quaid, and Imogene Coca. Trust me, none of these supporting cast members are wasted. In fact, they often deliver some of the funniest lines in the film. Here’s a fun fact: the original ending of the film didn’t sit well with test audiences. What’s the solution? Bring in John Candy for a cool million bucks to play a security guard at Wally World, and you’ve got a brilliant final scene that Candy had actually performed with Chevy Chase on stage.

So, in a nutshell, “National Lampoon’s Vacation” kick-started the comedy road trip genre (at least in my lifetime). Not many films have outshone this original, though “Dumb and Dumber” comes close. Apart from the retro fashion, this movie hasn’t aged too badly. Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold carries the movie from start to finish, and there’s hardly a scene without him. If you’ve never ventured into the world of National Lampoon, I highly recommend starting with the original and the best. The other sequels might be hit and miss, and the casting of Rusty and Audrey in the follow-ups doesn’t quite measure up to Anthony Michael Hall and Dana Barron’s chemistry in this one. So, go ahead, grab your popcorn, and take a trip with the Griswalds. You won’t regret it!

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