National Lampoon’s Vacation is a comedy classic that still stands as popular with audiences and comedy fans alike, screenwriters Jonathan Goldstein & John Francis Daley (who have writing credits for Horrible Bosses) attempt to bring the franchise back to a new generation for this 5th instalment (both considered a sequel or even a reboot) and the results are hilarious, fun and really a great nod to its classic forefather.
Vacation is set around Clark’s young son Rusty (played by the always funny Ed Helms from The Hangover films and The Office) who is all grown up and is raising a family of his own with his wife Debbie (Christina Applegate), and sons; the shy and anxious older son, James (Skyler Gisondo), and the cruel and mean-spirited younger son, Kevin (Steele Stebbins). Seeing how his family life is apart and aching for a real family connection (especially when hearing about their family’s friends holiday to Paris), Rusty decides to ditch the holiday cabin trip and take his family to the same place that his father took him (Walley World) and re-take the road trip to make the most with his family. But in tradition in the Griswold family, chaos and utter hilarity are ensured.
What makes Vacation a worthy follow-up to the classic is the blend of today’s crude humour with the comedic style from the original. This results in the film being cruder, much cruder than the original but then again most comedies today are just that but it ticks the right boxes for what can make the fans and audience laugh out loud. From jokes about foreign cars, sex, collage fraternities, loveless marriage and such, it suits the road trip comedy well and makes it seem worthy as its original.
Not only do the original leading characters appear (we see Clark and Ellen in an older state and Audrey all grown up like Rusty) but we get the key elements from the original that made it recognizable; such as the film’s original title theme song ‘Holiday Road’ by Lindsey Buckingham (which as well gets a cover version by country rock band Zac Brown Band in the end credits) and notably the metaphor joke that makes the reboot/sequel stand on its own and being slightly different from the original ‘vacation’.
The cast here pretty much nail their roles with what looks like to been a fun film to make; Ed Helms as Rusty Griswold seems like perfect casting as his comedic side always proves to be a hit on screen, Applegate having her great quality talent as seen in both Anchorman films and Hall Pass and notably Chris Hemsworth playing as Audrey’s husband who shows not only his funny side but a hilarious moment involving a certain part of the male anatomy. Seeing good’ol Chevy Chase (who is much older now but funny to this day) brings the film to a nostalgic point, he doesn’t rely on the present style of comedy but uses his trademark quip that makes him funny.
Pros:
+ Good story-line that resembles close to the tone of the first 4 films, but having it feature the crude humour of today’s generation
+ Great performances from the cast who handle themselves and a neat and original appearance from Chevy Chase and a few familiar faces that pop up for cameos
+ A bit of heart surfaces towards the end, seeing on how Rusty’s family’s experience changed during the trip
+ From throw up, sex, visual jokes to family brawls, the humour is present throughout and doesn’t go off the rails or repeats itself
Cons:
- Cousin Eddie is not seen but he is mentioned at one point, this was due to an residency issue with the actor that plays him so I’m glad there was no replacement.
OVERALL:
Vacation may seem at first that comedies will never be original or like its processors that made them classics, but it does have a strong attempt to be fun, hilarious and introduce a new generation of comedy lovers that the age old franchise can still kick it. Just hope there’s a sequel in future if the filmmakers consider it.
Vacation is set around Clark’s young son Rusty (played by the always funny Ed Helms from The Hangover films and The Office) who is all grown up and is raising a family of his own with his wife Debbie (Christina Applegate), and sons; the shy and anxious older son, James (Skyler Gisondo), and the cruel and mean-spirited younger son, Kevin (Steele Stebbins). Seeing how his family life is apart and aching for a real family connection (especially when hearing about their family’s friends holiday to Paris), Rusty decides to ditch the holiday cabin trip and take his family to the same place that his father took him (Walley World) and re-take the road trip to make the most with his family. But in tradition in the Griswold family, chaos and utter hilarity are ensured.
What makes Vacation a worthy follow-up to the classic is the blend of today’s crude humour with the comedic style from the original. This results in the film being cruder, much cruder than the original but then again most comedies today are just that but it ticks the right boxes for what can make the fans and audience laugh out loud. From jokes about foreign cars, sex, collage fraternities, loveless marriage and such, it suits the road trip comedy well and makes it seem worthy as its original.
Not only do the original leading characters appear (we see Clark and Ellen in an older state and Audrey all grown up like Rusty) but we get the key elements from the original that made it recognizable; such as the film’s original title theme song ‘Holiday Road’ by Lindsey Buckingham (which as well gets a cover version by country rock band Zac Brown Band in the end credits) and notably the metaphor joke that makes the reboot/sequel stand on its own and being slightly different from the original ‘vacation’.
The cast here pretty much nail their roles with what looks like to been a fun film to make; Ed Helms as Rusty Griswold seems like perfect casting as his comedic side always proves to be a hit on screen, Applegate having her great quality talent as seen in both Anchorman films and Hall Pass and notably Chris Hemsworth playing as Audrey’s husband who shows not only his funny side but a hilarious moment involving a certain part of the male anatomy. Seeing good’ol Chevy Chase (who is much older now but funny to this day) brings the film to a nostalgic point, he doesn’t rely on the present style of comedy but uses his trademark quip that makes him funny.
Pros:
+ Good story-line that resembles close to the tone of the first 4 films, but having it feature the crude humour of today’s generation
+ Great performances from the cast who handle themselves and a neat and original appearance from Chevy Chase and a few familiar faces that pop up for cameos
+ A bit of heart surfaces towards the end, seeing on how Rusty’s family’s experience changed during the trip
+ From throw up, sex, visual jokes to family brawls, the humour is present throughout and doesn’t go off the rails or repeats itself
Cons:
- Cousin Eddie is not seen but he is mentioned at one point, this was due to an residency issue with the actor that plays him so I’m glad there was no replacement.
OVERALL:
Vacation may seem at first that comedies will never be original or like its processors that made them classics, but it does have a strong attempt to be fun, hilarious and introduce a new generation of comedy lovers that the age old franchise can still kick it. Just hope there’s a sequel in future if the filmmakers consider it.