Franchise Review- Vacation

 There are officially more bad "Vacation" movies than there are good ones, thanks to Hollywood's belated sequel/reboot craze. This summer's wildly unnecessary return trip to Walley World was justly ignored in favor of "Jurassic World", but that doesn't mean the 'comedic' culprits are getting off the hook. Not on my blog. This shit will still be on basic cable a billion times in the next several years, and is destined to ruin the nights of countless Netflix subscribers.

   It's an unfortunate ending for a series that started out so well with a John Hughes screenplay that transformed the 1970s Chicago adman into the 1980s king of comedy(half your favorites have the Hughes stamp on them). Enter "Caddyshack" director Harold Ramis and a Wagon Queen Family Truckster(built specifically for the film) and the rest is comic history. Let's go back down that 'Holiday Road' and recap the long-running franchise that ensures future generations will know the name Chevy Chase.

"National Lampoon's Vacation"(1983)
Chevy has a bad rep and it isn't entirely undeserved("Cops & Robbersons", anyone?), but let's not pretend he didn't have his fair share of hits as well. Chase has Harold Ramis to thank for much of his big screen legacy because he initially couldn't see himself in the role of square, middle-class American Dad(that's the ONLY way many of us see him now). Beverly D'Angelo made a career out of suffering through Clark Griswold's futile quests for family fun, and I wouldn't have given Christie Brinkley's Ferrari-driving bombshell a second look if she was my better half. Ramis peppers the proceedings with a host of notable performers(Eugene Levy, John Candy), in which Randy Quaid's backwoods buffoon Eddie is the obvious standout. Imogene Coca's Aunt Edna(and her dog) didn't survive this road trip. I think that's something we're all eternally grateful for.

   "Vacation" is easily one of the best comedies of the '80s. I don't think there's anyone that can't relate to at least one member of the Griswold clan, and the film's ubiquitous presence on movie channels is the ultimate testament to their timelessness, all the more impressive when you pause to consider the ever-changing nature of comedy. Standard action heroes have got nothing on Clark W.'s durability. This suburban superman was definitely here to stay.

"National Lampoon's European Vacation"(1985)
The Griswolds stumble through London, France, Germany and Italy and find significantly fewer laughs than in their more grounded tour of the U.S. in this inferior, far-fetched follow-up. The star of the whole enterprise admitted it himself, blaming the absence of Harold Ramis in the director's chair(he was busy fighting ghosts). With all due respect to Amy Heckerling, the talented lady behind "Look Who's Talking", "Fast Times" and "Clueless", she never finds the right rhythm, relying heavily on slapstick and sight gags that often miss the mark. Here's a fun fact- Anthony Michael Hall turned down "European Vacation" to do "Weird Science", leading to a running inside joke about the kids always being recast(much to the dismay of poor Dana Barron). That brings me to the film's most glaring flaw- Jason Lively and Dana Hill(R.I.P.) are, simply put, unattractive and unappealing actors that were given way too much screen time. I guess it doesn't matter when you've got a post-"Fletch" Chevy Chase at the top of his game.

   "EV" took the top spot at the summer box office from the iconic crowd-pleaser known as "Back to the Future" for one weekend, ultimately pulling in a respectable(for it's time) $49 million. The enormous goodwill that the Griswolds(or Griswalds as it's spelled here) earned two years earlier is the main reason why. Regardless, WB saw a positive cash flow, and a third misadventure was an inevitability for cinema's unluckiest family.

"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"(1989)
Another John Hughes brainstorm provided the basis for the third and most successful film in the franchise. Apparently, the Griswolds never needed to hit the road to find hilarity or hearty box office. An unannounced visit from Randy Quaid took care of that, in a side-splitting expansion of his previously minor role the first time around. Julliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki, Diane Ladd, Doris Roberts, E.G. Marshall and Julia Louis-Dreyfus make up an appreciable supporting cast. Journeyman director Jeremiah Chechik made the one true sequel to the 1983 classic, and both films have taken up permanent residence in my home video library. I know I'm not alone.

   The enduring popularity of this movie is slightly amazing. Comparisons to "It's a Wonderful Life" may be premature, but there's just something about Clark's Christmas lights, invasive relatives and missing bonus that keeps us coming back every year without fail. "Christmas Vacation" has become a holiday staple, and fittingly represents Chevy's last stand as a formidable comedian as the 1980s drew to a close. "Nothing But Trouble", a disastrous 1991 comedy helmed by his fellow fallen Reagan-era counterpart Dan Aykroyd, set the tone for the decade that followed, and the less said about his foray into the late-night talk show arena, the better. Would jilted audiences be willing to join this fading funnyman on another "Vacation"?

"Vegas Vacation"(1997)
Sin City has never been less enticing as the Griswolds AND nostalgic viewers would quickly discover. This needless fourth installment plays like an exhausted sitcom crawling toward cancellation and would be featured prominently on any list of worst sequels(and sadly on Comedy Central as well). National Lampoon and John Hughes wisely chose not to participate in the desecration. Wayne Newton does however, while Randy Quaid's now-irksome Eddie officially wears out his welcome(I believe the 2003 made-for-TV movie pushed Quaid over the edge).

   "Vegas" only managed a meager $34 million in February '97, despite a family-friendly PG rating(or perhaps because of it) and soft competition at the ticket counter. I understand Chase and company wanting to roll the dice one last time, but the house always wins. In this case, we all lose.

"Vacation"(2015)
You knew it was coming, and Ed Helms of "The Hangover" fame was selected to play the timid adult version of Rusty Griswold for this ill-conceived 21st century revival of the already well-worn property. I wonder how many members of this film's target audience of shallow, snickering teens have any interest in or knowledge of the first "Vacation". The crass creators(TWO no-name directors, never a good sign)of this cringe-inducing mess haven't done it's namesake ANY favors. Christina Applegate costars as Rusty's wife and the mother of their loathsome offspring, and somehow her college promiscuity conveniently comes to light during this trip(hardy har har). A giant ball of pubic hair and a swim through raw sewage surely had John Hughes and Harold Ramis rolling over in their graves. Chris Hemsworth is responsible for the film's sole highlight as Audrey's alpha male beau. Leslie Mann was erroneously given third billing to appear onscreen for approximately three minutes. Chevy Chase makes an anti-climactic cameo in his signature role, but don't expect anything more than a shameless reminder of better days from the 71 year old SNL original. Let's hope he's made his final film appearance.

   Let's hope this is the last vacation we get dragged on, too. That word implies something this series hasn't delivered in decades and never will again, and that's a good time. Hollywood execs have begun to mimic the persistent patriarch that started it all, and we're the kids complaining in the backseat. If Ed Helms is granted an encore, they'll have to recast my role.