National Lampoon's Vacation
Synopsis: Accompanied by their children (Dana Barron, Anthony Michael Hall), Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) and his wife, Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo), are driving from Illinois to a California amusement park. As Clark increasingly fixates on a beautiful woman driving a sports car, the Griswolds deal with car problems and the death of a family member. They reach Los Angeles, but, when Clark worries that the trip is being derailed again, he acts impulsively to get his family to the park.
Movie Review:
“National Lampoon's Vacation” was directed by the great Harold Ramis and is one of my favorite comedy movies to watch every summer since I was a kid. It is a timeless Classic full of laughs because of the comedic force of Chevy Chase. Chase plays the iconic role of Clark Griswold, a lovable family man who just wants to show his family a good time but sometimes he gets too carried away. This movie is filled with hilarious scenes of disasters, romance and emotions. Beverly D'Angelo plays his wife Ellen, Anthony Michael Hall plays his son Rusty, and Dana Barron plays Audrey; the chemistry that these supporting actors have with Chevy Chase made this film a comedy success. One of the funniest scenes in the movie was between Clark and his son Rusty when they shared a beer. I laugh every time I see that scene. It was funny but at the same time it shows the father/son relationship. One of the standouts in the movie was Randy Quaid who plays cousin Eddy. Quaid is the perfect fit for this character, and he is hilarious. Other characters like cranky Aunt Edna (Imogene Coca) and the security guard (John Candy) are worth mentioning because they bring talented performances that add to the story. “Christie Brinkley plays the young beautiful woman that Clark fixates on as they travel across country and she gives a decent performance for a non-actress, “National Lampoons Vacation” is a comedy classic for all generations with an entertaining story that will have you laughing from beginning to end. I am giving “National Lampoons Vacation” a 5 out of 5 stars..
Director: Harold Ramis
Cast: Chevy Chase, Beverly D'angelo, Imogene Coca, Randy Quaid, John Candy, Anthony Michael Hall, and introducing Christie Brinkley
Runtime: 99 minutes