​FILMS

vacation

2015 review number 122:

Vacation: (Comedy): 68 out of 100: Something familiar from my childhood days is National Lampoon's Vacation. There was also the sequel, National Lampoon's European Vacation. They were both fun, enjoyable films. This one is no different. There are as many misses as hits but when the hilarious moments succeed, you are guaranteed a few laughs. Be warned though that this update is raunchier than its predecessors.

 

Rusty Griswold (Ed Helms) from the original Vacation series now has a family of his own. He is married to Debbie (Christina Applegate) and they have two boys, James (Skyler Gisondo) and Kevin (Steele Stebbins). To add more excitement to their holiday trips and reconnect with his sons, Rusty proposes they embark on a road trip to Walley World, a theme park that he used to visit when he was a child. Along the way, they visit Rusty's sister, Audrey (Leslie Mann) who is married to Stone (Chris Hemsworth), and stay at his parents', Clark (Chevy Chase) and Ellen's (Beverly D'Angelo) bed and breakfast.

 

The catchy theme song Holiday Road by Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham from the 1980s Vacation series, plays over the opening credits and will get you in the mood for another Vacation movie. By the time the original series reached its third (Christmas Vacation) and fourth (Vegas Vacation) instalments, things were becoming stale. There's enough energy in the 'reboot' to ensure proceedings are fresh. As with most comedies, it depends on your sense of humour as to whether you will appreciate Vacation or not. If you like gross out humour, you'll enjoy this more than those who prefer subtle comedies. There are some hilarious scenes at the expense of the lack of intelligence of the characters but you do question how dumb they can be to not smell the raw sewage they bathe in before entering the lake. This is just one of many examples of how stupid the characters are. Also, how can Rusty be an airline pilot if he lacks intelligence?

 

Ed Helms does a fine job as Rusty but he isn't as charming as Chevy Chase was in the original series. Chase makes a welcome appearance but he's only in it for a short time. He doesn't have much to do, along with D'Angelo. Although there's a longer sequence played out at Rusty's sister's home, it is Hemsworth who steals the scenes from Mann. He is a hoot, especially in the scene where he parades around in his underwear. There's several terrific family bonding scenes which maximise the laughs. Charlie Day also drops by as a suicidal tour guide and even though his voice is grating, there are several laughs involving his character.

 

What is a road trip without excellent scenery? That is certainly the case here with a few sights to behold such as the Grand Canyon and Golden Gate Bridge. There's also no harm in resurrecting a scene from the original where a hot chick who is driving, demands the attention of the protagonist. A road trip must also have worthwhile songs to listen to, with the soundtrack not letting us down in this department.

 

There is humour here which will make you cringe, but that's the nature of many modern comedies. Not all the funny moments succeed but this vacation is still worth going on. It could have been an absolute disaster but the situations the characters find themselves in ensure an entertaining time for viewers who enjoy this type of comedy.

 

Starring Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Leslie Mann and Chris Hemsworth

(99 minutes)

Parental advice: Coarse language, nudity and sexual references

Additional scene during or after credits: Yes, during the credits there are holiday photos of the main characters

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cNmMLq9ZrQ (Movie trailer)

(Reviewed on Friday 21st August, 2015)

 

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