Chevy Chase Vacation Collection (Box Set) (DVD)

...on the central presence of Chevy Chase, who plays the father, Clark, and his patented all round family guy, gradually losing it as events spiral beyond his control.

The Griswalds hail from Chicago, and are Dad Clark (Chase), an executive in the food additives ('NOT preservatives') industry, and his long suffering wife Ellen, played superbly by Beverly D'Angelo. Various child actors play the kids Rusty and Audrey, such as Juliette ...
...will Ellen say yes again? Chevy has one last shot at redemption as the good family man he is at heart.

In summary, I think the films work because you like the family, and Clark is a likeable guy with good intentions who genuinely cares about his family, but gets hopelessly obsessive about things. He usually just needs reminding, though and that's pretty much the point of all the films. They're not cutting edge or groundbreaking, but ... more

The National Lampoon vacation films follow the Griswald family on a succession of family holidays, which despite Dad's (very) careful planning, seem to go awry at every step. These comedies rely very heavily on the central presence of Chevy Chase, who plays the father, Clark, and his patented all round family guy, gradually losing it as events spiral beyond his control.

The Griswalds hail from Chicago, and are Dad Clark (Chase), an executive in the food additives ('NOT preservatives') industry, and his long suffering wife Ellen, played superbly by Beverly D'Angelo. Various child actors play the kids Rusty and Audrey, such as Juliette Lewis and Anthony Michael Hall and that is the central family unit. Well worth a mention is 'Cousin Eddie,' the brilliant Randy Quaid, who mugs it up big style as the unlucky, loveable idiot in a few of the films, with his ever expanding, poverty stricken family in tow.

The films follow a fairly set pattern, in that Dad has big plans for the family vacation, wanting to spend quality time with the family and puts immense pressure on himself and his family to strive for the perfect holiday experience. This is usually self generated and in ignorance of the genuine wishes of the other family members. Humorous mishap follows mishap until a meltdown ensues, usually with Clark going on some minor rampage.

I'll try not to give away too much, the box set contains:
Disc 1 National Lampoon's Vacation (1983, cert 15)
There are no extras on this disc.

First in the series and Clark plans a family cross country road trip from Chicago to California, home to Wallyworld, and its famous Marty Moose (possibly based on something…) On his meticulously planned itinerary, he includes stop offs at St Louis, Dodge City, Cousin Eddie's home, the Grand Canyon and finally Los Angeles. He doesn't quite make it to the largest mud house in the USA, or the largest ball of string in the world, but does enjoy the flirtatious attention of Christie Brinkley, as she shoots past several times in her red Ferrari, seemingly on the same route.

This film has great similarities to 'Planes, Trains' and is very funny, as the family get lost a couple of times, have to take the odd detour and pick up unwanted passengers in the form of aged Aunt Edna and her vicious dog. Still, Clark keeps pushing on, getting more and more stressed, with his eyes on that final prize: Wally World.

Disc 2 National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985, cert 15)
There are no extras on this disc.

The family fluke a win in a TV quiz show, and get an all expenses trip to Europe. They take in London, Paris, Bavaria and Rome. Now teenagers, the children want some freedom, and Audrey is distraught at the time away from her boyfriend. Whilst not quite as good as the first, this still has some funny moments, such as Clark's trouble driving on the left in the UK, a Bavarian thigh slapping dance turning into an all out fight, and the loss of a rather personal home video.

Worth a particular mention here are some great cameos in the UK leg, featuring Mel Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Maureen Lipman and a magnificent turn by Eric Idle. Unfortunately, no Cousin Eddie in this one.

Disc 3 National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989, PG)
A selection of outtakes and the original trailer are extras on this disc.

Clark plans the perfect family Christmas at home, inviting both sets of Grandparents and an aging aunt and uncle to stay for the festive season. Not cousin Eddie and Family, but fortunately they 'coast in on fumes' in an aging RV anyway, which they park out front. Join the family as they follow the great traditions of selecting a tree, shopping for gifts, decorating the house inside and out, a little Christmas sledding and the traditional dinner.

This is probably my favourite of the four, as while I'm not likely to go cross-USA or Europe, we all love the thought of the perfect picture postcard Christmas. As usual, Clark piles on the pressure until he reaches breaking point with one of my all time favourite rants.

The yuppy next door neighbours are worth a mention, played to eighties perfection by Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld's Elaine) and Nicholas Guest.

Disc 4 National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation (1997, PG)
The original trailer is the only extra on this disc.

My least favourite of the four, this does seem a little tired and has the feel of a tacked on sequel, but is rescued by good cameos by some Vegas veterans and the performance of Randy Quaid, as the affable but stupid Cousin Eddie, who knows Vegas inside out.

An unexpected bonus allows Clark to fund one last family holiday before the kids (now in their late teens) are too old. He chooses Vegas, where by good fortune cousin Eddie now lives on some condemned land outside town. An eventful flight and they are settled in their casino hotel, ready to enjoy the shows and a little gambling, a trip to the Hoover Dam and a chance to renew their wedding vows. Clark predictably turns out to be an unlucky gambler, Wayne Newton takes a shine to Ellen, Rusty purchases a fake ID and tries his luck, and Audrey falls under the influence of her pole dancing cousin Vicky. As the money runs lower, the family spends less time together and tensions rise, will Ellen say yes again? Chevy has one last shot at redemption as the good family man he is at heart.

In summary, I think the films work because you like the family, and Clark is a likeable guy with good intentions who genuinely cares about his family, but gets hopelessly obsessive about things. He usually just needs reminding, though and that's pretty much the point of all the films. They're not cutting edge or groundbreaking, but are a comfortable watch with some genuinely funny moments, and are excellent examples of this 80s genre of American film comedy. If you like the film 'Planes Trains and Automobiles,' then that's a good guide to the tone of these. These films were also written by the same renowned comedy writer/director, John Hughes, but he didn't take up the directing reigns for this collection.

Family fun, but not necessarily fun for all the family, as it carries a 15 rating, according to the cover due to the bad language but there are also a couple of topless scenes in the first two films. I'd say it's risqué rather than rude (it's certainly no American Pie but carries the same certificate), so best watch first before deciding whether to let the kids see them.

I bought this set because these are films we would make a point to watch every time they came on TV, and would always laugh when we saw them. Now that we're parents, we find they have an extra appeal, and once seen, any attempts to over-plan any aspect of a family holiday are met with, 'Don't get all Griswold on me'.

The box set is pretty cheap online, and is available for £12.99 at my local Virgin megastore. Well worth a watch.  

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