I try to watch this movie every couple of years and it always cheers me up and takes me back to times gone by.

Somehow this film is considered a comedy classic and Chevy Chase a comedy legend but I don't see it. From the idiotic premise of an idiot bringing his idiotic family on an idiotic journey to what I'll assume is an idiotic theme park. The journey involves doing idiotic things and meeting more idiotic family members. None of them funny or even remotely close to being funny. How this spawned a bunch of sequels and what is basically a remake is beyond me. I won't give this film an excuse of it might have been good back then because airplane and blazing saddles are older and funnier, watch them instead. Featured on Episode 68 of The Emerald Reprobates Podcast.

National Lampoon's Vacation is the ultimate vacation movie. It's filled with jokes, crazy moments, and everything that could possible go wrong, does. It's got crazy jokes, crazy characters, crazy scenarios and overall it's just a complete joy to watch. Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) is the average American family man who takes his family on vacation to Walley World. But right from the word go something goes wrong. And for Clark and the Griswold family that's the pattern of the rest of the movie. Something goes wrong, followed by something else going wrong. But Clark just wants his family to have a good time. Honestly there isn't much more I can say about this movie so I'll sign off by saying see this movie.

This is almost a perfect comedy and I have watched this maybe 20 times. It's not only a very funny movie, but it is the most relatable film ever made. We have all been on these family trips where you are supposed to have fun but instead, everything goes to hell.What is so amazing about this film is Chevy Chase. He actually gives a performance whereas in many of his other movies he just seems bored. I loved Fletch when I was a kid, but you can tell that Chevy tries very little and he is not in his element in this type of action-comedy. Here, he is outstanding.There are so many great scenes in this show: 1) The dead aunt on the roof - 2) The visit to Ellen's cousins, especially the discussion about french kissing (what a horrible image it gives you). Of course, it went way over my head as a kid - 3) The scene in the desert, where Clark nearly croaks from dehydration and many, many more. There are a few rough spots as when the family drives into a black neighborhood. I understood what the filmmakers are trying to do, but it just falls flat. And the main sore point about the dead dog. I laughed at the time, but must admit that I felt a little guilty about it. The scene is played very well by both James Keach and Chevy.So, It is almost perfect but not quite. The ending actually made my stomach turn a little, because I am not a huge fan of rollercoasters. But John Candy is terrific and it is like no other movie performance he has made since then. It was a little far-fetched that Roy Walley does in the end, but what the hell, it's a movie, not real life. If you haven't seen the movie you won't know what I'm talking about, but I doubt there are many that haven't seen this amazing flick.