European Vacation Is A Classic Eighties Comedy That Delivers Plenty Of Laughs. The Griswold Family Takes Their Chaos Across The Pond In One Of Their Most Entertaining Adventures.
European Vacation Is A Classic Eighties Comedy That Delivers Plenty Of Laughs. The Griswold Family Takes Their Chaos Across The Pond In One Of Their Most Entertaining Adventures.
Released in 1985, National Lampoon’s European Vacation is the second movie in the popular Vacation series. While it may not quite reach the level of the original, it is still a very funny comedy with plenty of memorable moments.
The film was directed by Amy Heckerling, who would go on to direct other popular comedies, including Look Who’s Talking and Clueless. She does a good job bringing the Griswold family’s familiar brand of bad luck and ridiculous situations to Europe.
Chevy Chase returns as Clark Griswold, the well meaning but often clueless father who just wants to give his family a great vacation. Beverly D’Angelo is back as his wife Ellen, while Dana Hill and Jason Lively take over the roles of Audrey and Rusty.
The story begins when the Griswolds win a European vacation on a television game show. Clark is thrilled about the opportunity to travel across Europe with his family, even though he has very little idea what he is getting himself into.
Once they arrive, things quickly start going wrong. From London to France, Germany, Italy, and beyond, the family manages to turn nearly every stop into another disaster. Clark’s attempts to keep everyone happy only make things funnier.
One of the best things about this movie is watching Clark struggle with unfamiliar places and customs. He constantly finds himself in awkward situations, usually because he is too stubborn or too confident to admit he has no idea what he is doing.
Chevy Chase is once again the main reason the comedy works so well. His physical humor, facial expressions, and ability to play an increasingly frustrated family man make Clark Griswold such a great character. He has a way of making even the simplest situation turn into a complete mess.
Beverly D’Angelo also deserves credit for bringing Ellen to life. She is the calmer half of the couple, although even her patience gets tested as the trip continues. The chemistry between Chase and D’Angelo is a big part of what makes these movies work.
The supporting cast adds plenty of fun along the way. The movie features memorable appearances from actors including Eric Idle, Paul Bartel, and Robbie Coltrane. Each stop introduces another strange character or situation for the Griswolds to deal with.
The European locations also give the movie a different feel from the original Vacation. Instead of spending most of the story on an American road trip, we get to see the family stumble through some of Europe’s most recognizable cities and landmarks.
There are plenty of classic comedy scenes throughout the film, including Clark’s trouble driving on the wrong side of the road and the family’s increasingly disastrous attempts to enjoy their vacation. The humor is silly, sometimes over the top, but that is exactly what makes it entertaining.
I also enjoy how the movie keeps the basic Griswold formula intact. Clark has good intentions, the family wants to have a good time, and somehow everything goes completely wrong. It is a simple setup, but it gives the movie plenty of opportunities for laughs.
European Vacation may not be the strongest entry in the franchise, but it has enough funny moments and memorable performances to stand on its own. It is one of those eighties comedies that is easy to revisit when you want something lighthearted and entertaining.
If you enjoy Chevy Chase and the original Vacation movie, this is definitely worth watching. The Griswolds might be better off staying home, but their European adventure makes for a pretty good comedy.
Overall, European Vacation is a fun classic from the eighties. It has a great cast, plenty of ridiculous situations, and the kind of comedy that reminds me why these older movies are still enjoyable decades later.