This summer. When you think vacation, think National Lampoon's vacation. See the
Real America. Hey Underfans, Hey yellow what it's friendly? Okay, I'm
okay. Don't you want to look at the Grand Carrier. It's educational,
great, and most of all, it's fun. The dog went on the
picnic basket. But Chivy, Chase, Beverley D'Angelo, Emma Gene Coca,
Randy Quaid, John Kenny, and Christy Brinkley. Well, are you gonna
go for it? It's crazy, it's crazy, it's crazy. Take you
for a ride this summer. When you think vacation, think National Lampoons vacation.
I'm gonna check under the hood. Family vacations are as much a part
of summer as Fourth of July fireworks, cookout, going to the beach,
or any other time honored summer tradition you can think of. Family vacations have
also provided some of the greatest comedies in the history of cinema. This Week's
film is arguably the greatest of them all. Released in nineteen eighty three,
directed by Harold Ramis and based on a short story that appeared in the famed
National Lampoon magazine National. Lampoon's Vacation tells the story of family and Clark Griswold
chevy Chase in his decade spanning role, who wants to take his family of
his wife, daughter, and son on a cross country vacation to the fictional
amusement park Wally World. What should be a peaceful trip unravels and hilarity with
mishaps and family members throwing a wrench into the plans. The film co stars
Beverly DeAngelo as Clark's wife, Randy Quaid as the lovable cousin Eddie, and
the debuting Christine Brinkley, plus a memorable bit part by the late John Candy.
Our next clip is the first scene in the film. This is important
because it builds the chaos that is set to befall the Griswolds. When going
to pick up a new car, Clark is shocked when the swarmy salesman played
by comedy legend Eugene Lea, brings him a car that is not at all
what he ordered. This shows how quickly Clark's emotions can change, and now
he tries to stay cool and often fails throughout difficult situations. Well, there
she is Claire right here the wagon, Dad, This is not the car
you ordered. Take it easy, rusty ed, this is not the car
I ordered. I distinctly ordered the Antarctic Blue super sports Wagon with the CBE
and the optional rally fun pack. He didn't order the metallic pe metallic p.
No Antarctic blue. The sports wagon. This isn't even the right model,
you know. I think you're right. I don't think this is the
car. This is the new Wagon Queen Family truckster. This is a There's
a damn fine automobile. If you want my honest opinion, beach the hell
out of the sports wagon. But I want to make you happy. Huh
that important? I'll get to the bottom this. Yes, I said,
mister Griswold ordered the blue sports Wagon. Where is it? I don't know
soon. I know it must have happened. It didn't come in at I'm
not your ordinary every day fool. Okay. Now, I'd like my Antarctic
blue supersports Wagon right now, and if you can't get it for me,
I'm gonna take my business elsewhere. Where's my old car. I'm just as
upset as you are, Believe me, Davenport, Get mister Griswold's car back
and bring it back here and I can get you a wagon. There's no
problem there. The problem is it might take six weeks. Now. I
went to myself to tell you, mister Griswold, but if you're thinking to
take in the tribe press country, this is the automobile you should be using.
The wagon point family truck. You think you hated. No, but
wait, don't you drive I don't want to drive it. I just want
my old car back. Okay, I'm not falling for this bit. Oh
wait, let's call Russ Cark. Is that the right car? No,
it isn't, honey, I I changed my mind. They flatten our old
car like a pancake. Are you serious? Is this really our car?
Dad? What happened? I thought we were gonna get the little sports thing.
Oh no, sports Bibe must too small. Besides, I got a
great deal on this one. Let me tell you, honey, we're taking
the whole tribe across country. Believe me, this is your automobile. Must
still running? Oh all new cars do that. I'll take care of that
in a second. You may think you hate it now and at but what
are you driving? Brow and her back? When talking about any of the
films in the Vacation series, one would have to include cousin Eddie, played
by Quaid. As important as the Clark Griswold character is to these movies,
one could argue that Eddie is more memorable, an argument I certainly make.
He is the quintessential embarrassing family member. He is off color, somewhat dim,
and very socially awkward. Despite his short cummings, he is lovable and,
even in his own affable way, charming. Our next scene shows all
of this at a cookout when Clark in the family visit cousin Eddie and his
family. How do they like? Here's Clark? Oh? Medium, rare,
little pink inside. Oh you're fine, light at dark? Oh either
way, it doesn't matter, I think it. Can I help you with
that cool egg? Please? Mmmmmmmm? I don't know what they call this
stuff, hamburger helper. It does just fine by itself. Huh. I
like it better than tune to help her myself, don't you? Clark?
You're the gourmet around here? Ed, No meeting this. You get plenty
to meet at home. People like you have some catch up, real tomato
catchup, Patty? Oh nothing but the best, and Anna, don't for
getting cold, said your aunt Edna. And Edna, after all these years,
you're looking so good. Oh hi Edna, nice to see you again.
You remember Clark, don't you? You were the ones that sent me
the fruitcake for Christmas that made me so sick. Oh, I'm sorry.
We thought you enjoyed fruitcake. You enjoy throwing up every five minutes, Claude
Clark, I thought so, Oh well, am I gonna need or am
I gonna starve to death? Russ? Katherine, did you tell Clark and
Ellen the good news? No? I was just about to Katherine, what's
the good news? You're driving me to Phoenix. No matter how memorable cousin
Eddie is, when you're reminiscing about any of the films in this series,
some of the most quotable lines and top scenes do come from Clark Griswold.
These scenes are when Clark is just exasperated, fed up, and passed his
limit on what he will take this film. The first film in the series
sets that character trait up first, with the family wanting to go home despite
bearing down on Wally World. Clark breathe, flee, loses his cool,
and then, in our final clip, when the family finally arrives at wally
World after the difficult journey, they learn it was all for not the park
is closed for two weeks. This leads to a brief but very memorable appearance
by John Candy as the park security I don't want to be in the car
anymore. I want to go home. I don't want to go to wally
World, Clark, under the circumstances, I wouldn't mind if we just went
home. In retrospect, it seems like a pretty bad idea driving out.
It's been one disaster after another. Yeah, it's been a real drag,
Dad. Maybe we can try some all the time. Wally World's overriding anyway,
What do you think? I think? In ahead, we're ten hours
from working fun park and you want to bail out. Well, I'll tell
you something. This is no longer a vacation. It's a quest, quest
for fun. I'm gonna have fun, and you're gonna have fun. We're
all gonna have so much fun. We'll leave Classic Surgery to remove our gardens
files. You'll be whistling sympathy, dude, Atties, I gotta be crazy.
I'm gonna pilgrimage to see a moose phrase Marty Moose, Dad, you're
gonna ask for something, don't do. And now the family arrives to wally
World. First, one's here, first, one's here. First, one's
here. But we're so far away, Clark, right right. And at
the end of the day, when the lot's all full and everybody's fighting to
get out of here, will be the first ones out too, right?
Why because we're the griz walls. Come on, Racio. Sorry, folks
were closed for two weeks to clean and repair America's favorite family fun park.
Sorry, what, Clark? What are you doing? We watch this program?
Why his toys? We go to his movies? He owes us,
doesn't he owe us? He owes the Griswolls Right, Hey, rad he
owes us. Clark, you're scaring me. Don't be scared. I just
think somebody owes us an explanation, that's all. Come on, come on,
come on, Clark, what will you listen to me. Let's just
find a hotel. I'll call my parents. Are why are some money?
We can fly home and forget this entire vacation ever happened. Honey, honey,
just relaxed, Okay, I told you, I'm not angry anymore.
I'm in complete control. I'm sure they're not repairing every ride. At the
same time, I think they owe us a little explanation. I think they
owe us a little fun. Okay, whatever happens, just trust me,
will you just trust me? Sorry, folk, parks are closed. The
Moose off front should have told you, yes, we're here to see mister
roy Wally. What's your name, sir, Clark w griswold O. What's
just regarding mister grizzol? We're Republicans and relations or a summer inspection to a
personal matter? Oh, suspection? Oh nobody? Nobody notified this office of
Well, I'm notifying you. I'm afraid I'm gonna need a little more to
not sir. Okay, dookie, how's this Clark? Have you lost your
mind? Where did you get that sporting good star? Honey? Now you
listen to me fat as, you do what I say, and it won't
be any problem. Okay, Okay, we just throw two thousand, four
hundred and sixty miles just for a little Roy Wally entertainment the Moose as your
clothes. I say, you're open, We're not really violent people. This
is our first gun. No, it isn't. Calling this film a success
would be a massive understatement. It made over eight and a half million dollars
its opening weekend, debuting is the number one film. It ended up grossing
over sixty one million dollars worldwide overall. Making it even more of a success
is the film was only made on a fifteen million dollar budget. It also
featured a changing of the guard for National Lampoon. It replaced the smut locker
room humor that it was known for in large part due to the magazine and
the film Animal House that we previously looked at, and replaced it with a
more slapstick, witty, physical comedy. This film is still endearing today.
It has spawned five sequels, and recently this film celebrated its fortieth anniversary.
What makes it timeless, hilarious and quite memorable is that while watching it,
one finds themselves reminiscing about past vacations, good, bad, or downright awful.
And when you do, I dare you not to try and smile or
chuckle. And that is what every comedy film should strive for, to leave
a great memory and a smile on our faces. I hope you join me
next week when we will look at Steven Spielberg's mind blowing, beautiful science fiction
epic Close Encounters of the third time for WMNH and Matt Counterton Unleashed. This
has been a classic film reviewed with Derrick Filter down the grout, Jack be
Names, Jack Queen taking to run out the Whist team. I did little
about don't go, don't wait down I didn't know, I didn't able