National Lampoon's Vacation is sure to go down in history as one of the most hysterically funny documentaries ever made. Okay, so it's not quite accurate to call this a documentary, but it might just as well have been. Anyone who's ever taken a cross-country vacation with one's family should be able to identify with the Griswolds.

Chevy Chase stars as Clark Griswold, the terminally stupid head of the Griswold clan. Clark is determined that he and his family will have the perfect summer getaway. For the perfect vacation, where else would one go than to see Wally World, America's favourite theme park, along with Wally World's official mascot, Marty Moose (Marty Moose/Mickey Mouse, get it?). For Clark, getting to your destination target is half the fun. Therefore, rather than buy plane tickets like every other normal family (as his daughter puts it), Clark sees fit to drag his family kicking and screaming across the country. Clark has everything planned out, the cost, the sites they'll visit, the people they'll see. What could possibly go wrong?

As it happens, just about everything, for Clark has failed to count on a little unforseen factor known as Murphy's Law. Those of you who have been on vacation will know just what I'm talking about. Predictably, everything ends up costing more than he calculated, the weather is inhospitable, the locals are hostile and often rip them off, the camp sites are cheap and smelly, the Griswolds end up losing their luggage, and the car breaks down. In other words, it's a lot like your typical family getaway. As more and more misfortune befalls the Griswolds, Clark becomes more and more unbalanced, the trip becoming something of an obsession for him. By God, Clark is going to have fun vacation even if it kills him!

I could certainly indentify with the Griswolds on many points. Growing up, I spent one of my summers with my family in the Queen Charlotte Islands, being dragged from one smelly, ill-kept camp site to another. Bad plumbing, horrible weather, flat tires, ferocious arguments, you name it, we experienced it. If our vacation wasn't quite as bad as the Griswolds, it wasn't far gone.

The sharp script is written by none other than John Hughes, later of "Home Alone" and "Uncle Buck" fame. This being John Hughes, you can probably guess the Griswolds aren't some lovy-dovy, sacharinely sweet family. Still, Hughes is sharp enough to recognize many families aren't like that. Clark means well, but is undone by his male ego and righteous pride. His wife, Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo), loves her husband, but finds even her patience stretched thin after a while. Clark's kids Russ(Anthony Michael Hall) and Audrey(Dana Barron) aren't bad sorts, but being typical teens, that can't help but bicker, the result of being together in the back seat for so long. Randy Quaid really chews the scenery as Cousin Eddie, Clark's worthless redneck bum of a relative. Oh yes, and let's not forget Aunt Edna(Imogene Coca), a crotchety old woman who sees fit to accompany the Griswolds, along with her vicious dog Dinky.

As always with Hughes, the humour is pretty dark and may be a matter of taste. Being the animal lover that I am, I cringed at the fate of poor little Dinky. Sorry Mr. Hughes, but I just didn't find that funny at all. On the other hand, I could barely hold myself together upon seeing the fate of Aunt Edna. I guess that says something about me, doesn't it? When dogs meet their maker, it's no fun, but when nasty old ladies croak, I can barely contain my glee. Isn't that awful?

My advice to viewers, if ever some unnamed relative of yours feels the urge to drag you and your family on vacation, than try showing them this film. That should put a stop to that. Watching a disaster filled vacation is a lot more fun than experiencing one.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older