Vegas Vacation

The fourth installment in National Lampoon's Vacation film series, 'Vegas Vacation' is silly, but so funny too! Its pure slapstick humor, that is enjoyable for anyone who's familiar with the Vacation movies & the crazy Griswold family.

'Vegas Vacation' Synopsis: In the fourth outing for the vacation franchise, the Griswolds have to survive Vegas fever when they go to Las Vegas for a fun family vacation.

'Vegas Vacation' doesn't get every joke or gag right, but at most parts, you laugh at the silliness. Its purely an entertaining comedy, that has been made only to make you laugh. And to a large extend, the makers have succeeded!

Elisa Bell's Screenplay is spirited, although not everything works, particularly that one segment featuring a lecherous Vegas singing star who goes head over heels for Mrs Griswold. Stephen Kessler's Direction is pretty decent. Cinematography & Editing are alright.

Performance-Wise: Chevy Chase is in terrific form. He nails the part of the wacky leader of a dysfunctional family & brings the house down on numerous occasions. Beverly D'Angelo has also done very well. Randy Quaid is first-rate. Marisol Nichols is passable. Ethan Embry doesn't really impress. Wayne Newton is wasted.

On the whole, 'Vegas Vacation' has some genuine laugh-out-loud moments. So for that alone, I'd suggest you check this one out.

I saw this movie when it was first released in the theatres, and thought it was one of the worst films ever made. Since then, whenever this movie comes on TV, I cannot turn it off. What was once like watching a car wreck has become an enjoyable viewing experience that is a very funny experience. Still can't figure out how the daughter grew up Latina but Marisol Nichols is so cute, who cares? Sinatra imitator very funny, as is the seemingly five minutes of silence they hold on the Quaid/Newton bit. Also funny, the server in the buffet "oh you're right, this is chicken WANT SOME!" and Chevy Chase butt-ugly costume.

Mayhem ensues when the Griswolds go to Las Vegas in this fourth film in the 'Vacation' franchise. Chevy Chase is solid as always and Wallace Shawn has a fun extended cameo this time round as a condescending croupier, but with minimal road trip elements here, the dynamic is not quite as juicy as the first or even second film. The plot basically consists of each member of the Griswold clan having their own individual Vegas experiences, and while there is quite a bit of oddball humour in how Rusty makes it as a gambling king, there is not a lot of interest in Audrey becoming a Vegas dancer, Ellen being seduced by Wayne Netwon or Clark's gambling debt woes (Shawn's role in the matter aside). The recasting of the kids (yet again) also works against the film; while Marisol Nichols and Ethan Embry are both older than the characters they are playing, they don't look it, while Chase - with grey hair now - looks older than ever. Randy Quaid also has far too much screen time for his own good as the abrasive cousin Eddie and it is hard to know what to make of a scene in which Quaid and Chase visit an outskirts casino with "what number am I thinking of" gambling games. The solution to Chase's gambling woes comes a little too easily too. There are, however, enough scattered good moments here to make the film possibly worth a look. The return of the blonde in a convertible (from the first film) is a nice touch, some dam wordplay surprisingly works well, a sun-roof incident is quite funny and what a way the film depicts to obtain a fake ID!

Well, Clark Griswold has so far botched a road trip, a European vacation and (most memorably) a Christmas vacation; so why does he continue to make his family go through hell on his endless quest for a fun vacation? That's easy; it's pretty enjoyable for us to watch :)

"Vegas Vacation" sits comfortably as the third most enjoyable film in the series; surpassing "European Vacation" but not as enjoyable as "Vacation" or "Christmas Vacation". It's pretty far reaching at times but there are solid moments here; such as Clark damn near destroying a damn and getting crazy (as only Clark Griswold can) playing cards and losing everything.

The Wayne Newton gag soon grows tiresome and everything concerning Audrey and Russ pretty much stinks but Randy Quaid delivers once again as obnoxious Cousin Eddie and Chase hasn't lost his touch as the world's most annoying (yet somehow oddly endearing) family dad.

this movie deserves a better rating than what you all rated it! this movie, although, is 3rd in ranking (in my opinion) but it is still good (last is European). overall, a great comedy with the best kids out of all of the vacations.

8 1/2 out of 10