National Lampoon European Vacation (1985)

After winning a tour package in a game show, the bickering Griswald family carve a trail of destruction through England (where they knock over Stonehenge), France, Germany, and Italy. Somehow Ellen (Bevery D'Angelo), the mom, gets kidnapped by gangsters, leading to a car chase that reunites the family, despite their differences. It's hard to believe that National Lampoon's European Vacation is only the second of the Vacation movies; it has the exhausted pallor of the last of a long series of sequels, drained of all zest or original ideas. The charmless smirk of Chevy Chase, mechanical in its idiocy, hangs over European Vacation like a death mask. It's hard to believe that this hack was once the funny and sexy hero of Foul Play. D'Angelo keeps her chin up and gives the movie whatever class it may have; she deserves better. --Bret Fetzer Amazon.com

An Absolute Classic

This movie is a classic, simply put. Yes, it does have a cheesy 80s humor to it, but that only adds to it. Clark Griswold reminds me of my own dad with his clueless, somewhat unintentional I-know-whats-best attitude. I've watched this movie countless times before and I still find it refreshing and brilliant each time I see it.

I highly recommend seeing this movie, however in the unedited version. July 18, 2008

The worst of the four.

National Lampoon's European Vacation is just plain horrible. I hate this one more than Vegas Vacation, Vacation and Christmas Vacation are the most funny and original. I am surprised this second film of the franchise is directed by Amy Heckerling, all of her other films are brilliant. Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo reprise their roles and even though all the Rusty's and Audrey's are different actors, these two airheads are so untalented, where did they get these two kids from? Stay away from European Vacation, it's a piece of trash.
June 4, 2008

Almost as good as the first one

This is almost as good as the first vacation however it is better than Las Vegas, just remember it does have some cheezy eighties in it. April 21, 2008

Chevy Chase

It's not as good as the first Vacation, but if you like Chevy Chase, you won't be disappointed. It is typical situations for Chevy. You will see it coming, but you will laugh anyway. December 26, 2007

The Griswolds trash Europe... and the greatness of the original

Even before I was old enough to really get the jokes, I watched all of the VACATION movies (even saw VEGAS in theaters when I was 7 or 8), and even at such a young age I could see what a disappointment EUROPEAN VACATION was after the hilarious first one. Pratfalls and lame sex jokes substitute for the clever sight gags and equally clever sex jokes in the original. Some good jokes slip through (most likely from John Hughes' portion of the script, who wrote the original and gets story/co-writer credit here, though I've heard he claims no responsibility for the finished product, and I say good call there, Johnny), but none of them come close to, say, the fate of Aunt Edna and her dog Dinky, the visit to Cousin Eddie's, or the showdown at Walley World from the first VACATION. Yes, it's pretty funny when the Griswolds visit the home of people they believe are Clark's relatives but are not, and it's mildly amusing when they knock over Stonehenge (the music really adds to that), and Clark being unable to turn left by Big Ben is something I can relate to. However, you don't ever really laugh out loud throughout, just occasionally smile. The film is also quite sexist (and directed by Amy Heckerling, who helmed the much funnier FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH and CLUELESS), making son Rusty a snickering horn dog (who looks about 8 years old in CHRISTMAS VACATION, which follows this movie... so ew) and Audrey an overweight depressed little child who misses her blond hunk of a boyfriend Jack. Clark and Ellen are basically the same (mostly due to the fact that Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo are reprising their roles and Anthony Michael Hall and Dana Barron, Rusty and Audrey in the original, are not): the hapless family man and his patient wife who still lust for each other. And then there's poor Eric Idle (I'm referring to his character and the fact that he's in the film), who adds a shine to the film (albeit a dim one) when he appears as a biker constantly wounded by the Griswolds but who keeps cheerfully trucking along. Anyway, I rewatched the film recently after badmouthing it for years and found its bright spots, but my opinion from youth still remained. Luckily, CHRISTMAS VACATION came along (scripted solely by Hughes) and put the VACATION series back on the right track (VEGAS was definitely better than EUROPEAN, in my opinion). Get the film if you're a VACATION fan and need to have the whole series, just don't expect much more than a few chuckles and smiles (and more nudity and profanity in a PG-13 film than I have ever seen). December 19, 2007

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