I grew up with the Griswolds. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is that film everyone ends up watching whenever it's on television. Lines from Vegas Vacation were quoted with some regularity in my family, especially when we were around dams (a memorable bit). The original, when the family goes to Walley World (a.k.a. Disneyland) was also a hit. The movies' humor may have relied a little too much on the audience delighting in the father's misery, but it also felt daring. The original, penned by John Hughes of Home Alone and Breakfast Club fame, ends with the entire family discovering Walley World is closed, an ending that felt risky in its sadness. The European one was the only one no one seemed to like. I think it's missing a bit of the "common man" aspect, since not many families regularly vacation in Europe. Then it tried to make up for it with too many "Ugly American" bits that were just embarrassing.
While normally I don't like it when Hollywood remakes a perfectly good thing, I'm happy to hear that the writers of Horrible Bosses plan to script and direct a remake of National Lampoon's family vacation. This is a series with a unique sensibility and memorable characters that could easily entertain another generation. Writers John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein plan to center the movie on grown-up Rusty, who takes his own family on vacation. I sincerely hope Chevy Chase, the original patriarch, signs on for a cameo. And that his country bumpkin Cousin Eddie (played by Randy Quaid) also makes an appearance. The movie just wouldn't seem right without these two characters around to pass the baton.
One question is pressing on my mind: Where will Rusty take his family? Will his character return to Walley World? Or will the writers come up with another quintessentially American place to take a vacation? In 2013, we may find out.
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