Line #9 Film/NationalLampoonsVacation


1	[[quoteright:320:[[Creator/BorisVallejo https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nationallampoonsvacation_1983.jpg]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:320: "''I found out, long ago...\
3	(Oh, oh, oh!)\
4	It's a long way down... the holiday road!\
5	(Oh, oh, oh!)''"]]
6
7	->"''This is no longer a vacation, it's a quest. It's a quest for fun. I'm gonna have fun, and you're gonna have fun, we're all gonna have so much fucking fun we'll need plastic surgery to remove our goddamn smiles!''"
8	-->--'''Clark W. Griswold'''
9
10	A 1983 comedy film directed by Creator/HaroldRamis and starring Creator/ChevyChase, Creator/BeverlyDAngelo, Creator/ImogeneCoca, Creator/RandyQuaid, Creator/DanaBarron, and Creator/AnthonyMichaelHall, with numerous others (such as Creator/JohnCandy, Creator/EugeneLevy, Creator/BrianDoyleMurray, veteran character actor Creator/EddieBracken, supermodel Christie Brinkley, and future ''Series/ThirtyRock'' regular Creator/JaneKrakowski) featured in smaller roles.
11
12	The screenplay was written by Creator/JohnHughes, based on his short story in ''Film/NationalLampoon'' magazine, "Vacation '58" (the screenplay changes the year to 1983). The original story is (reportedly) a fictionalized account of his own family's ill-fated trip to Disneyland (changed to "Walley World" for the film) when Hughes was a boy. The success of the movie helped launch his screenwriting career.
13
14	A series of {{sequel}}s followed:
15	[[index]]
16	* ''Film/NationalLampoonsEuropeanVacation'' (1985)
17	* ''Film/NationalLampoonsChristmasVacation'' (1989)
18	* ''Film/VegasVacation'' (1997)
19	* ''{{Film/Vacation}}'' (2015): A sequel to the original, Ed Helms stars as an adult Rusty Griswold who takes his family on a crosscountry road trip to Walley World. The film is written and directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein who previously did ''Film/HorribleBosses''.
20	[[/index]]
21	There was also a 2003 MadeForTVMovie, ''Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure'', which focuses on Randy Quaid's character and his family, and a 2010 ReunionShow, ''[[http://vacation.homeaway.com/ Hotel Hell Vacation]]'' wherein Clark and Ellen stay at a hotel that doesn't go in their favor. A "Walley World Water Park" [[{{Defictionalization}} opened in Canada]] several years after the release of the movie.
22	----
23	!!''National Lampoon's Vacation'' provides examples of:
24
25	* AccidentalMisnaming:
26	** Ed, the car dealer, calls Rusty "Rueben" and Clark "Clyde."
27	** Lasky, to Clark:
28	--->'''Lasky:''' What's this concerning, Mr. Grizzle?
29	* AdaptationalKarma: The original story by Hughes had Clark Griswold going AxCrazy when he discovered Disney World was closed for maintenance, purchasing a handgun and driving straight to Walt Disney's home to shoot him, hitting him in the thigh before being tackled by a dozen policemen and put in jail while his family flew back home trying to put all of this behind them. The film climaxes with Clark Griswold going AxCrazy when he discovers that Walley World is closed for maintenance, purchasing a realistic BB gun and taking a Walley World security guard hostage so his family can enter the closed park, and being let go with no charges once he explains the whole desperate thing to [[MrAltDisney Roy Wally]] (and the dozen SWATTeam members surrounding him with guns).
30	* AdaptationTitleChange: ''National Lampoon's Vacation'' is based on a short story called "Vacation 58".
31	* AllForNothing: After all what they have went through in that torturous trip, they finally arrive at Walley World only to find [[spoiler:it closed for maintenance. Which proves to be [[RageBreakingPoint the very last straw]] for Clark and the climax of the film is all about his attempt to [[DefiedTrope defy this trope]].]]
32	* TheAllegedCar: The Wagon Queen Family Truckster, a parody of Malaise-Era broughamy American cars. The "Wagon Queen Family Truckster" is built using the body and chassis of a 1983 Ford LTD Crown Victoria Country Squire station wagon, with numerous modifications (such as the dual quad headlights and extra fake wood paneling) to create the heavily "over-the-top," intentionally gaudy and ugly appearance. The engine keeps running for some time even after it's been shut off.
33	** It even has what may be the [[UrExample earliest example]] of the "accidental airbag deployment" gag [[OlderThanTheyThink in 1983]]! (The airbag – which actually was offered on virtually zero models in 1983 [[note]]They had been briefly offered on full-size GM sedans and coupes in the mid-70s; by all accounts, the pilot run of 2,000 Chevy Impalas for the Federal govt and other large fleet operators outnumber the production 1974-76 Buick, Olds and Cadillac models sold to the public with the option[[/note]] – was fashioned using a simple trash bag.
34	** By the end of the trip, Clark has ripped off the license plate holder while looking for the gas cap, the hubcaps have been stolen, the bodywork has been tagged with graffiti, and the front driver's-side window has been broken. And thanks to Clark's 50-yard [[RampJump jump off an unfinished road]], the car is ready to come apart at the seams and all four tires have blown out and been replaced. Some writers have pointed to this as a parody of the reputation for quality and reliability that AMC and Ford had at the time (whether deserved or not).
35	* AMFMCharacterization: While their parents sing a corny song, Rusty and Audrey put on their headphones to listen to Music/TheRamones' "Blitzkrieg Bop".
36	* AmusementPark: Walley World, the final destination of the Griswolds. And they say half the fun is just getting there?
37	* AnalogyBackfire: When Clark tries to justify his actions to Roy Walley:
38	-->'''Clark:''' Can you imagine how your kids would have felt if when you got to Florida, it was closed?\
39	'''Roy:''' Oh, they don't close Florida.
40	* TheAntiGrinch: All that Clark wants is to provide his family an unforgettable family vacation and have plenty of time shared together. Come hell or high water. Which means leading his family through an endless barrage of awful situations, some of which happen because he didn't want to fly to California like everybody else wanted (because of the aforementioned desire to share time), and climaxing with taking a Walley World guard hostage so they'll be able to use the rides.
41	* ArtisticLicenseCars: After waking up and realizing he's behind the wheel of a runaway car, he slams on the breaks and jerks the wheel, causing the car to screech into a turn until it's barrelling backwards before doing it again and having the car briefly rolling forward until he hits the breaks. Suddenly ending up going backwards with a car in drive is not good for the vehicles transmission. To say nothing of the Truckster still being fully operational with just a few hours of repair after an engine-first nose landing,followed by the rest of car slamming down hard enough to blow out the tires and bend the axles.
42	* ArtisticLicenseLaw:
43	** The dealership where Clark buys the Wagon Queen Family Truckster has an on-site crusher, for some reason, and destroys a trade-in. Not only would a real car dealer ''keep'' the trade-in so they could resell it, but Clark had only given his car over for ''evaluation''; the dealership hadn't actually purchased Clark's car yet (destruction of private property). They also ordered the wrong model and force Clark to buy it (bait and switch), [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and failed to install the old plates on the new car]], or even a sticker signifying an application for new plates. Clark should have called the police when they crushed his car, but also would have been pulled over for driving without license plates as soon as he left the dealership.
44	** There is also the standard application of "KarmaHoudini by way of someone deciding to not pursue charges" in the epilogue. Not even Walt Disney (sorry, [[MrAltDisney Roy Wally]]) would probably waive the fact that Clark took a man hostage for however long it took them to use several rides of the park as well as general trespassing.
45	* AwardBaitSong: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYZl44YKxLI Dancin' Across The USA]] by Lindsey Buckingham.
46	* AxCrazy: [[spoiler:Clark when he finds out the trip was {{all for nothing}}]].
47	* BadPeopleAbuseAnimals: The police officer who pulls Clark over on the assumption he intentionally dragged a dog to death certainly thinks so.
48	* BlackComedy: [[spoiler:Everything related to Aunt Edna's death. Passing away in the backseat with the kids, getting wrapped up and strapped to the roof (in a sitting position no less), and finally being left on the patio of her son's home in the pouring rain. And Clark and the kids feeling more annoyance than grief about the whole matter.]]
49	** On that note, Rusty's FalseReassurance:
50	-->Relax, it'll be easy for Cousin Normie to find her. All he has to do is [[CirclingVultures look for the buzzards]].
51	* BlackComedyPetDeath: Wanting to get his family moving as soon as possible, Clark unknowingly drives out of the camp site's parking lot with aunt Edna's yappy little dog still tied to the rear bumper. Miles down the road, he's pulled over and confronted with the empty leash, Clark says that he would never intentionally kill a dog, and the cop lets him go with a warning. Inside the car, Clark tells the others he was pulled over for speeding, but the cop hands him the leash, and says he'll try to pick up the dog's remains. Aunt Edna was not happy.
52	* BumblingDad: Clark is the king of this trope. Most of the comedy comes from the destructive chaos he causes while he tries [[IMeantToDoThat to present himself as a man in control]].
53	* ButtMonkey: '''Clark'''. It wouldn't be a ''Vacation'' film without at least 5 bad/embarrassing things happening to him[[note]][[TheChewToy every sixty seconds]][[/note]].
54	* ClusterFBomb: When the Griswolds have been through hell and Ellen suggests going home, Clark finally snaps and goes into one of these. It is... epic.
55	* ContinuityNod: Clark wears Walley World tees and sweaters throughout ''European Vacation'', and he and Eddie drink eggnog from Walley World souvenir glasses in ''Christmas Vacation''.
56	* CreatorCameo: Creator/HaroldRamis provided the voice of the Marty Moose statue which apologizes that the park is closed.
57	* DeathGlare:
58	** Clark ends up on the receiving end of one from an angry police officer after being pulled over on the assumption he intentionally dragged a dog to it's demise.
59	** Ellen gives an epic one to Aunt Edna after Clark jumps the car off the unfinished desert road. Edna, who had been ranting about Clark being a danger to everyone around him, is cowed into silently sitting in the car by Ellen's sheer force of will.
60	* DesperatePleaForHome: [[spoiler: Audrey Griswold begs her parents to go home rather than going to WallyWorld by car. This is because she was traumatized by the death of Aunt Edna]].
61	* {{Determinator}}: Clark will stop at nothing to get his family to Walley World. This trope slowly becomes his FatalFlaw and cause of his SanitySlippage over the course of the movie, and is carried over to the other movies in the ''Vacation'' series.
62	* DirtyCop: After Clark jumps the car off the unfinished road, two mechanics tow it to their garage and replace all the tires (blown out in the landing). They extort all his cash, subtly threatening him with violence unless he pays up. When he asks what the local sheriff thinks of their business practices, one of them flashes a badge -- he ''is'' the sheriff.
63	* DisproportionateRetribution: Clark pulls this off when arriving at Walley World, [[spoiler:by holding a man who works there at gunpoint, just because they closed it down for two weeks due to street cleaning]].
64	* DownOnTheFarm: Cousin Eddie and his family live on a farm in Kansas.
65	* EasilyForgiven: Clark is let off the hook for borderline adultery and [[spoiler: holding a security guard hostage so that he can ride rides]].
66	* ExactWords: Trying to sell Clark on the Family Truckster, the car dealer tells him, "You think you hate it now, but wait 'til you ''drive'' it."
67	* ExpyCoexistence: Walley World is a stand-in for Disneyland, with Roy Walley being one for Walt Disney. During his rant, Clark mentions "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah," one of Disney's signature songs.
68	* FailedDramaticExit: The Griswolds say their goodbyes to their friends and neighbors and are about to depart on their adventurous vacation... only for their luggage to fall off the roof of the car as soon as they pull out of the garage.
69	* FictionalCounterpart: Walley World, to the Ride/DisneyThemeParks, while using [[Ride/SixFlags Six Flags Magic Mountain]] as the filming location.
70	* FingerTwitchingRevival: A deleted scene shows Aunt Edna is still alive when they strap her to the car roof, then leave her at her son Normie's house. Somehow this was darker than leaving a corpse outside someone's house.
71	* FreezeFrameEnding: The film ends with a shot of the Griswolds, Roy Walley, and the cops on one of the roller coasters.
72	* GilliganCut: After Clark decides to strap Aunt Edna to the roof of the car, he says "It's not like it's gonna rain!" The scene then cuts to them driving through a thunderstorm.
73	* HollywoodLaw: The HonestJohnsDealership where Clark buys the Family Truckster somehow gets away with crushing Clark's car ''before'' he traded it in for the Truckster, on top of forcing him to buy a model he didn't order ([[FridgeLogic it also begs the question of why they had an on-site crusher]]). They also drive across the country without license plates or even temporary tags, which would have gotten Clark pulled over as soon as he left the dealership.
74	** The cop who pulls the family over for accidentally dragging Dinky to death completely ignores the missing license plate.
75	** At the end, the family simply return home, even though they committed several serious crimes (like taking the Walley World employees hostage with a gun) and were actually apprehended by the police. The assumption is that Roy Walley decided to press no charges, but it is not his call: once the police got involved, such matters belong to the prosecutor. It's never explained how the prosecution lets them go away scot free.
76	* HonestJohnsDealership: Clark procures the Family Truckster from one of these.
77	* HypocriticalHumor: Ellen is understandably aghast at Clark's crappy and uncaring [[spoiler:eulogy for Aunt Edna]], stopping it in the middle to deliver her own. Problem is, her speech isn't any better, being more of a thinly-veiled rant at her husband than a genuine expression of grief.
78	* ImprobableParkingSkills: Clark falls asleep at the wheel, the car wanders onto an exit ramp, careens toward a hotel, and Clark wakes up in time to scream and stomp the brakes. The car stops in a parking spot, and the luggage all tumbles off the top of the car to boot.
79	-->'''Clark''': "Well, we're here!"
80	* {{Irony}}: At the beginning of the film, Clark says that the reason he doesn't want to fly is because when you're on a plane, you can put headphones on and be in your own world, and thus not truly spending time with your family. When Clark and Ellen start (badly) singing various songs, Rusty and Audrey put on headphones in the backseat.
81	* {{Jerkass}}: Aunt Edna who complains every single chance she gets as she travels with the family. [[spoiler:Thankfully she dies along the way.]]
82	* KafkaKomedy: Clark's good intentions all lead to a never-ending streak of humiliating moments.
83	* LegCling: The original movie poster and home video covers, being a parody of classic Creator/FrankFrazetta ''Film/{{Conan the Barbarian\|1982}}'' illustrations (in fact, they were designed by Frazetta's fellow ''Conan'' illustrator Creator/BorisVallejo).
84	* LingerieScene: Christie Brinkley has one.
85	* LighterAndSofter: Than the original ''National Lampoon'' story by Hughes, which among other differences ended with Clark [[spoiler:purchasing a ''real'' gun, hunting down the ''actual'' Walt Disney to his California home, '''and shooting him in the leg''']] as a result of finding the amusement park closed [[spoiler:and thus ending up going to jail while the rest of the family fly home, trying their damnedest to forget this whole mess ever happened]]. Needless to say, the original tale was a mite more nihilistic.
86	* MagicalComputer: Clark plans out the trip on one. While the car avatar runs through the planned route, Rusty gets bored, picks up a joystick, and makes a [[LawyerFriendlyCameo Pac-Man kind of thing]] try to eat it. Clark takes evasive maneuvers with the car avatar. Audrey then defends the car from Rusty's attack by controlling some space alien shooter thing with another joystick.
87	* MassiveNumberedSiblings: Roy mentions he has seven children.
88	* MommyMobile: The Wagon Queen Family Truckster, a symbol of everything ugly and hideous about American station wagons in the '70s and early '80s. Even discounting its [[TheAllegedCar mechanical problems]], it symbolized Clark's status as a dull, boring suburban dad.
89	* MockyMouse: Walley World being based on Disneyland, the mascot Marty Moose serves as a counterpart to Mickey Mouse.
90	* TheMountainsOfIllinois: The Griswolds visit relatives in Coolidge, Kansas, with mountains visible in some shots. While Coolidge '''is''' about 10 miles from the Colorado state line, you can't see mountains until you're about 100 to 125 miles inside Colorado at best. Most of eastern Colorado is about as flat and empty as you'll ever see.
91	** Also noticeable at the very beginning when they go to the car dealership in "Chicago." Some palm trees and distant mountains are visible in the background.
92	* MrAltDisney: Roy Walley, being the founder of Walley World, is a stand-in for Walt Disney.
93	* MsFanservice: Christie Brinkley.
94	** Beverly D'Angelo too, who even does get naked!
95	* NauseaDissonance: After the Griswolds discover their dog had peed on their sandwiches, everyone starts spitting their sandwich out except Aunt Edna, who just keeps eating.
96	* NegativeContinuity: The film series is built on this. Nothing that ever happens in previous films affects the later ones. Ever. And the films feel free to contradict each other. RuleOfFunny is in full play.
97	* NotAllowedToGrowUp: The Griswold children, at least until the 2015 relaunch. This makes Clark's line in the first film about how he'll wake up one day and they'll be grown up pretty funny.
98	** Rusty actually gets younger in ''Christmas Vaction'' and both Audrey and Rusty are adults in ''Vegas Vacation'' but under 21. And adult Audrey does appear in the TV spinoff ''Cousin Eddie’s Island'' played by the original actress.
99	* OddballInTheSeries: It's the only Chevy Chase ''Vacation'' film that's rated R.
100	* ParentalIncest: Cousin Eddie and his daughter Vicki, according to her.
101	-->'''Vicki:''' I'm going steady, and I French kiss.\
102	'''Audrey:''' So? Everybody does that.\
103	'''Vicki:''' Yeah, but Daddy says I'm the best at it.
104	* ParodiesOfFire: The ''Film/ChariotsOfFire'' theme starts up as the family runs towards Walley World.
105	* PelvicThrust: Christie Brinkley does a few of these when she dances at the rest stop.
106	* PhotoMontage:
107	** The opening credits are played over a montage of vintage postcards showing various cities, towns, and unique tourist traps across the United States.
108	** The end credits are played over a montage of pictures taken during the trip. The last one shows the Griswolds on a plane heading back to Chicago.
109	* PsychoShowerMurderParody: Clark does this with Ellen at the first motel that they stay at.
110	* RageBreakingPoint: Clark does his best to keep a happy attitude, no matter what happens to the family, as he's sure that Walley World will make it all better. Then it turns out the park is closed for maintenance, and Clark finally snaps.
111	* RampJump: Clark has an unintentional one in the middle of the Arizona desert that pretty much destroys the Family Truckster, though that doesn't stop him from admiring his "work."
112	-->'''Clark''' (proudly, under his breath): "Fifty yards!"
113	* RoadTripPlot: 90% of the movie is devoted to the drive to Walley World.
114	* SanitySlippage: What happens to Clark when their trip proves to be AllForNothing. It started to slip when the family complains about the terrible experience they had so far and just wanna go home. He tells them they're all crazy and that they're gonna continue until they arrive at Walley World.
115	-->'''Rusty:''' ''(worried, puts his hand on his shoulder)'' Dad, you want an aspirin or something?\
116	'''Clark:''' DON'T TOUCH!!
117	* SettingUpdate: In the original short story, the Griswolds lived in [[TheFifties 1958]] Grosse Pointe, Michigan; the movie transplants them to PresentDay [[TheEighties (at the time of production)]] UsefulNotes/{{Chicago}}.
118	* ShaggyDogStory: See AllForNothing above.
119	* ShamelessFanserviceGirl: Christie Brinkley.
120	* ShowerScene: Thank you, Beverly.
121	* SlidingScaleOfAdaptationModification: The film is a Type 4 (Near Identical Adaptation); it changes some names and gives the story a mostly-happy ending, but it sticks close to the original ''Vacation 58'' short story.
122	* TemptingFate: At the midway point, Clark and Ellen agree that the worst is behind them, and then they hit a speed bump which causes them to lose Ellen's credit cards.
123	* ThirstyDesert: Clark wandering through Monument Valley.
124	* TranquilFury: Soon after leaving the campsite, the family finds themselves pulled over by a police officer on a motorcycle. The officer walks up to Clark's window with a disgusted expression, orders Clark out of the car and when Clark questions why he was pulled over, the officer calmly tells him to shut his mouth before threatening him and forcibly dragging Clark to the rear of car where we see the reason for the roadside stop and the officer's agression; [[spoiler: Clark left Dinky's leash attached to the rear bumper which lead to the animal accidentally being dragged to death behind the car]] and the officer thinks he did it on purpose.
125	-->'''Clark''': Hello officer, what's the problem?
126	-->'''Officer''': ''[removes sunglasses, revealing a DeathGlare before disapprovingly shaking his head]'' Get out of the car.
127	-->'''Clark''': ''[looks to Ellen and shrugs before exiting the car]'' I don't think I was speeding, was I weaving or something?
128	-->'''Officer''': Shut your mouth, sir. You know, if I wasn't in uniform I'd split your skull with the butt of this revolver faster than you could say "police brutality".
129	-->'''Clark''': ''[shaken]'' Well, officer, whatever it is I've done, I'm sure I can explain-
130	-->'''Officer''': ''[grabs Clark by the arm and forcibly pulls him over to the rear of the car where he holds up the tattered remains of Dinky's empty collar with the leash attached to the car's rear bumper]'' Explain this, you son of a bitch.
131	-->'''Clark''': ''[realizes both his mistake and what it looks like]'' Oh my God...
132	* TraumaCongaLine: While it's PlayedForLaughs, the Griswolds go through sheer ''hell'' to get to an amusement park.
133	* TwoPersonPoolParty: It's broken up before anything serious can happen, though.
134	** Clark actually gets ''two'' in the first movie. One with Christie and only a few minutes later, one with Beverly. Both are cut short because the water is too cold.
135	* [[ViolentlyProtectiveGirlfriend Violently Protective Wife]]: Ellen telling Aunt Edna to "sit down and shut up" after she complains about Clark for the umpteenth time.
136	* WhatADrag: That poor dog. Sure, it was a nasty sandwich-pisser, but it didn't deserve ''that''. You can't help but wonder how it felt as it was dragged to death. Was it [[TearJerker wimpering in agony]]? Or [[AssholeVictim growling in vicious anger]]?
137	* WhatTheHellHero: Ellen calls Clark out for the attitude in the car after they delivered Aunt Edna's body, and for the way he acted on the trip. Though, Clark is annoyed by her negativity and goes to a bar to cool off.
138	-->'''Ellen:''' Where are you going?\
139	'''Clark:''' What do you care?!

Context Film / NationalLampoonsVacation