National Lampoon's European Vacation
by Amy Heckerling
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Actor: Beverly D'Angelo, Chevy Chase, Dana Hill, Jason Lively, John AstinDirector: Amy Heckerling
Brand: CHASE,CHEVY
Cinematographer: Robert Paynter
Editor: Pembroke J. Herring
Producer: Matty Simmons
Producer: Stuart Cornfeld
Writer: John Hughes
Writer: Robert Klane
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Portuguese (Subtitled); Georgian (Subtitled); Chinese (Subtitled); Thai (Subtitled)
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 95 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2002-04-02
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Reviews of National Lampoon's European Vacation
DVD Review: Quite Well Put Together
Summary: 4 Stars
I know I am probably in the minority on this, but I feel this 2nd chapter was the best of the 4. I feel the comical moments, the moments of tension, and Chevy Chase's sudden rise to facing a crisis are especially well balanced.
Very quickly, the Griswalds win a trip to Europe (in a comical accidental manner) on a game show. By the way, John Astin handles his small role as the game show host really well.
In 4 neatly divided chapters, Chevy Chase and his family see England, France, Germany, and Italy. Their 1st trip is to England. In one comical moment, Chevy Chase tries to consult his computer to understand what someone is saying, and Rusty has to say: "Dad, he's speaking English!" The Griswalds also run into some especially friendly English who don't take vehicular accidents so much to heart. ("Don't worry. Now I've got an excuse to get it fixed.")
Their 2nd stop is in France. There are of course some language barriers from hereon. As someone who studies French, it upset me a little that most of the French were portrayed as rude.
In one moment, Chevy's video camera is stolen, and this will play an important part later. The Griswalds are insulted (in French) as they check into their hotel. At a restaurant, a waiter curses (quite heavily in French) at Chevy Chase, and while part of us wants to laugh, part of us may feel it was totally uncalled for.
If you study French, you may see what possibly provoked the waiter's reaction. Chevy Chase mispronounces 'Garcon' which technically can refer to a waiter. But it literally translates to 'boy.' And 'Garcon' is considered an IMPOLITE way to refer to a waiter.
Also likely was that the waiter was reacting to Chevy Chase's mispronouncing the French words. But to be fully honest, who doesn't mispronounce a few words when they are trying to learn a new language? Undoubtedly, the most popular French scene in this movie is when Chevy Chase finds his son Rusty drunk at the topless night club.
Onto Germany. Here we have one extreme to the other. The Griswalds receive some especially hospitable treatment from total strangers. But Chevy almost gets hanged at a festival. The most memorable scene here may very well be when the girl says: "They're going to hang someone." And with barely a second of thought, Rusty screams: "Dad!" But of course they escape, and make it to the train. There is some understandable frustration with each other on the train. (Very quickly though, even if we set external circumstances aside, the 4 have simply been together for too long. People need their space, and this will play an important part in Italy.)
In Italy, they happen to accidentally (but realistically and innocently) walk into a crime in the works. Tension is released as the criminals buy time, and (under the guise of employees of a travel agency) offer Chevy and his family a huge amount of money to go shopping with.
But the tensions start to brew again, and to Ellen's shock, an 'explicit' tape of her that was stolen in France, has found its way to the movie theaters. ("The Wet Hot Wife") From here the family goes their own way, but they are reunited when Ellen is kidnapped.
In many ways, I consider this the best of the 4. Because things start well; then there are some understandable tensions; but the family is reunited when a crisis hits. And all of a sudden, Chevy Chase no longer bumbles. He is smart, quick thinking, and effective in his rescue of Ellen.
I know many people consider the 1st the best. But I must hold to my opinion that this 2nd chapter is the best of the 4.
DVD Review: European Vacation is an 80's classic!
Summary: 4 Stars
As far as sequels go, European Vacation succeeds in being fun, entertaining and completely watchable. While it may not have the greatness of the original which I give 5 stars, I can easily rate European with a strong 4 stars. Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo are back as Clark and Ellen Griswold. Jason Lively and Dana Hill play Rusty and Audrey, looking and acting much goofier than the first time. Beverly D'Angelo who I adore shines more in this sequel than she has in all the other films. Her song and dance number "Big Spender" in the bathroom is terrific! She has a great voice. (She also sang all the songs in the movie Coal Miner's Daughter when she played Patsy Cline.) Other highlights in the film are on the plane trip to Europe when each Griswold has their own fantasy dream (including the Royal Family, "Some Like it Hot," and a rendition of The Sound of Music) or food nightmare in Audrey's case. In London, Clark unknowingly abuses the man at the hotel who is trying to help them with their bags and then he mistakingly gets in bed with a hairy-legged woman who won't let go. The next day they get in multiple car wrecks, hit a biker (Eric Idle) and an unlucky visit to Stonehenge ruins a piece of English history. In Paris, a dog jumps off the Eiffel Tower, Clark and Ellen find Rusty checking out the French culture at a seedy nightclub with a hooker and the family gets insulted by a waiter speaking in French. In Germany, the Griswold's visit the wrong relatives, Clark gets into a fist fight at a German beer festival and then chased out of town by an angry mob. In Rome, the Griswold's get to try out some Italian fashions to a cool number and after Ellen is kidnapped from a thief at the traveler's check store, a chase ensues through the streets to save her! This movie is great fun to watch. I'm not sure how anyone could not like it. If you don't constantly compare it to the original or Christmas Vacation, it is an 80's classic in its own right. Lindsey Buckingham's "Holiday Road" is still present and over the end credits "Back in America" by Network. Plus Beverly gets to do some actual work here! On the commentary for Christmas Vacation, even she admitted all she provided for that film was her many different hairstyles.DVD Review: An Absolute Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
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.
DVD Review: The worst of the four.
Summary: 1 Stars
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.
DVD Review: Almost as good as the first one
Summary: 4 Stars
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.
Description of National Lampoon's European Vacation
The Griswalds are on vacation again when they win a deluxe tour of the old world and take on the European continent -- the continent loses.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
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