Vegas Vacation (1997)

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.

Director:

Stephen Kessler

Writers:

Elisa Bell (story), Bob Ducsay (story)

Stars:

Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chevy Chase	...	Clark Griswold
Beverly D'Angelo	...	Ellen Griswold
Randy Quaid	...	Cousin Eddie
Ethan Embry	...	Rusty Griswold
Marisol Nichols	...	Audrey Griswold
Miriam Flynn	...	Cousin Catherine
Shae D'lyn	...	Cousin Vicki
Wayne Newton	...	Wayne Newton
Siegfried Fischbacher	...	Siegfried (as Siegfried)
Roy Horn	...	Roy (as Roy)
Wallace Shawn	...	Marty
Sid Caesar	...	Old Guy
Julio Oscar Mechoso	...	Limo Driver
Sly Smith	...	Mirage Security Guard
Julia Sweeney	...	Mirage Reception Person

Storyline

When Clark Griswold puts his mind to something, we soon realize he hasn't got one. Still, nothing stops him when the vacation bug hits. This time, he's chosen Las Vegas, the new family entertainment capital of America! Chevy Chase returns as bubbly, bumbling Clark in Vegas Vacation, a jokers-are-wild laugh fest including two other stars from past Vacations. Beverly D'Angelo is back as wife Ellen, doting on the guy she calls "Sparky," and Randy Quaid again delights as grubby goof ball Cousin Eddie. Ethan Embry (That Thing You Do!) and screen-debuting Marisol Nichols are Griswold teens who love the round-the-clock nightlife - as long as they don't share it with Mom and Dad! From Seigfried and Roy's extravaganza to a Hoover Dam tour, from cruising to losing (Wallace Shawn as a shifty blackjack dealer) to amorous crooning (Wayne Newton falls for Ellen): watch Clark try to keep family and wallet together!

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Plot Keywords:

dark humor | slapstick comedy | airplane | singing in a car | reference to the beach boys | 

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Taglines:

This time the Griswolds are on a roll.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for sensuality, language and thematic elements

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 February 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

National Lampoon's Las Vegas Vacation

Filming Locations:

Mojave Desert, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$12,837,927, 16 February 1997, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$36,429,528, 1 June 1997

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Jerry Weintraub Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In this film, we see that Cousin Eddie has been swimming when he meets Clark at the blackjacks. In Christmas Vacation (1989), Eddie tells Clark that he can't swim.

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Goofs

When Clarke is driving the hijacked tour bus through the wall at Wayne Newton's house, you can see damage to the front of the van before it crashes through the wall.

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Quotes

Cousin Vicki: Hey, you wanna dance up here?
Audrey Griswold: No, I don't think so.
Cousin Vicki: Audrey, honey, let me tell you something that I've learned. In this world you're either up on the stage in the spotlight, or down in the pit serving drinks. So have some fun.

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Crazy Credits

The opening credits are played over Clark driving home from work, happily singing along to a Beach Boys tune, driving very carelessly.

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Connections

Referenced in Pale Blue Balloons (2008)

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Soundtracks

The Arrival
Written by Tom Bähler (as Tom Bahler)

User Reviews

Griswalds go to Vegas - It's worse than "European vacation" !

This is the forth and last movie about Griswalds. Well , at least until the new remake of "Vacation" doesn't show up. It doesn't have the National Lampoons title , but it is the sequel to previous three movies. It was directed by Stephen Kessler. What is more important is that John Hughes (writer of all three movies) isn't the writer of this one. "Vegas vacation" was written by Elisa Bell and Bob Ducsay.

It's hard to find a good third movie in the series , much less forth. It's also a risk to make a sequel to an 80's movie . Many of the sequels to 80's movies fails , because they aren't able to capture that specific 80's magic of the original ("Another 48 hours" , "Beverly Hills cop 3", "Blues brothers 2000" for example). Griswalds didn't really needed another sequel , since the third one was really good . So who needed it ? Chevy Chase . After the 1989 he wasn't able to make a successful movie and this was his last attempt to become a major star once more .

In the end it's a movie that should have been made as straight to video flick . It is so bad , that it's worse than "European vacation" . At least I had few laughs with that bad movie , with this one I had none.

"Vegas" lacks freshness . The writers tried to keep "Vegas vacation" in style of previous movies , but failed terribly. None of the usual Griswald charm is here . The jokes fell incredibly forced and don't work. Only SOME of the jokes with cousin Eddie APPROACH being funny (which doesn't mean they are , mind you). The franchise had simple , but funny , slightly raunchy sense of humor . This one is boring and bland like most of US sitcoms. It feels more like a commercial for Las Vegas than a comedy.

The old cast is back – Chevy Chase , Beverly D'Angelo and Randy Quaid. The kids has been recast again . Ethan Embry plays Rusty and Marisol Nichols plays Audrey. I have to say they are my least favorite couple from the whole series. They give very flat performances.

National Lampoon took their name off the title of this film. It's hard not to understand why. Surprisingly, "Vegas Vacation" was fairly successful at the box office, taking in almost $40 million (the budget mus have been low for this movie) Which meant there was yet another chapter in the saga, the even worse than this "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2- Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure". Oh , boy...

My advice ? Stick to the first and third one , avoid the rest. I give it 1/10.