![](https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/film-poster/4/5/3/1/7/45317-national-lampoon-s-european-vacation-0-600-0-900-crop.jpg?v=6cec685131)
A personal favourite of mine, theres very little that I really dislike about 'National Lampoons European Vacation'. Its a film that absolutely feels like it learnt and grew from the initial success of 'Vacation'. While this film doesnt *quite* hit the gut busting highs of the first film. I personally find its hit rate and tone much more evenly distributed.
The plot, as you can imagine finds us once again in the company of the Griswolds, who this time have managed to win an all expenses paid trip around Europe stopping in England, France, Germany and Rome courtesy of the popular gameshow 'Pig in a Poke'. Much like the first film Hi-jynx ensue as Clarke and the family rain chaos down on pretty much everyone and anything they happen to come into contact with.
and I find that, across the board, it feels like this entry has a much more comfortable and 'settled in' feeling about it. The script is a pacy 94 minutes or so long, and it feels like the decision was made to 'cartoon-ize' the Griswolds a little more in this one, which I feel was definitely a step in the right direction as, while we do ultimately lose a more 'human' element in this entry that was present in 'Vacation' I equally thought at times that 'Vacation' got a little too bleak in places and that pulled me out of the comedy.
European Vacation feels much more comfortable with its pratfalls, funny face reactions, dream sequences and stunts. As a European myself, I found the humour to be much more accessable over 'Vacation' which was a little too US-centric in places for me to really properly appreciate it. Our characters do get a little sanded down here, with Ellen Griswold basically being sanitized down to a long suffering housewife with not much pushback on show, and Clarke having his 'manic break' personality aspects toned way back. He still has some outbursts here, but they're played less like a man in crisis and more 'Tex Avery' for lack of a better comparison.
Humour is of course subjective, and for me? I feel they've gone for broader comedy here, which means more jokes that are consistently funny, but a tone that doesnt quite hit as hard as the one or two jokes that REALLY packed a punch in 'Vacation'...In some ways I actually prefer that though...as id rather consistently laugh for 90+ minutes and have a really good time, than have a mixed comedy experience of highs and lows where a full on laughed maybe a couple of times.
One thing I am a little iffy about is the tone of this entry. While im all in here on the goofy over the top cartoon craziness, this is a distinctly 'hormonally charged' film (read here: a LOT of partial nudity and sexually charged dialogue) With recurring rape and pedophile jokes...Im not against 'Horny' humour...but it needs to be used sparingly, and here it does get well and truely worn out by the 3rd act.
I also think the second act does seem to slow down a little bit pace wise...Around the time they get to Germany thing take a bit of a dip when the family visit relatives they've never seen before...But It makes sense why the film chooses to do that given the scene before and the scene immediately after are a little intense on the comedy front...but it could have just as easily been cut as similar 'FOREIGNERS DONT SPEAK ENGLISH! HA HA!' gags are repeated multiple times across the movies runtime.
But, on the whole. I like this script. I think it has a solid hitrate, I feel the characters better fit this scenario, he tone, while maybe a smidge problematic at times is ultimately rock solid for this kind of piece and it feels like the cast really threw themselves into this role.
The direction and cine are superb here with gorgeous shots of European locations circa the mid 80s. there are maybe a couple of scenes that dont quite seem to have come together in the final edit, but its undenyable that a clear vision was had here in realising this picture. it looks great, it largely hangs together great. the cine has a good range of rich and deep shots that are colourful and (mostly) really decently styalized and lit. Sequences hang together solidly and the edit (again for the most part) is pretty rock solid. With only a couple of scenes faltering a little, that I feel is less down to an inexperienced editor, and more down to a vision in planning that just couldnt be executed as intended.
Performances here are superb. Outside of 'Christmas Vacation' I think this is probably Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo at their finest. they have remarkable comedic timing, they're on the top of there respective games here. they bounce of each other wonderfully. they're frankly superb. Jason Lively is a tad overdoing it here as this films incarnation of 'Rusty' as is Dana Hill as 'Audrey' they're VERY overanimate and are trying to play it cringe inducingly cool at times...But...I can kind of give them a free pass as the script is basically asking for a couple of slightly obnoxious teens who dont want to be on holiday, getting dragged on holiday. In that regard they absolutely nailed the brief...But I could understand how some viewers may find them a bit too much.
The supporting cast here though is where this film shines, with cameos from Mel Smith, Eric Idle, Maureen Lipman, Robbie Coltraine, Paul Bartel and Ballard Berkeley. and each and every one of them is just an absolute delight to see on screen, most of the above were still in there 'golden' age of acting. and even though most are only brief cameos, they really help raise the bar that this films working with.
Throw in a frankly AWESOME soundtrack with the iconic 'Holiday Road' getting a play or two alongside tracks from Dr. John and Network, accompanied by some fantastic orchestral thematic pieces that really help tie the film together and you have frankly a rock solid package that I feel most people will enjoy on at least some level.
Outside of 'Christmas Vacation', 'European Vacation' is probably my most rewatched of all the 'Vacation' films. I have a real soft spot for it. Its a comfort watch, and one I can absolute recommend to anyone unfamiliar with the 'Vacation' series, or anyone just looking for a good gut laugh or two. A screwball comedy at its finest. if you havent seen this one, you really gotta fix that as soon as possible.
source https://letterboxd.com/tytdreviews/film/national-lampoons-european-vacation/
No comments:
Post a Comment