See it at the Movies

VACATION

Joyce and Don Fowler
Posted 8/6/15

*

(Dull, vulgar, stupid sequel)

It seemed like a clever idea. Take Rusty (Ed Helms), the son of Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase), now grown up with a wife and two kids of his own, and have him …

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See it at the Movies

VACATION

Posted

*

(Dull, vulgar, stupid sequel)

It seemed like a clever idea. Take Rusty (Ed Helms), the son of Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase), now grown up with a wife and two kids of his own, and have him relive his youth by taking his family to Wally World, site of the original National Lampoon’s Vacation.

How could it fail? Let me count the ways.

First, Rusty is a jerk who has no idea of the needs of his family. Second, his kids are irritating. His teenage son is a nerd who is bullied by his younger brother who needs his mouth washed out with soap. Third, the writers give the actors nothing to work with except vulgar humor. How about swimming in a cesspool for starters? Throw in some excessive vomiting to further gross out the audience. How about killing a bull or a passing driver on the highway?

Nothing like good, clean fun.

How about an uncle with a huge body part? Or a wife with a questionable reputation who takes the family back to her sorority house?

They finally arrive at Papa Griswold’s house after ruining their rental car, only to find Mom and Dad (an overweight, slovenly Chevy Chase and a still attractive Beverly D’Angelo) running a user-unfriendly Bread and Breakfast.

And then it’s off to Wally World for a disastrous ending to a disastrous movie.

What were they thinking?

Rated a big R, with excessive profanity (I thought young children couldn’t use that word in a movie), disgusting bathroom and sexual humor, and even some nudity thrown in.

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