National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)

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Chevy Chase stars as a husband and father determined to take his family on the vacation of their dreams, cross-country to an amusement park called Walley World. But the trip is fraught with wrong turns, wildlife, hillbilly relatives, and perhaps more than anything else, Chase’s stubborn unwillingness to accept defeat. Vacation is a great star vehicle for Chase’s brand of oblivious humor. Writer John Hughes (The Breakfast Club, Uncle Buck) and director Harold Ramis (Groundhog Day, Meatballs) keep the jokes coming at a steady pace, with co-stars Beverly D’Angelo, Anthony Michael Hall, and Dana Barron playing the ‘straight’ family members to Chase’s zaniness.

Some of the comedy is dark (delightfully so), and the political-correctness police would have a field day with the movie’s handling of race and gender — but if watched in context of it time, Vacation holds up pretty well and still earns its chuckles. Imogene Coca is memorable as a cantankerous old aunt who invites herself along for the ride, and Randy Quaid is indelible as redneck ‘Cousin Eddie’. Eugene Levy, John Candy, and Christie Brinkley also make welcome appearances. Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham serves up a couple of great tunes, including the catchy theme song, “Holiday Road.” With Miriam Flynn, Eddie Bracken, Frank McRae, and Jane Krakowski (30 Rock).