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Review: In ‘Vacation,’ Christina Applegate and Ed Helms Travel to Walley World

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By Neil Genzlinger

• July 28, 2015

The kid with the potty mouth may cost Warner Bros. some business at the box office, but in a strange way he elevates “Vacation,” a very funny R-rated movie with a PG-13 heart.

The film is a sort of sequel to “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” the 1983 comedy in which Chevy Chase played Clark Griswold, a father determined to drag his family across the country for a vacation at an amusement park called Walley World. One of those children, Rusty, has grown up and now embarks on the same ill-advised odyssey with his wife and two sons.

Ed Helms and Christina Applegate, who play the couple, are skilled comedy veterans, and Ms. Applegate has what is surely the summer’s best vomit scene. But the young actors playing their sons come close to stealing the movie: Skyler Gisondo as James, the older child, and especially Steele Stebbins as Kevin, who curses like a sailor and bullies his much bigger brother. The parents aren’t exactly oblivious to Kevin’s vileness, but they seem to put it in the same class as, say, not asking to be excused from the table at the end of dinner.

Kevin is not entirely responsible for the R rating — the movie has sex gags and even a flash or two of nudity — but he could have certainly earned it on his own. Some moviegoers might recoil, yet “Vacation” would have been drab had it been populated with the same bratty-but-harmless youngsters as every other family movie. Kevin at least has a distinctive personality.

In any case, Rusty, after procuring a ridiculous Albanian rental car that steals a few scenes of its own, makes one mistake after another as he blunders toward Walley World with his reluctant family. There is a memorable stop at a hot-springs park where line-jumping lands the Griswolds in the wrong type of hot water, in several senses. And there’s a visit to Rusty’s sister, Audrey (Leslie Mann), who has also grown up and whose husband (Chris Hemsworth of the “Thor” movies) is a weatherman who exudes a dangerous amount of sexiness.

Strengthening of brotherly and marital bonds is the real agenda, of course, but happily the movie never stays on these laugh-killing themes long. Before an epic fight on a roller coaster wraps things up, Mr. Chase and Beverly D’Angelo have wandered through, reprising their roles as the Griswold patriarch and matriarch, grandparents who should be proud of what they have wrought.

“Vacation” is rated R (Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian). Bawdy humor and bawdy language.

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• DVD & Streaming

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In Theaters

• July 29, 2015
• Ed Helms as Rusty Griswold; Christina Applegate as Debbie Griswold; Skyler Gisondo as James Griswold; Steele Stebbins as Kevin Griswold; Chris Hemsworth as Stone Crandall; Leslie Mann as Audrey Crandall; Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold; Beverly D'Angelo as Ellen Griswold; Charlie Day as Chad; Catherine Missal as Adena; Ron Livingston as Ethan; Norman Reedus as The Trucker

Home Release Date

• November 9, 2015
• John Francis Daley, Jonathan M. Goldstein

Distributor

• Warner Bros.

Movie Review

This long and tired story begins in 1983, the year Clark Griswold decided to take his family on a road-trip vacation to Walley World.

It didn’t go well.

Thirty-two summers later, his son, Rusty, decides it’s time for another Griswold family to trek to that fabled amusement park in California.

It won’t go well for them, either.

Rusty, a pilot for EconoAir, had been planning on yet another summer sojourn at the family cabin in Sheboygan, Mich. Until, that is, he overhears his wife, Debbie, telling a friend about how much she hates it there, and how their two sons, James and Kevin, call the place Sheboring .

Walley World to the rescue! And a fierce amount of family fun and bonding on a roundabout road trip from Chicago to California!

The family does bond like never before. And the trip is fierce. But fun? Com’on, these are the Griswolds we’re talking about here.

Positive Elements

Rusty loves his wife and two sons. But he’s deeply insecure about both his role as a husband and a father, constantly comparing himself unfavorably to others who seem to handle those duties better than he does. Rusty earnestly tries to get things right, but mostly gets them wrong, which increasingly frustrates his family.

But there’s hope here. Near the end of the movie, Rusty finds that his wife has secretly been reading a book called Is Your Marriage Dying? He confronts Debbie just as she realizes how hard he’s striving to love her and take care of their family. “Marriage only dies when you stop trying,” she says. “And you have never stopped trying.” She then throws the book away.

Indeed, Rusty says he’s turned down more lucrative job offers to fly for other airlines because it would have meant more time away from his family. Debbie says of his choice, “How many men would sacrifice their careers for their family like you have?” Rusty responds, “I haven’t sacrificed anything. I have everything I’ve ever wanted.”

Sexual & romantic Content

The Griswolds visit Debbie’s old sorority house in Memphis, where a party is underway: We see multiple pairs of women kiss and grind, many wearing revealing outfits. We learn that Debbie’s nickname in college was “Debbie Do Anything,” which included naked antics and sex with more than 30 men.

Intimidated by Debbie’s former sexual experiences, Rusty tries to spice things up by suggesting sex in the shower (which gets interrupted by how nasty the shower is) and, later, sex on the Four Corners’ monument. The latter idea is, apparently, a pretty popular one: We see a number of nearly naked couples trying to do the same thing. Several women’s breasts are visible, and one couple is glimpsed while in the act. (Police break things up.)

The Griswolds visit Rusty’s sister, Audrey Crandall, and her husband, Stone, on their ranch in Texas. Stone and Audrey make a show of their physical affection, and they discuss sex in front of the whole Griswold family. Stone flirts with Debbie. He says goodnight in only his underwear, showcasing his exaggerated anatomy. A picture of him shows his penis hanging out of his shorts. It’s no surprise, then, that we hear his marriage to Audrey isn’t going well, and that he cheats on her.

Vandals draw a giant phallus on the Griswolds’ van; their attempt to remove the image by scrubbing is played for masturbation humor. Rusty inadvertently grab’s a woman’s chest when turbulence knocks him over on a plane flight; he’s then knocked down a second time, face-planting in a child’s lap. He finds a huge ball of pubic hair in a cheap motel. He tries to tell James about sex, but James says there’s no need (“I know what goes where”).

Kevin, who’s an alpha dog bully even though he’s the youngest, treats his older brother horribly. He writes “I have a vagina” on James’ guitar (which Dad later changes to “I have a penis”), says he wishes James had AIDS and makes crude comments about James’ testicles. James, meanwhile, has a crush on another teen named Adena. There’s talk of gender fluidity and boys who have female anatomy.

A married pilot flirts with two flight attendants and tells a lewd story about things he’s done with other airline employees. Dialogue smirks at such things as rapists, pedophile truckers, anonymous stimulation and other sex acts.

We see a picture of Debbie’s bare legs and backside while she’s sitting on a toilet. Montages of images boast another partially bare backside, a shorts-covered erection, a horse penis and a boy looking at pigs mating.

Violent Content

The Griswolds are pursued by a seemingly psychotic semi driver for most of the film. One encounter ends with the Griswolds’ van crashing and rolling. A woman in a Ferrari flirts with Rusty while on the road, leading to her head-on collision with an oncoming vehicle. (We see smoke as Rusty looks back.) Rusty plows into a bull at high speed on a four-wheeler. (We then see the man covered with bovine blood and guts, and another bull begins eating the entrails of its dead peer.)

Debbie falls (hard) off an obstacle course at her sorority. Rusty hurts his foot by kicking tumbleweeds. Debbie slams the van door on his arm several times. The van eventually explodes.

Kevin constantly hits and picks on James, even going so far as putting a plastic bag over the other boy’s head to suffocate him. He says he’d like to shoot his older brother. James eventually (with Adena’s encouragement) knocks Kevin down (twice) to show him he’s not going to take it anymore.

The Griswolds have a massive melee with another family that cuts in front of them in a roller coaster line at Walley World. Much punching, hitting and scratching follows, shown mostly in slow motion. A girl gets kicked in the crotch. Kevin again puts a plastic bag over someone’s head. Afterward, he brags, “Man, our family f—ed that other family up.”

Four police officers at the Four Corners (one from each state) get in a fight that involves one of them shoving a gun in another’s mouth (played for humor). A river raft guide who’s just been dumped by his fiancée tries to commit suicide by holding his head underwater, then leading the raft with him and the Griswolds over a waterfall. They get out in time, but he plunges down and bounces screaming off rocks (again played for laughs).

Crude or Profane Language

More than 50 f-words. Nearly half of those obscenities are paired with “mother,” many of which are in a song played over the opening and ending credits. Also: 20 or so s-words and a barrage of other vulgarities such as “b–ch,” “a–,” “a–hole,” “d–n,” “p—” and “d–k.” There’s a lot of dialogue involving penises and vaginas. God’s name is misused upwards of 15 times, sometimes paired with “d–n.” Jesus’ name is abused once or twice.

I should note that much of the harshest language comes from Kevin, who’s portrayed as an out-of-control South Park -like kid. Naturally, his parents never discipline him for his potty mouth or bad behavior.

Drug and Alcohol Content

College kids drink and get drunk. They use a beer bong. They play drinking games, and when Debbie participates, she ends up vomiting all over everything. Elsewhere, adults drink wine and beer at a couple of meals. Stone has a well-stocked bar and drinks hard liquor. We hear that the van Rusty’s rented, an Albanian Tartan Prancer, boasts six ashtrays.

Other noteworthy Elements

A ne’er-do-well robs the Griswolds and tricks them into swimming in raw sewage. They think they’re in a hot spring, and we see them even gargle the gross stuff. Kevin throws a used drug syringe at James.

There’s a swastika on the van’s key fob. We see one kid with mucus dripping out of his nose, another on a portable potty. Someone throws up on a roller coaster.

“So you just want to redo your vacation from 30 years ago,” Debbie Griswold incredulously asks her husband after he outlines his plan for a family trip to Walley World. “Don’t you think that’ll be kind of a letdown?”

Indeed. If there’s a singular moment of clarity in this raunchy sequel to 1983’s similarly raunchy road tripper National Lampoon’s Vacation , that’s it.

Now, if you’re of a certain age, memories of Chevy Chase’s patented doofus dad shtick (which Ed Helms futilely strives with all his might to recapitulate here) might stir a kind of wistful nostalgia (never mind that the original Vacation was also heavily laced with R-rated content, a recollection that’s too easily buried in the sands of time). No doubt the suits at Warner Bros. are counting on those fond reminiscences to plant nostalgic backsides in theaters for this retread.

So for Boomers and GenXers (and anyone else) flirting with that temptation, here’s a suggestion: Resist it. The word letdown isn’t even strong enough to encapsulate the tired, predictable nastiness that ensues in the latest Griswold family misadventure.

Oh, to be sure, there are a handful of scattered sentiments here that are disarmingly sweet, such as when Debbie eventually realizes how hard her struggling husband has been trying to serve their family. But such isolated moments float in an otherwise stagnant sewer of obscenity (often voiced by the film’s youngest character), excrement (literally), comedic carnage (cartoonish, but explicit) and anatomically oriented sleaze (both visual and verbal).

So forget about trying to be like Clark Griswold, who triumphantly shouted “First ones here!” upon his family’s arrival at Walley World 32 years ago. A wiser plan this time around would be to cancel the vacation altogether and maybe weed the garden or clean out the garage—both far more fun adventures than this cinematic calamity.

Adam R. Holz

After serving as an associate editor at NavPress’ Discipleship Journal and consulting editor for Current Thoughts and Trends, Adam now oversees the editing and publishing of Plugged In’s reviews as the site’s director. He and his wife, Jennifer, have three children. In their free time, the Holzes enjoy playing games, a variety of musical instruments, swimming and … watching movies.

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Last week, as I was walking out of a screening of “Vacation,” a fellow critic, engaged in passionate argument with some other colleagues, pointed at me and said, “You! I heard YOU laughing.” And I said, well, yes, I was laughing, at some particular parts.

My poor friend was searching, perhaps desperately at this point, for someone who shared his “c’mon, it wasn’t THAT bad” opinion of the film. And I happen to have, for better or worse, a laugh that’s hard to miss. But I couldn’t go that far with him about this necessarily self-conscious sequel—or is it a reboot?—to the famed “National Lampoon” films of the same name/theme. No way, no how. Because “Vacation” is, minute to minute, one of the most repellent, mean-spirited gross-out comedies it’s ever been my squirmy displeasure to sit through. This relentless farce of humiliation asks us to guffaw at a gruesome highway death, another presumed death by blunt-force trauma and/or drowning and/or (spoiler alert for those who sit through end credits?) bear attack. It locates humor in the sight of a young boy using a used hypodermic needle as a dart launched against his brother, and, at the very end, that brother unearthing his ostensible virility by beating on a snooty teenage girl.

I could go on, and on, and on. But if you’ve seen the trailers, which feature the highway death gag, and the hypo gag, and the set up to the hypo gag (which is that the clueless Griswold family, thinking they’ve discovered a secret, mineral-rich “hot spring,” are revealed to be swimming in a pool of raw sewage and more) you get the tone of the film, which is similar to that of the very popular, and largely vile and hypocritical “Hangover” movies. “Vacation,” like those films, features the affably goofy Ed Helms in a lead role. 

Here Helms plays a grown-up Rusty Griswold (the teen son character initially played by Anthony Michael Hall in the 1983 “National Lampoon’s Vacation;” the most famous subsequent Rusty is, I’d say, Johnny Galecki , who played the role in 1989’s “ National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation ”). Rusty is a pilot for an airline called “Econo-Air,” and in the opening scene, he’s given his hapless nice-guy props by an aged colleague who’s clearly suffering from dementia, and who nearly crashes the plane when Rusty leaves the cockpit for a bathroom break. You remember what I was saying before about the jokes in this movie. After a slick playboy pilot for a more elite carrier ( Ron Livingston ) obliges Rusty to eat dirt on a shuttle line, Rusty gets home to find discontent in the domestic hearth. His younger son, Kevin ( Steele Stebbins ) has been tormenting older brother James (Skylar Grisondo), per his usual routine, we are led to believe by beleaguered mom Debbie ( Christina Applegate ). This time, it’s by magic-markering “James Has A Vagina” on his guitar. You remember what I was saying…

Anyway. I might as well fess up here that the most laughs I got from the movie were via Steele Stebbins as the older-brother-tormenting Kevin. The character as written is typically nasty and foul-mouthed, and it’s pretty clear that directors and co-writers Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (who also wrote “ Horrible Bosses ,” so, um, yeah) weren’t expecting to get more out of the character than the usual cheap “hey, check out this little kid cursing a blue streak” laughs. But Stebbins—and perhaps I should be more disturbed than amused by this—invests the character with a relentless bad-seed malevolence, a gleeful aura of irredeemability, that’s so mortifying it’s actually often quite funny.

As for the rest of the cast, well, I used to think that Helms, whose upending of Middle American blandness on “The Daily Show” was always reliably droll, did those dreadful “Hangover” films because they paid well; now I wonder that he actually believes these movies are good, and the question unsettles me. But that’s life. Christina Applegate, whose work on “Married With Children” gave her valuable experience in playing characters whose dignity, such as it might be, is regularly affronted, shows similar game good spirits in her activities here. Chris Hemsworth , playing Rusty’s brother-in-law, assays an exaggerated Southern accent and strides around with an oversize prosthetic penis, which, again, you probably know from the trailer As the Griswolds drive erratically across the country (the movie doubles down on the imaginary-car-from-hell device of the 1983 original) “Vacation” shows a peculiar perspective on the American character. This Made-In-USA clan suffers abasement after abasement, literally swimming in feces at one point, but still soldiers on in pursuit of a cherished goal—a sojourn to Walley World. And even there, degradation awaits. And these dumb, wan, mediocre, sad-sack Americans are too stupid to even understand what’s happening to them, yet too plucky to back down. Perpetual stooges. 

Glenn Kenny

Glenn Kenny was the chief film critic of Premiere magazine for almost half of its existence. He has written for a host of other publications and resides in Brooklyn. Read his answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

• Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold
• Tim Heidecker as Utah Cop
• Ed Helms as Rusty Griswold
• Chris Hemsworth as Stone Crandall
• Beverly D’Angelo as Ellen Griswold
• Kaitlin Olson as Arizona Cop
• Christina Applegate as Debbie Griswold
• Michael Peña as New Mexico Cop
• Leslie Mann as Audrey Griswold
• Ron Livingston as Ethan
• Keegan Michael Key as Jack Peterson
• Norman Reedus as Trucker
• Regina Hall as Nancy Peterson
• Nick Kroll as Colorado Cop
• Colin Hanks as Jake
• Charlie Day as Chad
• Elizabeth Gillies as Heather

Cinematography

• Barry Peterson
• John Francis Daley
• Jonathan M. Goldstein
• John Hughes

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When "Family Vacation " is an Oxymoron

• Christian Hamaker Contributing Film and Culture Writer
• Updated Oct 28, 2015

DVD Release Date: November 3, 2015 Theatrical Release Date: July 29, 2015 Rating:  R (for crude and sexual content and language throughout, and brief graphic nudity) Genre: Comedy Run Time: 99 min. Directors: John Francis Daly & Jonathan M. Goldstein Cast: Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Skyler Gisondo, Steele Stebbins, Leslie Mann, Chris Hemsworth, Catherine Missal, Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Ron Livingston

How far is too far when it comes to movie comedies? Outside of kids' movies and family-oriented films, today's comedies mostly come in two varieties: coarse and coarser.

If Trainwreck  and Ted 2 didn't have enough outrageous humor for you, fret not: the Summer 2015 raunchy comedy parade continues with Vacation , an update on the 1983 National Lampoon film that introduced us to Clark Griswold and his family as they journeyed to the Walley World amusement park.

Clark ( Chevy Chase ) and wife Ellen ( Beverly D'Angelo ) show up late in this new Vacation , which focuses on a now-grown Rusty Griswold ( Ed Helms , The Hangover films), who has inherited Clark's haplessness. Rusty can't see that his wife Debbie ( Christina Applegate , Anchorman 2 ) and sons James and Kevin ( Sklyer Gisondo and Steele Stebbins ), aren't interested in returning to the cabin that Rusty has been dragging them to for years. Once he figures out that the family is dreading, rather than looking forward to, their upcoming vacation, Rusty decides a different direction—back to Walley World—is needed to reinvigorate the family's getaway.

Whether or not you find that moment amusing is a good predictor of how you'll react to the rest of Vacation , which traffics in the type of limit-pushing gags that have been done so many times in other films that they've become passé. Check our "Cautions" below for a detailed list.

Like Clark in the 1983 Vacation , James pursues a relationship with an attractive passerby ( Catherine Missal ) he sees during the family's drive, but his brother's crude teasing and his father's oblivious "wingman" interference hinder James's budding romance. Still, the scenes between James and his prospective girlfriend have an innocent spirit that the rest of the film decidedly lacks.

The "straight man" role in Vacation goes to Applegate as the sensible spouse who turns out to have had a wild side during her college days. The discovery of her past reputation coincides with a predictable scene of excess at a sorority party that is nonetheless amusing in showing that a grown woman's tolerance for college-age antics isn't what it once was.

So, yes, there's vomiting in Vacation , as well as a scene of the Griswolds taking a back road to bathe in some "hot springs" that turn out to be raw sewage. Nothing in the film is very surprising, and the gags aren't high-minded, obviously. Worse, the portrayal of a dad who can't do anything right and a wife who has to be the voice of reason smacks of the lamest sitcom-style marriages.

If there's a silver lining to this comedy, it's very thin. Vacation is little more than a series of gags—scatological and other—that test the audience's taste for gross, sometimes violent, humor.

So what live-action, adult-oriented comedies are out there for those interested in less provocative fare? Allow me to recommend Me and Earl and the Dying Girl . Though its theatrical run is nearing an end, the film—which is largely a drama with several comedic passages—is my favorite of the year so far. Reviewing  Vacation and Trainwreck , both of which made me cringe when they weren't coaxing laughs from me, has drawn me even more strongly to the relatively innocent laughs of the PG-13 Earl (which, as I stressed in my review, is only "clean" by comparison). That's a summer comedy worth seeking out, even if you have to take your own road trip to find a theater still playing it—something I can't say about the R-rated summer comedies I've seen, including Vacation .

CAUTIONS (may contain spoilers) :

• Language/Profanity: Lord's name taken in vain; the f-word; several uses of foul language; teasing references to boys having a vagina; "penis" written on a guitar; discussion of a swastika  
• Drinking/Smoking/Drugs: Drinking at a party; a woman consumes an excessive amount of beer before attempting to run an obstacle course; a husband and wife drink liquor and wine
• Sex/Nudity: Photo montages at the beginning and end of the film include a man's exposed backside, another man's exposed sex organ and animals having sex; a pilot puts his hands on a woman's breast during turbulence; discussion of "gender fluidity" and "rim jobs"; discussion of a "glory hole"; discussion of sex acts; kissing, including same-sex kissing at a party; jokes about sex offenders and pedophiles; a husband and wife shake up their sex life; painting of a penis and scrotum; a man stands in his underwear, and an outline of his penis can be seen; a husband and wife are caught trying to have sex on a state monument; a married couple is said to sleep around
• Violence/Crime: Several shots of characters vomiting; dad fake-stabs his son; a boy puts a plastic bag over brother's head; a woman driving on the highway hits another vehicle head-on; a man drives a tractor into an animal; a man goes over a waterfall

Publication date: July 28, 2015

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Movie Review: Vacation (2015)

• Greg Eichelberger
• Movie Reviews
• 8 responses
• --> July 31, 2015

Although the makers of Vacation are saying the film is a sequel and not a remake of its 1983 predecessor, “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” it’s difficult to see it as anything but. The plotlines are so similar it could be sued for identity theft: A goofy, but loving and cheery father (in this case, Ed Helms, “ The Hangover Part 3 ”) takes his reluctant brood across the country on a journey to the fictional Wally World amusement park. Here, though, the trippy dad is Rusty Griswold, the son of Clark (played by Chevy Chase, “ Hot Tub Time Machine ,” who also has a small and embarrassing part in this picture).

The clan runs into all kinds of problems in this comic misadventure, just like the first installment, but while that one had decent gags, stupid slapstick humor and great supporting stars (Beverly D’Angelo, Anthony Michael Hall, Randy Quaid, Imogene Coca, among others), the latest film replaces all of that with profanity, violence and death (yes, there are at least two deaths in this picture, yay!). I know, I am supposed to go along with the sick and twisted aspect here and I realize it’s not Shakespeare (I never expected that), but have we really become a movie-watching public (or a society, for that matter) that gets sustained laughs from such sources?

This is a movie review, however, and not a philosophical discussion, so let’s do a little reviewing, shall we? Here, Rusty is a pilot for a cut-rate airline who is treated like a second-class citizen by other company personnel (it’s not likely this would happen, but for the script’s sake, we will just move along). Discontented wife, Debbie (Christina Applegate, “ Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues ”) and children, James (Skyler Gisondo, “ The Amazing Spider-Man 2 ”) and the little brother from Hell, Kevin (Steele Stebbins, “A Haunted House 2”) are excited about going somewhere on vacation other than the same old cabin rental in Michigan, but when pop suggests a trip to Los Angeles and a theme park, their enthusiasm is cooled, especially after Russ rents an Albanian SUV complete with two gas tanks, a pair of electric charger cords and a control with confusing and nonsensical symbols.

Trouble begins immediately when they travel to Tennessee to visit Debbie’s old college sorority and find out she was a drunken slut (hurrah for family values!). In Arkansas, they have their luggage and money stolen, and bathe in raw sewage, but you saw that in the trailer. Then it’s off to Texas to visit sister, Audrey (Leslie Mann, “ The Change-Up ”) and her gorgeous weatherman husband, Stone (Chris Hemsworth, the Mighty Thor in “ Avengers: Age of Ultron ”), who gets to show off his rock hard, uh, physique, while Rusty gets to kill a steer with an ATV (the laughs just keep on coming). Finally in Arizona, they see Charlie Day (“ Horrible Bosses 2 ”) get killed during a river rafting trip, and run out of gas in the middle of the desert, but that’s okay, since their ridiculous vehicle blows up, anyway. In this scene, we finally get to see perky Rusty explode in series of expletives which recalls Chevy Chase’s wonderful outburst in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” although this time it’s nowhere near as funny or clever.

An unlikely rescue gets them to San Francisco, though, which just happens to be where Clark and Ellen now run a bed and breakfast. Instead of ending the movie and just going on, however, the Griswolds finally do get to Wally World where they get into a slow motion fist fight with the family of a snobby pilot (Ron Livingston, “ The Conjuring ”) and then get stuck on a rollercoaster.

A few laughs (mostly coming from the beginning credit roll with actual vacation photos and Hemsworth primping around showing off his firm body), but little else here which proves imitation isn’t always the greatest form of flattery. Musically Vacation is dead as well, as we get the 1995 Seal hit, “Kiss From a Rose” three times and the movie is book-ended by an obscene rap song (is there any other kind nowadays?), although Lindsey Buckingham’s “Holiday Road” is prominently featured. Also, there is no cousin Eddie or goofy co-stars, just a foul-mouthed 11-year old (Stebbins) who spouts profane words at an alarming clip which the parents seem to completely ignore, and situations that make the ones in the first film seem thoughtful and cerebral by comparison. Save money and rent either the first or third “Vacation” flicks. They are pretty stupid, but at least you will laugh — and that’s not such a bad thing in these depressing times anchored down by comedies like this.

Tagged: family , road trip , sequel , vacation

I have been a movie fan for most of my life and a film critic since 1986 (my first published review was for "Platoon"). Since that time I have written for several news and entertainment publications in California, Utah and Idaho. Big fan of the Academy Awards - but wish it would go back to the five-minute dinner it was in May, 1929. A former member of the San Diego Film Critics Society and current co-host of "The Movie Guys," each Sunday afternoon on KOGO AM 600 in San Diego with Kevin Finnerty.

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'Movie Review: Vacation (2015)' have 8 comments

July 31, 2015 @ 7:17 pm Manolo

I didn’t see any reason from the trailers to bother.

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July 31, 2015 @ 7:28 pm GOLDBERG

I’m too tired to get angry again over the lack of originality that’s taken over Hollywood. The product now speaks for itself. Support your indie filmmakers.

July 31, 2015 @ 8:14 pm exxonvaldez

I don’t even like the original…

July 31, 2015 @ 8:38 pm anything_guide

Ed Helms is an empty shell. He’s not funny and he’s definitely not leading man material.

July 31, 2015 @ 8:56 pm Pyros

Doesn’t matter to me since I’m not going to see it but you are giving a play by play for the entire movie. You should tag this review with a spoiler tag or other warning.

July 31, 2015 @ 9:25 pm Gingerbob

Sounds like it coulda been cool to see the siblings doing their own adventures

July 31, 2015 @ 9:42 pm MC Carltone

Christmas Vacation is the only good Vacation.

August 7, 2015 @ 9:10 pm cliff

Saw this piece of trash today and you are absolutely right. This appears to be aimed at 12 year olds who must think all bathroom humor (?) is hilarious. There were about 30 people in the audience and I heard mild laughter perhaps 3 times.

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Summary Following in his father’s footsteps and hoping for some much-needed family bonding, a grown-up Rusty Griswold (Ed Helms) surprises his wife, Debbie (Christina Applegate), and their two sons with a cross-country trip back to America?s “favorite family fun park,” Walley World.

Directed By : John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein

Written By : Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, John Hughes

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Movie Review: Vacation (2015)

by StevenHelmer

A review of the 2015 comedy starring Ed Helms and Christina Applegate.

Synopsis: Feeling his life and marriage are caught in a rut, Rusty Griswold decides to follow in his dad's footsteps by taking his family on a cross-country road trip to Wally World. Much like his dad, things don't go as planned and, in order to complete their journey, they need to first overcome a bunch of obstacles that threaten to ruin their vacation.

Who's In It?

The movie stars Ed Helms , Christina Applegate , Leslie Mann , Kaitlin Olson ,  Skyler Gisondo , Steele Stebbins , Colin Hanks and Chris Hemsworth .

When I first heard about this movie, I had some serious doubts about it. However, after seeing the previews for it, I ended up warming up to it a bit and, ultimately, ended up watching it with my wife last night. Unfortunately, after seeing this film, I'm now convinced my first instincts were correct.

To be fair, the movie did have some funny moments. I personally liked the "Albanian" van Rusty (Helms) rented for their road trip and all the little surprises they discovered while driving it. And, his accident with that steer was also a bit unexpected and funny.

However, while there were some funny moments, the rest of the film honestly seemed to lack the magic the original Vacation films had.

For one, there is an awful lot of swearing in this film. I probably wouldn't have minded it that much except for the fact the bulk up it came out of the mouth of their youngest child, Kevin (Stebbins). I don't know why Hollywood writers seem to think a child having the mouth of a sailor is funny. But, it just isn't. In fact, after the first 20 minutes, he was starting to irritate me to the point I seriously considered turning the movie off.

Also, considering this was a movie about a family vacation, there really wasn't a whole lot of focus on family bonding. Instead, the film seemed to be more about Rusty and his wife, Debbie (Applegate), trying to rekindle the spark in their marriage with plenty of discussion about where they should try to have sex. Again, that isn't something I'm necessarily opposed to in small quantities. But, I did feel it became a bit too much of the focus though, admittedly, it also led to one of the funnier moments in the film when they attempt to have sex on top the Four Corners Monument.

Final Opinion

I'm not sure if I would describe this film as a sequel or a reboot but, in either case, this movie lacked the charisma and charm the original Vacation films had. Even the cameo appearance by Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo  and the reintroduction of the original Griswold Wagon Queen Family Truckster weren't enough to make this movie as enjoyable as I hoped it would be. 

My Grade: C

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‘Vacation’ (2015) Movie Review

By Brad Brevet

I really don’t want to waste anymore time on this than is necessary. Vacation , written and directed by Horrible Bosses and The Incredible Burt Wonderstone scribes John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein , is a rebooted sequel to the original 1983 comedy National Lampoon’s Vacation . It uses self-awareness as a defense mechanism and feces as its punchlines, which is to say it knows it’s swimming in gutter humor and doing a poor job at it, but hopes you’ll excuse it out of nostalgia for the original and compassion for what it feels it’s up against. Hmmmm, best of luck to those that don’t even know the original exists.

How do you follow up a franchise of films that still stand tall more than 30 years after the original hit theaters? Well, having the family at the center of it all swim in sewage and attempt to clean out a bathtub that looks like a crime scene with a wad of pubic hair isn’t the answer. In fact, for the most part it’s pointless to compare this half-hearted attempt at a sequel to the original, but in one respect I must.

The original Vacation , same as this one, featured the Griswold family on a cross-country family road trip to the Walley World amusement park. The journey was fraught with stumbling blocks and Chevy Chase as the Griswold patriarch was just as dumb as he was big-hearted. In this reboot, Ed Helms steps into the lead role as Rusty, son to the Griswold idiot legacy, and his family is in a rut and he’s determined to bond with them on their own cross-country trip to Walley World. He rents a car made by and for morons (because, JOKES!) and his family begrudgingly joins him on a trip that should have ended before it began.

Rusty is joined by his wife, Debbie ( Christina Applegate ), and two sons, James and Kevin ( Skyler Gisondo and Steele Stebbins ). James is a goody-goody and Kevin is a foul-mouthed ass meant to provide comic relief by picking on his brother and shouting expletives. Actually, now that I think about it, he may actually be suffering from Tourette’s, in which case forget I ever called him an ass. Quietly moving on…

Along with swimming in sewage and staying in a hotel still in business most likely thanks to serial killers and truck stop hookers, a side-trip to visit Rusty’s sister ( Leslie Mann ) and her husband ( Chris Hemsworth in the only truly comical role in the film), a threatening trucker ( Norman Reedus ), a rival family led by Ron Livingston , a ridiculous water rafting trip and a “should have been deleted scene” at the Four Corners Monument along with countless half-assed callbacks to the original all make up a film where you might find a few chuckles (and a few more if you’ve somehow avoided all the trailers), but will most likely be waiting for it all to end.

At one point Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo show up, serving more as a reminder of what once was as neither one of them even resemble who they once were. Even a silly moment when Chase clumsily grabs a guitar out of a closet falls flat even though you begin to think it may have actually elicited a laugh had it been in a better movie. That’s where I really began to realize where this movie went wrong.

The original Vacation films weren’t this nasty or mean-spirited. There was an innocence to them all, a sense of family and a feeling of “let’s make the most of it” from pretty much all involved and even a bit of sadness and compassion when it was obvious nothing was going right. Here, it’s quite obvious none of these people wanted to be here except for Rusty, and that’s only because he’s too stupid to notice anything that’s going on around him. There’s no resemblance to the films this movie attempts to homage and therefore even the homages fall flat and for audiences that have no idea what the original Vacation even was they are truly going to be left with blank stares as the stupidity unfolds.

Vacation is rated R, but the humor is targeting a 13-and-under audience, an audience wholly unaware the original even exists, but at the very least it may have enough poop references for them to get a few laughs. In fact, that audience may be laughing at the fact I just wrote the word “poop” and to them, I say, “Have at it!” As for me, no thanks.

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‘Vacation’ Gets Burned by Critics: 7 of the Worst Reviews Trashing Ed Helms Sequel

“A rare reboot so foul and humorless it makes you question whatever attachment you might have to the original,” one critic writes

Film critics are not impressed by Ed Helms’ new slapstick comedy “Vacation,” a sequel to 1983 Chevy Chase vehicle “National Lampoon’s Vacation.”

With just a 29 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes , at the moment, the majority of critics are in agreement that the Warner Bros. release has potential as a family road trip gone awry, but fails to live up to expectations. Helms (“The Hangover”) stars as Rusty Griswold, who is married with kids of his own now and wants to relive his childhood trip to Walley World, so he drags his family across the country to do so. Christina Applegate (“Anchorman”) stars as his wife Debbie Griswold.

“Vacation” follows a similar storyline to its original, but critics agree the “pointless vulgarity” and “splatstick” humor rob the flick of a decent chance. This isn’t a movie for the kids — as proven by its R rating — but the adult content may be far too “unshaped” for an older crowd to appreciate.

“The new reboot/sequel ‘Vacation’ is all too true to the experience of taking a long family trip: there are a few special moments you’ll remember and talk about later, but for the most part, it’s a featureless, repetitive voyage that can’t be over soon enough,” TheWrap ‘s Alonso Duralde wrote in his review .

He’s not alone. Here are six other critics who advised readers against going along for the ride with the Griswolds.

Josh Bell of the Las Vegas Weekly wrote:

“Chase and Beverly D’Angelo briefly reprise their roles as Rusty’s parents, and there are numerous callbacks to the previous movies (primarily the first one). That only highlights how empty and cynical this new movie is, a series of belabored, poorly executed jokes that amount to a sad re-creation of a once-beloved comedy franchise.”

Rebecca Keegan of the Los Angeles Times  wrote:

“Like the original, this film is rated R, but Rs are raunchier than they used to be. Where the original ‘Vacation’ relied on slapstick for its laughs, the new film is dragged down by something grosser and more hostile — let’s call it splatstick. In the course of the movie’s 98 minutes, a pretty girl and a farm animal both get splattered, the family ends up elbow deep in raw sewage, and Debbie pukes her way through a visit to her old sorority. It’s enough to make you say, ‘Dad, pull over the car. I’m gonna be sick.’”

Lou Lumenick of the New York Post wrote:

“‘Vacation’ tries again and again to up the ante from its classic predecessor before calling in Chase and Beverly D’Angelo and even the original Truckster station wagon for brief appearances. But for all the F-bombs and references to ‘rim jobs’ and ‘glory holes,’ the geniuses behind the new film just don’t understand the difference between genuine subversiveness and pointless vulgarity.”

Stephanie Zacharek of Village Voice  wrote:

“The ‘Vacation’ formula — this time around, particularly — is somewhat odd to begin with. Some of the humor is slapsticky and kid-friendly… But most of the gags in ‘Vacation’ — which is rated R — involve language most responsible parents don’t want their tiny tots to hear, as well as invocations — though not depictions! — of things like glory holes and rimjobs… Kids will end up seeing it, of course — they always do — and it will hardly scar them for life. It’s not smart enough for that. Still, most of the jokes are just too vague and unshaped to be funny for anyone old enough to buy a ticket without a guardian.”

David Ehrlich of Time Out wrote:

“A rare reboot so foul and humorless it makes you question whatever attachment you might have to the original, this lazy retread of Harold Ramis’s 1983 ‘Vacation’ sours everything that’s made that film such an undying fixture of basic cable. Splitting the difference between a sequel and a remake, this ‘Vacation’ introduces the next generation of the hapless Griswold family by regurgitating the plot beats of the franchise’s first adventure.”

Will Leitch of Deadspin wrote:

“This new film is coated in something far more foul. Rather than putting a spin on the family comedy, this thing just doubles down on the crude, attempting to out-disgust the original and, well, that’s it. Any sweetness is tossed out the window, any goodwill toward this family is gone… This is less a ‘Vacation’ sequel than a ‘Hangover’ sequel. And if you’ve even seen any of the ‘Hangover’ sequels, you know that is bad news indeed.”

“Vacation” opens in theaters on July 29.

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Chevy Chase and Christie Brinkley have a Vacation reunion: 'Always over too soon!'

She made a cameo in Chase's 1983 comedy.

Clark W. Griswold ended up with the Girl in the Ferrari after all.

Actor Chevy Chase and model Christie Brinkley , costars in the 1983 movie National Lampoon's Vacation , reunited for several snapshots that both shared Monday on social media. Photos showed them hugging and smiling at the camera from the back of a moving car, which is appropriate for them.

"Vacation is always over too soon!" Brinkley captioned the images.

In the now iconic film, which kicked off a franchise of comedies about a hapless, boneheaded Chicago family man determined to create special memories for his family, which included Beverly D'Angelo as his wife, Ellen, and a rotating cast of younger actors as their kids, Rusty and Audrey. (This round it was Anthony Michael Hall and Dana Barron.)

Brinkley's part — her first acting role — came in during the Griswold family's road trip to a theme park called Walley World. As Clark piloted the clunky station wagon he secured for the trip, Brinkley cruised by in a Ferrari with an ’80s-tastic driver who inspired him to drive 80 miles per hour to keep up with her. His feelings matched the music playing: "I'm So Excited" by the Pointer Sisters.

Warner Brothers/courtesy Everett

Over the course of the John Hughes -penned film, Griswold encounters the woman again and again, whether in his real life or in his dreams.

Directed by the late Harold Ramis , National Lampoon's Vacation also starred Randy Quaid (as Cousin Eddie) and Miriam Flynn (as his wife Catherine). Brian Doyle-Murray, Eugene Levy , and John Candy all had small roles.

The model famously reprised her role for a cameo in 1997's Vegas Vacation , but that movie — the fourth in the franchise, after National Lampoon's European Vacation and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation — was not a hit.

Chase and D'Angelo played the Griswolds again, too, for the 2015 reboot of the franchise, called simply Vacation . In that one, Ed Helms stars as the patriarch of his own family who wants to take a trip like the one he once took to Walley World.

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The 15 Best Family Vacation Movies of All Time, Ranked

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Holidays and vacations can produce some of our most vivid memories, both good and bad. Things can go picture-perfect and according to plan, or everything can fall apart in the worst ways.

In cinema, family vacations are always destined to go wrong. Whether it's due to a flat tire, nosy tourists, or family dysfunction, family vacation movies are so beloved because of all that drama.

For this list, we're counting family vacation movies as those with a core family at its center, consisting of two members or more—and if it leaves us with poignant memories and stirring lessons, all the better.

Here are our picks for the best movies about family vacations, from wacky comedies to heart-wrenching tearjerkers.

15. Rugrats in Paris (2000)

Directed by Stig Bergqvist and Paul Demeyer

Starring Christine Cavanaugh, Elizabeth Daily, Cheryl Chase

Animation, Adventure, Comedy (1h 18m)

6.1 on IMDb — 76% on RT

The Rugrats are always on vacation mode in their movies, but their trip to Paris in Rugrats in Paris stands out as the best, which focuses more on the cowardly Chuckie than anything else.

When the entire family goes on a last-minute trip to the City of Lights, Chuckie sees it as an opportunity to find a mom.

While younger audiences will be delighted by the outrageous hijinks and potty humor, there's ample amounts of heart in Chuckie's arc. Setting him on a wild journey across a romanticized Paris makes this one of the better children's movies with a family vacation.

14. We're the Millers (2013)

Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber

Starring Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston, Emma Roberts

Comedy, Crime (1h 50m)

7.0 on IMDb — 48% on RT

We're the Millers snuck its way to becoming a cult favorite, with Will Poulter singing TLC's "Waterfalls" being a standout moment.

Generally, the road trip comedy follows a pot dealer (played by Jason Sudeikis) who persuades his neighbors—including stripper Rose (played by Jennifer Aniston)—to pose as his family while he smuggles drugs from Mexico.

This trip won't be easy, though, featuring issues like a broken RV, a tarantula bite, a prying couple, and a cartel boss after them. While flawed, We're the Millers keeps the "family" fun on the road.

13. Captain Ron (1992)

Directed by Thom Eberhardt

Starring Kurt Russell, Martin Short, Mary Kay Place

Adventure, Comedy (1h 40m)

5.8 on IMDb — 26% on RT

When a family asks a man named Captain Ron to sail them from the Caribbean to Miami, things turn out dangerously awesome.

Captain Ron stars Kurt Russell as the washed-up sailor who takes the Harvey family on his yacht to explore the Caribbean. Along the way, he butts heads with the father Martin (played by Martin Short) since the latter finds him shady and disingenuous.

Kurt Russell's performance as the titular mariner is a delight, nearly embodying the traits of the slacker/stoner archetype but lending his own charm.

Despite being a bumpy ride, Captain Ron is full of cool nonchalance that makes this film breezy and fun.

12. The Great Outdoors (1988)

Directed by Howard Deutch

Starring Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Stephanie Faracy

Comedy (1h 31m)

6.6 on IMDb — 40% on RT

Putting two comedy giants in a vacation movie is a surefire formula for success. In the case of The Great Outdoors , we have two comic stars playing against type.

John Candy plays an innocent straight man while Dan Aykroyd plays a mischievous schemer. When their families cross paths at a lake resort, trouble ensues.

Between the rapid-fire antics and oneupmanship between Aykroyd and Candy, The Great Outdoors is a vacation movie that both celebrates and pokes fun at the concept of vacationing in... the great outdoors.

11. What About Bob? (1991)

Directed by Frank Oz

Starring Bill Murray, Richard Dreyfuss, Julie Hagerty

Comedy (1h 39m)

7.0 on IMDb — 82% on RT

In What About Bob? , Bill Murray plays an eccentric man named Bob, the patient of psychotherapist Dr. Leo Marvin (played by Richard Dreyfuss).

When Bob follows his doctor on vacation and befriends his family, Dr. Marvin is driven to the edge of his own sanity.

In this black comedy by Frank Oz, What About Bob? takes full advantage of the drama between pompous doctor and idiot savant.

While Murray is charming as a clueless man, Dreyfuss owns his role as the typical father who just wants peace on his vacation.

10. Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962)

Directed by Henry Koster

Starring James Stewart, Maureen O'Hara, Fabian

Comedy, Family (1h 56m)

6.8 on IMDb — 80% on RT

Way back in the 1960s, vacation-centered movies were a staple in cinema, especially ones that were set on the beach. But if you want a full-on family vacation, James Stewart has one up his sleeve.

In Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation , James Stewart plays the titular father who desires nothing more than a peaceful holiday at the beach. However, his wife invites the entire family to join them.

What's meant to be a carefree and relaxing trip becomes a comedy of errors that calls for the fatherly James Stewart to resolve the Hobbs family's quandaries. He carries the film with his relatable energy and hilarious reactions to antics.

9. A Goofy Movie (1995)

Directed by Kevin Lima

Starring Bill Farmer, Jason Marsden, Jim Cummings

6.9 on IMDb — 61% on RT

Goofy has had his share of vacation moments where he—despite many mishaps—maintains a bright outlook and a smile on his face.

The best example of this remains A Goofy Movie , in which he embarks on a road trip with his son Max, not knowing that he's been misled to take him to nearby Los Angeles.

Typical vacation shenanigans are present here: tourist traps, failed fishing attempts, tracking down Bigfoot, and the car thrown into the river.

But what made this movie a cult classic is the timeless father-son bond between Goofy and Max that deeply connects to anyone's childhood.

8. Force Majeure (2014)

Directed by Ruben Östlund

Starring Johannes Kuhnke, Lisa Loven Kongsli, Clara Wettergren

Comedy, Drama (2h)

7.2 on IMDb — 93% on RT

With Force Majeure , we enter bleaker territory as far as movies about family vacations gone wrong.

This film by Ruben Östlund is most remembered for its infamous scene where an avalanche slams into a group of tourists dining on a mountainside deck. That avalanche ends up separating one Swedish family, who must find their way back to each other.

Force Majeure never relents in exposing the darkness beneath the pristine snow-covered scenery. Despite the idyllic Alps backdrop, reality sets in for husband-and-wife Tomas and Ebba, especially with regard to Tomas's unfaithfulness and Ebba's hysteria.

Disasters never take a vacation. In Force Majeure , disaster is an unwelcome and disturbing guest that joins in.

7. The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

Directed by Wes Anderson

Starring Owen Wilson, Adrien Brody, Jason Schwartzman

Adventure, Comedy, Drama (1h 31m)

7.2 on IMDb — 69% on RT

Director Wes Anderson gave us a kind of travelogue when he released The Darjeeling Limited .

Set in India, this film centers on three brothers—Francis (played by Owen Wilson), Peter (played by Adrien Brody), and Jack (played by Jason Schwartzman)—who convene for a "spiritual journey" aboard a train going across the countryside.

Even with its central conflict and recurring brotherly quarrels, The Darjeeling Limited is anchored by its lighthearted tone and stunning visuals that showcase India's hidden cultural gems.

Wes Anderson's typical quirkiness makes the film's themes of grief and spiritual peace resonate. There's a sense of Nirvana throughout, all the way to the film's iconic ending.

6. Dirty Dancing (1987)

Directed by Emile Ardolino

Starring Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Jerry Orbach

Drama, Music, Romance (1h 40m)

7.0 on IMDb — 72% on RT

Yes, Dirty Dancing counts as a family vacation movie! This one centers on a girl named Baby (played by Jennifer Grey) who's vacationing with her family but feels suffocated by them.

She ends up falling for summer dream boy Johnny Castle (played by Patrick Swayze), with whom she shares a love for dancing.

One thing this dance film successfully captures—like many of the best family vacation movies—is a sense of escapism. Baby finds it in Johnny and their passion for dance and it truly shows in every rehearsal.

5. On Golden Pond (1981)

Directed by Mark Rydell

Starring Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda

Drama (1h 49m)

7.6 on IMDb — 93% on RT

On Golden Pond is a film that emphasizes the father-daughter connection, with its emphasis made even stronger by starring a real-life father-daughter duo in Henry and Jane Fonda.

Based on the 1979 play, On Golden Pond explores the family dynamics between the cantankerous Norman and the strong-willed Chelsea. When Chelsea visits her parents at their cottage, Norman faces hardship over his old age and his daughter's independence.

Amidst idyllic scenery, Norman faces several dilemmas: with his marriage, with his relationship with his daughter, and with his acceptance of his new grandson Billy.

On Golden Pond is a rewarding journey that provides anyone watching with a renewed appreciation for family.

4. The Mitchells vs. The Machines (2021)

Directed by Michael Rianda and Jeff Rowe

Starring Abbi Jacobson, Danny McBride, Maya Rudolph

Animation, Adventure, Comedy (1h 54m)

7.6 on IMDb — 97% on RT

Imagine going on a family vacation, only to be roped into an epic tale where you end up saving the future.

The Mitchells vs. The Machines centers on the Mitchell family as they drive their teenager Katie (played by Abbi Jacobson) to college.

Along the way, however, they end up in the middle of a robot uprising. Meanwhile, Katie deals with the fallout from her father (played by Danny McBride).

While The Mitchells vs. The Machines leans into several road trip clichés, it also makes some serious flexes with its groundbreaking animation that incorporates many techniques as a celebration of film.

Yet, despite its technical prowess, the film never forgets its heart as a feel-good animated masterpiece with killer robots.

3. The Way, Way Back (2013)

Directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash

Starring Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney

Comedy, Drama (1h 43m)

7.4 on IMDb — 84% on RT

The coming-of-age film The Way, Way Back makes a solid argument that even when everyone didn't have fun, it was worthwhile that everyone was searching for ways to have fun.

The story follows a shy boy named Duncan (played by Liam James) who reluctantly joins his mom (played by Toni Collette) and her arrogant boyfriend (played by Steve Carell) on a summer vacation trip to Massachusetts.

Feeling left out, he finds comfort in a nearby waterpark and befriends a lifeguard named Owen (played by Sam Rockwell).

A whimsical tale of self-discovery, The Way, Way Back emphasizes the values of friendship, family, and fondness for things like being too serious as a water slide attendant.

2. Aftersun (2022)

Directed by Charlotte Wells

Starring Paul Mescal, Frankie Corio, Celia Rowlson-Hall

Drama (1h 42m)

7.7 on IMDb — 96% on RT

Perhaps the most heartbreaking movie on this list, Aftersun is a stirring coming-of-age drama about an 11-year-old girl who goes on vacation with her absentee father (played by Paul Mescal).

During her stay, she keenly observes the culture of the place—as well as her father Calum's downward spiral.

Aftersun is an almost ethereal experience as this father-daughter pair are swept up by the atmosphere of Turkey. But beneath it all, there's emotional devastation between Sophie and her distant father.

Aftersun isn't your typical family vacation movie—it's a deeply moving one that will definitely stick with you.

1. National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)

Directed by Harold Ramis

Starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Imogene Coca

Adventure, Comedy (1h 38m)

7.3 on IMDb — 94% on RT

The best movie about family vacations is an absolute classic that could even be considered the grandfather of family vacation movies.

Directed by John Hughes, National Lampoon's Vacation is based on John Hughes's own short story "Vacation '58" which he wrote for the National Lampoon magazine. The story details the cross-country hijinks that define the trip in this film.

The stars of the show are the Griswolds, whose patriarch Clark (played by Chevy Chase) longs to spend time with his family—by taking them across the country to a theme park named Walley World.

Along the way, they encounter a wacky cast of characters who push Clark to make the most of their family vacation.

Hilarious and heartfelt in equal measure, National Lampoon's Vacation is a comedy classic with an amazing legacy worth watching.

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27 of the Best Movies About Family Vacations

At Home / March 17, 2021 by Lisa Goodmurphy / 3 Comments

Are you at home and missing travel or looking for inspiration to plan your next family trip? Then grab a bowl of popcorn and hit the road vicariously by watching a movie about a family vacation!

These 27 movies about family vacations include films that can be enjoyed by everyone as well as those that are best for families with older kids and teens and involve everything from camping trips, road trips, cruises, European vacations and more.

There are a couple of serious movies but most are comedies about trips that go so incredibly wrong that any of your travel mishaps will look minor in comparison! I have included a few that stretch the definition of “family” a bit but they’re still fun vacation movies.

I have noted whether the movie is available on Amazon Prime, Netflix or Disney+ and if it’s available to rent or purchase on Amazon Prime Video or iTunes/Apple TV. They might be available on other subscription services as well.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to  Amazon.com  and affiliated sites.   As an Amazon affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Family-Friendly Movies About Family Vacations

These mostly G rated movies about family vacations are fun for the entire family.

The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003)

Rated PG, 1h 35m

In this movie which served as the finale for the Disney Channel series, Lizzie McGuire (Hilary Duff) and her friends graduate middle school and travel to Italy on a class trip. While in Rome, Lizzie is mistaken for Isabella, Italy’s biggest pop diva, and falls for Paolo who is Isabella’s singing partner and former boyfriend. It’s not exactly a family vacation but it’s a fun travel movie with kids featuring great scenery in Rome!

Available to watch on Disney+ and to rent/buy on Prime Video or iTunes.

Cars 2 (2011)

Rated G, 1h 46 m

In this sequel to the original Pixar Cars movie, Lightning McQueen and best friend Mater head out on the road from Radiator Springs to compete in the World Grand Prix to determine the world’s fastest car and Mater gets caught up in international espionage. Their adventures take the pair to Tokyo, London, Paris and a fictional Italian city called Porto Corsa.

A Goofy Movie (1995)

Rated G, 1h 20m

Lovable Goofy bonds with his teenage son, Max, on a hilarious cross-country road trip in this Disney animated film. En route to their fishing destination they find themselves up to their ears in misadventure. The trip is Max’s worst nightmare but before it’s over he just might discover that his dad is not so bad.

Available to watch on Disney+, to rent on Prime Video and to rent/buy on iTunes.

Cheaper By The Dozen 2 (2005)

Rated PG, 1h 34m

Feeling the family is breaking apart as the children grow up and move away, Tom (Steve Martin) persuades the entire family to take one last family vacation together at Lake Winnetka in this hilarious sequel to Cheaper By The Dozen . 

Their dream vacation, however, turns into an outrageous competition with the overachieving family of Tom’s long-time rival played by Eugene Levy. If you haven’t seen the original movie then you might want to watch it first to familiarize yourself with the members of the Baker family.

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Diary of A Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (2017)

Rated PG, 1h 32m

The Heffley family road trip to Meemaw’s 90th birthday party takes a wild detour thanks to Greg’s newest scheme to attend a video gaming convention. Based on a best-selling book series.

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018)

Rated PG, 1h 37m

It’s summer vacation and Dracula needs a break from the hotel business so he and his family embark on a luxury cruise ship vacation. When Dracula meets Ericka, the charming but mysterious captain of the monster cruise ship, it’s love at first sight but Ericka has a dangerous secret.

Available to watch on Netflix and to rent/buy on Prime Video or iTunes.

Rated PG, 1h 36m

Carl Fredericksen is a widower and retired balloon salesman who has dreamed all his life of visiting Paradise Falls in South America. Facing eviction to a retirement home and determined to make his dream come true, Carl ties thousands of balloons to his house and takes to the skies. But there’s one small complication – a Wilderness Explorer named Russell is an unexpected stowaway!

This Pixar film was the first animated feature to open the Cannes Film Festival and garnered a Best Picture Oscar nomination.

Available to watch on Disney+ and to rent/buy on Prime Video and iTunes.

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

Rated PG, 2h

In this sequel, Kevin McAllister manages to get left behind once again when his family leaves on vacation. This time they are headed to Florida and he winds up on a flight to New York City by himself.

It’s not truly a family vacation, however, Kevin does check into a nice hotel (using his father’s credit card) and see some of the sights while trying to foil the intentions of the burglars from the first movie who have been released from prison and are planning to rob the city’s biggest toy store on Christmas Eve.

College Road Trip (2008)

Rated G, 1h 24m

Raven-Symone plays an ambitious high school student who is looking forward to a girls-only road trip around the country to find the perfect college. The dream trip soon turns into a wacky nightmare, however, when her overprotective father, played by Martin Lawrence, decides that he’s escorting her.

Available to watch Disney+ and to rent/buy on Prime Video and iTunes.

Movies About Family Vacations Suitable for Older Kids/Teens/Adults

These movies about family vacations have more mature themes and are suitable for older viewers.

Midnight in Paris (2011)

Rated PG (13+ with content advisories), 2h

In this Woody Allen film, Owen Wilson plays a screenwriter who is on a trip to Paris with his fiancée’s family and finds himself mysteriously going back to the 1920’s every day at midnight. I first watched this film just before our family trip to Paris and loved seeing the Parisian locations that we were looking forward to visiting especially the gardens at the Musée Rodin.

Available to watch on Amazon Prime and to rent/buy on iTunes.

The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

Rated 7+ Older Kids by Amazon, 1h 16m

This Alfred Hitchcock thriller stars James Stewart and Doris Day as two American tourists whose son is kidnapped while in Morocco and taken to England after they accidentally stumble on an assassination plot. The McKennas’ lives hang in the balance as they race to save their son with a chilling showdown in London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Available on Amazon Prime (with a STARZ subscription) and to rent/buy on iTunes.

Dirty Dancing (1987)

Rated PG-13 for mature themes and sexuality, 1 h 40m

While vacationing with her family at a resort in the Catskills in New York state in 1963, innocent Frances ‘Baby’ Houseman falls in love with the resort’s dance instructor, Johnny Castle. A classic coming of age movie from the ’80s with great music and choreography.

Available to watch on Netflix and to rent/buy on Prime Video or iTunes

Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962)

Rated G , 1h 56m

James Stewart and Maureen O’Hara star in this comedy about a family vacation that doesn’t go according to plan. Mrs. Hobbs convinces her husband to escape their hectic city life by booking a seaside vacation with their children and grandchildren. One disaster after another befalls the family and Mr. Hobbs might need a vacation to recover from his vacation!

Available to rent/buy on Prime Video and iTunes.

National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)

Rated either 14A or 18+, 1h 38m

This classic goofball comedy starring Chevy Chase was the first in the National Lampoon Vacation film series. The all-American Griswold family have planned an all-American summer vacation – a road trip across the country from their home in suburban Chicago to a theme park in California – but EVERYTHING goes wrong along the way!

Available to watch on Amazon Prime with STARZ subscription and to rent/buy on Prime Video and iTunes.

National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985)

Rated PG and 16+, 1h, 33m

The Griswold family is back and they have won an all-expenses paid vacation tour in Europe in this sequel to National Lampoon’s Vacation. What could possibly go wrong? London, Paris, Germany and Rome will never be the same!

Available to watch on Amazon Prime with a STARZ subscription and to rent/buy on Prime Video and iTunes.

National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation (1997)

The Griswold family hits the road again – this time to the land of slot machines and show girls – Las Vegas.

Vacation (2015)

Rated 14A or 18+, 1h 38m

The Griswold children have grown up and now the next generation is hitting the road for some family vacation bonding. A grown-up Rusty Griswold surprises his wife and kids with a cross-country trip to the theme park that he visited with his family in the first film.

Available to rent/buy on Prime Video or iTunes.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Rated 14A or R, 1h 42m

When 7 year-old Olive (Abigail Breslin) gets an opportunity to compete in a beauty pageant in California, her entire quirky family hops in an unreliable Volkswagen bus to travel there from New Mexico.

The film was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar and won Best Original Screenplay. Alan Arkin also won for Best Supporting Actor and Breslin was nominated for Best Supporting Actress.

Available to watch on Disney+ and Amazon Prime with a STARZ subscription. Available to rent/buy on Prime Video and iTunes.

We’re the Millers (2013)

Rated 14A and 16+, 1h 50m

A small-time pot dealer needs to smuggle a shipment from Mexico to pay off a large debt to his supplier so he rounds up a fake family as a cover, rents an RV and hits the road for a 4th of July weekend south of the border. What could possibly go wrong?

Available to watch on Netflix and on Amazon Prime with a STARZ subscription. Available to rent/buy on Prime Video and iTunes.

Rated PG, 1h 38m

Workaholic Bob Munro, played by Robin Williams, convinces his family to cancel their Hawaiian vacation and spend some quality time together on a cross-country RV trip to the Rocky Mountains instead. Unbeknownst to the family, Bob’s true motive for the trip is attending a business meeting in Colorado but along the way he learns the true meaning of family.

The Great Outdoors (1988)

Rated PG, 1h 30m

John Candy and Dan Aykroyd star in this film about a family whose relaxing stay at a lakeside cabin is disrupted when the annoying in-laws crash the vacation.

Captain Ron (1992)

Rated 14A, 1h 40 m

In this 1990’s comedy, a stressed out executive played by Martin Short learns that he has inherited a yacht once owned by Clark Gable and travels to the Caribbean with his family to retrieve it. Captain Ron, a local sailor with both a questionable past and navigation skills, is hired to sail the family and the yacht back to Miami and the trip is anything but smooth sailing.

The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

Rated 14A, 1h 31m

In this comedy-drama directed by Wes Anderson, three estranged American brothers reunite a year after their father’s funeral for a spiritual journey across India on a luxury train.

Available to watch on Amazon Prime with a STARZ subscription. Available to rent/buy on Prime Video and iTunes.

What About Bob? (1991)

Rated PG, 1h 31m

Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss star in this film about an irritating patient who follows his psychotherapist who has left on a month-long vacation with his family at a lake in New Hampshire.

Like Father (2018)

Rated Mature, 1h 40m

Kristen Bell plays a workaholic advertising executive who is left at the altar and ends up going on her Caribbean honeymoon cruise with her estranged father played by Kelsey Grammar.

Available to watch on Netflix.

Lost in America (1985)

A satirical road comedy  film  starring Albert Brooks alongside Julie Hagerty as a married couple who decide to leave corporate America behind and travel across the country in a Winnebago.

Available to rent/buy on iTunes.

Johnson Family Vacation (2004)

Rated PG-13, 1h 37m

Nate Johnson (played by Cedric the Entertainer) sets out with three unruly kids and an unhappy wife on a cross-country road trip from California to Missouri for the family’s annual reunion.

Available to watch on Disney+ and on Amazon Prime with a STARZ subscription. Available to rent/buy on Prime Video and iTunes.

Do you have a favourite movie about family vacations? Let us know in the comments below.

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Reader Interactions

Harmony, Momma To Go

March 20, 2021 at 6:53 am

This was a fun list to scroll through – some movies I love from 80s/90s I want to rewatch with my kids (9 and. 12) – captain Ron I mean how funny! (Plus Caribbean wanderlust for sure) The Vacation movies are always a good choice, I think my kids are too young LOL I probably watched Vacation at their age.

Colleen Lanin

March 20, 2021 at 3:24 pm

Interesting list! I’ve only seen 10 of these. I’m adding Like Father to my viewing list!

October 16, 2021 at 9:49 am

This is such a great list! We have actually been at a stand-still with movies because I couldn’t figure out what to watch next. This is REALLY helpful because I can always get on board with a movie about a vacation and my daughter will LOVE that! Thanks for putting this together! – Linzey @thefamilyfuntour

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The Best Movies About Family Vacations

We’ve all been there. Heading out on a family vacation and things go so wrong they’re practically comical. Things break, fights happen, tempers flare and existing family issues escalate, even with the best family travel tips . At the same time, often lasting memories are formed, wonders shared, good times had and at the end of the day, even if you’re not sure that you’re better off having done it, at least you don’t have to think about it until the next holiday.

What does remain long after getting back home is the memories, and nothing cements memories more than experiencing it with your family who might talk about certain events that transpired for generations to come. .

Whether good or bad, family vacations are a part of life and they lend to rich stories and even richer movies. From National Lampoons Vacation to The Great Outdoors to On Golden Pond and Dirty Dancing these are some of the best movies about family vacations you can watch.

The Great Outdoors (1988)

PG – 1h 31m

Who doesn’t love the great outdoors? In this family vacation movie it seems that John Candy and Dan Akroyd might have a few bad words to say about it. This classic family vacation comedy takes 2 families and a dose of nature and combines them to numerous hijinks as the try to survive not only nature but their differences as well.

National Lampoons Vacation (1983)

R – 1h38m

Some of the most outlandish family vacation movies ever made involve the Griswolds (Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo) and none are better than the original movie that started the franchise. The Griswold family’s cross-country drive across the US to the closed Wally World theme park proves that sometimes it’s the trip rather than the destination that often matters.

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

R – 1h41m

When a dysfunctional 3 generation family decide to bring the youngest member to a beauty pageant on the other side of the country in an old VW van, you know there are going to be some memorable moments. Little Miss Sunshine has plenty of those, a stellar cast and plenty of touching moments as well.

The Way Way Back (2013)

PG 13 – 1h43m

Plenty of heart and adolescent issues highlight this retro coming of age dramedy and is proof that you never know where you’ll be once your vacation is over or what adventures you’ll have had together. With Steve Carell, Toni Collette and Sam Rockwell topping the list, there’s also stars aplenty.

National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985)

PG 13 – 1h35m

The Griswolds hilarious second family vacation takes them to Europe and differences in culture and attitudes are the center point for the outlandish scenarios that only the Griswolds can bring.

What About Bob? (1991)

PG – 1h39m

Ever have trouble disconnecting from work when the family heads out on vacation? Well, for psychiatrist Dr. Leo (Richard Dreyfuss), Bob (Bill Murray) is definitely someone that should be left behind to deal with when he returns from abroad. Instead, Bob becomes the proverbial thorn in Dr. Leo’s long overdue family vacation.

On Golden Pond (1981)

PG – 1h49m

In this rare look into a troubled father daughter relationship, real life father daughter team Henry Fonda and Jane Fonda, together with the great Katherine Hepburn turn this dramedy into one of the classics.

Diary of A Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (2017)

PG – 1h31m

While not as universally praised as the other movies in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, this one stands out as the most family vacationesque of them all. The Heffley family’s road trip to attend their grandmothers 90th birthday party goes off course thanks to Greg’s newest game convention scheme. Will he be able to make it a reality?

Dirty Dancing (1987)

PG-13 1h40m

This seminal romantic movie hit staring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey set to the 1963 backdrop of an upper class fancy summer resort retreat set in New Yorks Catskills mountains is a classic for a reason. From gender, ethnicity and monetary differences to doomed summer flings it highlights that when it comes to love and family, nothing else really matters. Well, maybe dancing…

PG – 1h349m

Robin Williams and Cheryl Hines lead this wild ride of a movie as proof that having an RV means family vacation times are best spent on the road. Couple in the fact that neither knows anything about RVing and their kids want nothing to do with either of them, and you have the makings for a entertaining family vacation.

Munster, Go Home! (1966)

PG – 1h36m

If you ever enjoyed the original black and white TV sitcom, The Munsters, then this vacation family movie with the original cast heading to England to see Herman take up the mantle of Lord of Munster Hall will tickle your funny bone for sure. If you thought your family is odd, you have never met the Munsters.

If you’re looking for other great family “monster” style movies, check out our other family Halloween movie favorites .

Johnson Family Vacation (2004)

PG-13 – 1h37m

Watch Cedric The Entertainer and Vanessa Williams shuttle their kids across the country as they head to see extended family. Three days in a new, tricked out SUV doesn’t sound so bad but in the same vein as the Griswolds, this family is in for a wild ride.

We’re the Millers (2013)

R – 1h50m

Ever wish your family wasn’t really related to you? In this funny comedy we get to see small time pot dealer Jason Sudeikis and his stripper friend, played by Jennifer Aniston, take to the highway with their “children” in order to move some product across the border. While they’re definitely not your average family, in the end they might as well be since, when you spend that long together, isn’t that the true meaning of family.

National Lampoon’s Vegas Vacation (1997)

PG – 1h33m

In the fourth movie in the series (the third was the one they stayed home for the holidays), the Griswolds are heading to Vegas. At this point I don’t think I need to say anything else however if you ever find yourselves next to Griswold, I guarantee something outlandishly funny is going to happen soon.

Grown Ups (2010)

PG-13 1h42m

What happens when you put Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade and Rob Schneider together in a cabin by the lake with all their families while trying to relive their youth? Chaos, plus a bunch of laughs as each of the guys tries to one up the other.

Captain Ron (1992)

An adorable father, played by Martin Short, inherits an old yacht when his family decides to set off on an adventure together on it. So what’s missing? Someone that can sail the boat and Captain Ron (Kurt Russell) looks like just the man for the job. As Martin loses control of the situation and all the girls take a liking to Captain Ron, comedy ensues in this family vacation movie set on the high seas.

The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2001)

PG – 1h53m

The only animated movie on this list, the Mitchells decide to drive their college bound daughter across the country for one final family vacation trip. What they haven’t counted on was the world being overrun by robots. While the animated effects just add to the fun, that doesn’t take away from the fact that this movie highlights some of the worse and the best highlights of a family vacation in an often entertaining matter.

Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962)

PG – 1h56m

The oldest movie on the list nevertheless fails to capture the quintessential chaos that a a family vacation movie often instills. James Stewart shows us that an old rundown house on the beach is still worth it’s weight in gold and the family learns that initial looks can often be deceiving, though sometimes, crazy is just crazy.

The Anderssons Hit the Road (2013)

PG – 1h35m

The only non english and subtitled family vacation movie on this list goes to show that families around the world have their own brand of chaos when they hit the road together. As the Anderssons take a road trip across Europe in search of an autograph for an old painting that could be worth millions, they discover that tracking someone down isn’t as easy when there are 5 of you.

A Very Brady Sequel (1996)

PG-13 1h30m

What happens when you take a classic family show produced in the 70’s and catapult them into the future? Well, if you’re a member of the Brady family that means prepare to be mocked severely. Nonetheless this movie is a fun romp through all the clichés that made the original series memorable. Throw them in Hawaii as part of the movie and you have a fun family vacation movie.

Vacation (2015)

R – 1h39m

Taking up the torch of his father, Rusty Griswold (Ed Helms) decides to take his wife (Christina Applegate) and two sons to Walley World in a bid to reconnect with his family and relive his previous trip as a child. Sure enough, Rusty is a chip off the old block and outlandish escapades soon follow as they cross the country for an unforgettable family vacation of their own.

Summer Rental (1985)

As we began this list with a John Candy movie, we’ll also end it. Summer Rental sees Candy heading to the beach for a family vacation retreat away from the hectic stress of life as an overworked flight controller. When they get to the beach house they realize it’s not what the brochure said and the family gets into a feud with the local yacht members. Will he vindicate the family pride or will their summer end in disaster…

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Norm of the north: family vacation.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 1 Review
• Kids Say 1 Review

Common Sense Media Review

Another Arctic adventure with polar bear family; some peril.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Norm of the North: Family Vacation is the fourth movie released in this direct-to-DVD and streaming franchise. Polar bear Norm is the "King of the North" and has the crown to prove it. He reigns over all the creatures in his Arctic domain. In this story, Norm must learn to balance…

Why Age 6+?

The fourth movie in the Norm of the North franchise.

Cartoon pratfalls and mild suspense. A torpedo doesn't reach its target; a storm

"Heinie," "poopy-pants."

Any Positive Content?

Strongly advocates balance in life: time for work/duty, time for family. Emphasi

Two parental figures learn important lessons about a "life in balance," not negl

Meant to entertain rather than educate.

Products & Purchases

Violence & scariness.

Cartoon pratfalls and mild suspense. A torpedo doesn't reach its target; a storm engulfs the heroes in a lengthy sequence with a giant wave overtaking them; a snowball attack; characters are trapped and held captive.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

Strongly advocates balance in life: time for work/duty, time for family. Emphasizes teamwork, loyalty, responsibility, honesty.

Positive Role Models

Two parental figures learn important lessons about a "life in balance," not neglecting family or duties to others, but managing to make both work. Families acknowledge value of team -- working together to meet goals and provide nurturing.

Educational Value

Parents need to know that Norm of the North: Family Vacation is the fourth movie released in this direct-to-DVD and streaming franchise. Polar bear Norm is the "King of the North" and has the crown to prove it. He reigns over all the creatures in his Arctic domain. In this story, Norm must learn to balance being a king and being a dad. His wife and three kids are ready to teach him. Some of the earlier "Norm" entries have been marked by potty humor; in this movie that element has been toned down, and only "heinie" and "poopie pants" are heard. The action and suspense are relatively mild: no one is hurt or injured. Characters survive a raging thunderstorm while on a boat made of ice. They're also targets of a torpedo that misses; they're captured and held hostage; and attacked by frozen snowballs launched from ice weapons. Though the cartoon violence is mostly mild and silly, there's a caution for those kids who are not yet comfortable with real versus pretend action. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say (1)
• Kids say (1)

Based on 1 parent review

NORTH OF THE NORM

What's the story.

Norm ( Andrew Toth ) is dealing with his very impatient family in NORM OF THE NORTH: FAMILY VACATION. His wife and three kids feel neglected by all the time Norm spends on the job. It's even worse at the moment. It isn't that he doesn't want to take his family on vacation as he's promised, it's just that the kingdom's annual Jubilee is only a short time away. There are preparations to be made. It's the most important festival of the year. At one historic moment, Norm will make his traditional climb to the top of the kingdom tower, place his crown on it, and guarantee everyone peace and abundance for the next year. If he fails, the kingdom will face a never-ending dark winter. When a masked intruder comes into Norm's home in the middle of the night and steals his crown, Norm is terrified. Seeing the villain escape on a boat, Norm knows the kingdom depends on his getting his crown back in time for the Jubilee. He must follow the culprit and retrieve his crown, no matter the cost. And, if his family accidentally believes that Norm's journey is really a surprise vacation for them, well, he'll just have to make that work, too.

Is It Any Good?

A tad better than the first three movies in the series is faint praise, but some of the jokes, characters, and silly action do work better this time around. Unfortunately, Norm of the North: Family Vacation still suffers from undistinguished animation, a routine story, and some truly thoughtless choices (a killer whale opting to sing "I'm a Little Teapot" for his musical number -- it doesn't get more uninspired and low-cost than that). The central story line has "villains" that make absolutely no sense, could never carry out their misdeeds as the characters are drawn, and when revealed suffer no consequences for their behavior. It's disappointing, because the franchise's fifth "adventure" is already in production, so the filmmakers have found a fan base. They simply need to respect their young audiences and give them something worthwhile.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the violence in Norm of the North: Family Vacation . Why is important for little kids, and especially sensitive ones, to understand the difference between real and cartoon scares before watching a movie like this one? How does your family decide what's age-appropriate? What's the impact of media violence on kids?

Many movies use a "ticking clock" plot device. In film terms, a "ticking clock" puts a time restraint (or deadline) on the characters' task. What's the "ticking clock" is this story?

The movie says that "A crown is not just a symbol, it's a responsibility." What does this statement mean to you? What other symbols can you think of that apply (i.e., a gavel, a badge)?

Movie Details

• On DVD or streaming : February 25, 2020
• Cast : Andrew Toth , Paul Dobson , Lisa Durupt
• Director : Anthony Bell
• Studio : Lionsgate Home Entertainment
• Genre : Family and Kids
• Topics : Adventures , Ocean Creatures , Wild Animals
• Run time : 88 minutes
• MPAA rating : NR
• Last updated : July 15, 2023

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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The dumb phone movement

Many people are trying to consciously uncouple from their smartphones as research continues to prove that they're bad for us . 

"A growing body of evidence shows that the more time a person spends consuming digital media each day, the more likely they are to struggle with depression and anxiety," Dr Anna Lembke, a professor of psychiatry at the Stanford School of Medicine, told The Guardian .

"Social media invites comparisons between ourselves and other people, leaving many of us feeling that we can never measure up to the illusory standards of achievement, beauty or happiness that are portrayed online," she added, describing a feeling many digital natives would be familiar with.

The 'dumb phone' is a call back to the days of the Nokia bricks our parents bought us when we started taking the bus home from school. They can text and call, and they have Snake (or 'Malibu Snake' on this Barbie-themed device), but they don't do much else. Having a phone like this frees the individual from the desire to look at their phone constantly, something most of us have to manage every day.

"In our fast-paced digital world, it can often feel like the online buzz never stops. This phone encourages you to ditch your smartphone in times when you just want less browsing and more fun, all with the help of a true cultural icon, Barbie," shared Lars Silberbauer, the Global Chief Marketing Officer at HMD. 

"We're bringing two brilliant things together. We cannot wait for people to get their hands on the device and take a holiday from their smartphone."

Barbie's influence

This phone plays into the nostalgic aspects of the Mattel brand that millennials love. It's no coincidence that these are the people who are likely trying to cut down on their screen time.

The phone has replacement covers inspired by former popular Barbies, plus stickers and wrist straps that also lean into the doll's girly domain.

It's also designed to keep the focus on mindfulness, with app icons offering 'digital balance tips', 'BarbieMeditation', and 'Self-care reminders' in the settings.

How can I get one?

The HMD Barbie Phone is available in Australia from September 5 at both Amazon and The Good Guys , for $199. In the meantime, you can check out these 'dumb phones' below and consider whether it's time to make the switch.

NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.

Nokia 225 4G DS in Dark Blue

AGM M8 4G Rugged Flip Phone

Opel Mobile Flip Phone 6

Nokia 2660 Flip Pop Pink

READ MORE: Accessories for your Apple products you didn't know you needed 

• Mobile Phones
• The Good Guys

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Damian Lewis Is The Vampire Patriarch of ‘The Radleys’ in New Trailer

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What's more delightful than one Damian Lewis ( Billions ) performance? Two Damian Lewis performances, of course, and for his upcoming dark comedy film, The Radleys, we get a double treat of the actor who plays twin brothers Paul and Will, the former being the patriarch of a suburban middle-class family struggling to keep his animalistic tendencies repressed. The film recently made its world premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival and is now headed for theaters this fall. Ahead of its release, Sky Cinema has released a trailer for the film, introducing the rest of us to the complex family dynamics at play within the Radley home.

Adapted from a novel of the same name by Matt Haig , The Radleys centers on the titular family, who pretend to be just an ordinary family as they are harbouring a bloody secret. They are vampires who, rather than give in to the craving for human blood, choose sobriety. For years, the family has done a nice job of unsuspiciously living a regular life until an unexpected occurrence at school involving their teenage daughter, Clara, threatens their exposure. Clara's vampiric side is activated when she gets into a fight at school that leads to the death of a boy. When her brother Rowan also begins to develop beastly traits, the kids approach their parents for explanation and Peter and his wife Helen are forced to confess their dark secret.

"We have a family disease," Peter tells their visibly perplexed kids in the trailer. "It makes you vulnerable to certain cravings," wife Helen adds. Peter soon abandons his failing attempt at information management and blurts: "We're vampires, we all are," much to Rowan's surprise, who asks if that is a metaphor, to which Peter replies "It's plain biological truth." Things get much more complicated with the arrival of Peter's twin Will who unlike the rest of the family stays true to his real self, indulging in blood-feasting with reckless abandon. With a neighbor hot on their trail and the kids struggling even more to suppress their thirst for blood, Peter is forced to ask for Will's help, which might just be a terrible decision.

Who Else Stars In 'The Radleys'?

Emmy and Golden Globe winner Damian Lewis is joined by another celebrated talent, Kelly Macdonald ( No Country for Old Men ) who, herself, is a recipient of numerous accolades, including a BAFTA Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award. Newcomers Harry Baxendale and Bo Bragason play the kids Rowan and Clara, respectively. The cast also includes Sophia Di Martino ( Loki ) and Shaun Parkes ( The Mummy Returns ).

The Radleys is directed by Welsh filmmaker Euros Lyn , ( Dream Horse ). Talitha Stevenson penned the screenplay, which was developed by Jo Brand . Debbie Gray produced for Genesius Pictures, while Lewis doubled as executive producer.

The Radleys will show in UK cinemas starting October 18th, right on time for Halloween, but a US release has not yet been set. Check out the trailer above.

• Damian Lewis