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National Lampoon's Vacation

(1983, Rated R, Comedy, Starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 15.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Funny family comedy, but dated and risque.

updated 07.04.08

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–18

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Traditional family, with loving but slow-witted father who always tries to do good for his family. He does, however, brandish a gun at the end.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence :

    Some threat of violence. Most violence is cartoonish (a dog is dragged to death by accident).
  • Sex :

    Flirting, frequently suggested and implied sex, brief nudity, implied masturbation.
  • Language:

    All major curse words used, somewhat frequently, until end of film when language gets courser.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Implied marijuana use by kids, young boy chugs a beer his father gives him, otherwise very little drinking and smoking.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About National Lampoon's Vacation

Parents need to know that this film's humor relies mostly on innuendo. While drug use and sex are never seen, they're very frequently implied and are generally the butt of jokes. The father of this family comes close to cheating on his wife but doesn't succeed and realizes that he loves his wife. Like every other social taboo this film encounters, the father's almost cheating is treated as a joke, as he is rather inept at it.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about comedies. How can a dead dog -- or a dead old lady -- be funny? Can you think of other popular movies that turn disgusting and depraved situations into laughs -- or at least try to? How far can filmmakers push it before they've crossed the line into true tasteless territory? Who do you think most of these movies are targeted to? How do you know?
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Our Members Say

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  • What did you think about National Lampoon's Vacation?
  •  I think this movie is

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See all 15 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer
    Age 14
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

    Family Movie

    THE BEST COMEDY OF ALL TIME! The perfect movie to watch with the whole family (if kids are about this age). Very little nudity, pretty strong language, and a dog left tied to the rear bumper and dragged to death.

  2. Teen Reviewer
    Age 13
    Lives in Connecticut
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 5.0

    I laughed so hard I had to go to the hospatol to get my stomach stapled.

    I love this movie. I got it when I was six for christmas. I laughed so hard I really had to go to the hospatol to get my stomach stapled because my splean fell out. Well what I was trying to say is that this movie is pretty good for the younger ones because the sex stuff is mild and fly right over the littles heads. I don't know why it was rated R. My baby sister ( she was 4) did'nt get the sex stuff. This movie is difenitley a family comedy. So your kids will probbaly like this movie. And parents will too. Trust me you will NOT be dissipointed with this movie. But you will be dissipointed with epic movie. Check my review for that too. So bye till next time.

  3. Teen Reviewer
    Age 13
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 5.0

    I love this movie

    This movie is an example of how much Clark can flip out. I love Chevy Chase in this one, also the moose (fake) that he punches. The scene where the aunt dies classic I love what they do to her. Check out The Christmas Vacation too.

  4. Teen Reviewer
    Age 15
    Lives in Tennessee
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 5.0

    It was good

    This a true American classic. There are a few iffy spots, but not bad at all. Wow, shortest review that I have ever written.

  5. Teen Reviewer
    Age 14
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

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