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National Lampoon's European Vacation

(1985, Rated PG-13, Comedy, Starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Dana Hill)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 13, age appropriate for kids over 15; suggested age 14.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Funny but extremely crass '80s family comedy.

Themes in this movie include:   dating/crushes, family relationships, gender issues

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–15

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    The bulk of the movie shows negative messages in a comic light, with the underlying message being the sanctity of family and respect for parents. The negatives are so extreme at points that they may overwhelm the positive message for some viewers. For example, while in the end the teenage son finds a smart, upstanding girlfriend and sees his parents as positive forces in his life, he previously got drunk and cavorted with a prostitute.

  • Role models :

    Though the Griswolds are foolish, for sure, and their ignorance makes other people's lives harder, they never intend to harm. For instance, when Clark hits a bicyclist because he's driving on the wrong side of the road, he's genuinely sorry and offers to make amends. His foolishness is meant as an example of what not to do. That said, the film is rife with stereotypes and behaviors, like the daughter's binge eating, that we would not want our children to emulate.

  • Violence:

    Several comic fistfights. Two instances of brief, mild sexual force.

  • Sex:

    Two scenes with bare breasts in a sexual context -- one is at burlesque club, the other is when a teen boy is making out with a teen girl. The parents have a healthy and active sexual relationship. Video of parents having sex accidentally gets out to public.

  • Language:

    Frequent strong language, mostly sexual, like "t-ts," "ass," "slut." One instance of "f--k" in French and displayed in English subtitle.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    The mom gets mad at her husband, starts drinking, and says she's going to get "plastered." One scene includes lots of beer drinking in the background. Teenage son gets drunk once.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About National Lampoon's European Vacation

Parents need to know that this comedy is overflowing with sexual references, including innuendo and nudity. Teenagers make out with other teenagers, sometimes in front of their parents. There are several brief, comically-portrayed displays of sexual force (including that of an adult to teen). Language is explicit, though always used humorously. Also, the teenage girl struggles with eating/weight issues that are exaggerated for comic effect.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about stereotypes. What kind of stereotypes about Europeans show up in the movie? Is there anything harmful about portraying stereotypes this way? What function do stereotypes perform in our understanding of different cultures?
  • Talk about relationships. What kind of relationships are on display here? Do these types of relationships seem familiar? Do the people in them seem happy? What is different about the girl Rusty meets in the end compared to the other girls he meets in Europe?
  • Families can talk about eating problems. What was Audrey's relationship to food? Do you know any people in real life who have food or weight struggles?
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Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    a10d38
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • Negative message

    good for teenagers not tweens or kids

    I dont like it myself its something i perdonaly dont care about seeing again it isnt appropriate for kids under 13 i don't think

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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