National Lampoon's Vacation (R, 1983)

common sense media says

Funny family comedy, but dated and risque.

parents & educators say

27% say sexual content is an issue
27% say language is an issue

What parents need to know

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.

Positive 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.

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 applicable.

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

Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

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?

What's the story?

Poor Clark Griswald (Chevy Chase), nothing seems to go right for him and his dream vacation, a road trip from Chicago to California's Walley World amusement park. Things go wrong from the start when a slick car salesman played by Eugene Levy, convinces Clark to settle for a wood paneled puke green station wagon dubbed, "The Family Truckster" ("You think you hate it now, but just wait until you drive it"). On the road, anything that can go wrong does go wrong. Aunt Edna dies in the car, the dog pees on the picnic basket, and the credit cards get cancelled. Meanwhile a hot blonde in a red hot Ferrari (Christy Brinkley) flirts with Clark leading almost to the demise of his marriage. With the family's bond barely intact, they arrive at their final destination only to find the home of Marty Moose closed for repairs.

Is it any good?

NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VACATION is a classic comedy, and though this is R rated, it comes off tame by today's standards. Even kids who didn't grow up with Chevy Chase will enjoy watching him plays his usual deadpan character.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details

Studio: Warner Bros.
Director: Harold Ramis
Cast: Beverly D'Angelo, Chevy Chase, Randy Quaid
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 99 minutes
Theatrical release: July 29, 1983
DVD release: July 29, 1997
MPAA Rating: R

This review was written by Afsheen Nomai

Review It

What parents & educators say

Based on 11 parent & educator reviews:

27% say sexual content is an issue
27% say language is an issue

Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

ikiki311
kid, 12 years old

Iffy 4 kids aged under 15

I think that kids who realize they can't use bad language could handle this

What other families should know

Movie Details

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Genre

National Lampoon's Vacation (R, 1983)

common sense media says

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

More on National Lampoon's Vacation

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

What's the story?

What's the story?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?

Movie themes & details

Movie Details

Review It

Review National Lampoon's Vacation

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

Iffy 4 kids aged under 15

It was good

funny

F-bombs galore, and at the end the amount gets pretty scary. The best in the series.

There is no way this is 12+!!!!

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

I love this movie

perfect for older kids over 10

Not good for younger teens but older teens will love it as well as adults!

Family Movie

Not for Kids

Find edited version, Walmart has ruined this movie for ever for the family

12+

Its Not that Bad!

I was 7 when I saw it

It depends...

i luved it

Catch the TV version

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