Common Sense Media Review
1980s family road comedy is dated and crude.
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National Lampoon's Vacation
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 17 parent reviews
Based on 52 kid reviews
Kids say this film is a hilarious yet edgy comedy that is best suited for older teens and adults due to its strong language, brief nudity, and mature themes, including sexual innuendos and drug references. While many viewers find it a classic and funny, they caution that it may not be appropriate for younger audiences, and some suggest watching it with older kids who can understand the content.
- hilarious humor
- strong language
- brief nudity
- mature themes
- classic comedy
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Poor Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase). Nothing seems to go right for him in NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VACATION during his family's road trip from Chicago to Los Angeles' Walley World amusement park. Things get off on the wrong foot when a slick car salesman (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. Aunt Edna (Imogene Coca) dies in the car, the dog pees on the picnic basket, and the credit cards get canceled. Meanwhile, Clark salivates over a blond woman in a red-hot Ferrari (Christie Brinkley), almost leading to the demise of his marriage. Will the Griswolds ever recover?
Is It Any Good?
This 1980s comedy has its fun moments. But the offensive humor in National Lampoon's Vacation hasn't aged well (and was never really OK to begin with). The scenes involving Black characters are particularly cringeworthy, and a strong undercurrent of "boys will be boys" excuses Clark's sexist behavior, such as cheating on his wife or holding a Black security officer at gunpoint and telling him to act like a dog. These hijinks are meant to be over the top, but the jokes punch down at anyone who isn't affluent and White. The end result is a time capsule of the 1980s -- both the good and the bad, with a sense of humor that's truly in the eye of the beholder.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about comedies. How can some of the things in National Lampoon's Vacation, like a dead dog or a dead aunt, be funny? Can you think of other popular movies that turn extreme situations into laughs -- or at least try to?
Where's the line between "risqué" and "offensive" when it comes to comedy? Who decides where that line is drawn?
Who do you think is the target audience for this movie? In what ways is that audience catered to? What types of viewers might not enjoy National Lampoon's Vacation?
How is sexuality portrayed in the movie, among tweens as well as adults? Does it feel accurate to today's messages about sexuality, or does it seem dated?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 29, 1983
- On DVD or streaming : July 29, 1997
- Cast : Chevy Chase , Beverly D'Angelo , Anthony Michael Hall , Randy Quaid
- Director : Harold Ramis
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Warner Bros.
- Genre : Comedy
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Run time : 99 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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