Reely Bernie Faves: National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)

Something must be said about the over-the-top goofy dad.

That’s my dad.

And, he kind of looked like Chevy Chase back in the 80s.

Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold possesses an unrestrained enthusiasm for his family and their road trip to Wally World—a fictional adventure park that supposedly brings solutions to parental challenges and reward for any dad who gets to be a dad.

We know the trip is going to be a disaster, but the Chevy/Clark duo is a practice of endearing resiliency that makes me laugh and reminds me not only of my dad but the words my dad would say when I find myself facing similar fiascos while on vacation.

I can hear Chevy’s voice and my dad’s voice when I recall the western themed restaurant scene:

Hey, Yellabelly, I’m talking to you!

Hey, Tenderfoot, move your chicken wings, turkey!

And, how about that “family truckster?”

For me, my favorite movies are less about the quotes and more about hearing the quotes in my head days and even years later. The tone quality, inflection, and scansion are like music to me. So, when I quote or sing the lyrics to “Deep River,” I don’t think of the message, context, or melody. Rather, I instantly hear Chevy Chase singing it in his car to his family. My dad does his impression all the time.

“It’s all part of the experience” is what you get most out of National Lampoon’s Vacation, especially when you think of it while going on your own family vacation.

One of the camping huts will smell (“Edna, this is your tent”).

A detour might land you in the middle of a desert:

Russ: “Wow, Dad, we must have jumped that rail by like 50 yards.”

Clark: “Nothing to be proud of, Russ…[proudly to himself] FIF-TY yards.”

And, all the mishaps might make you want to turn around and go back home. “Well, I’ll tell you something: this is no longer a vacation. It’s a quest. It’s a quest for fun! I’m gonna have fun, and you’re gonna have fun…” (you know the rest if you’re a true follower of the movie).

Chevy does lose it in the end. Twice. But, it always made him out to be more human in my eyes. Now that I’m a dad, I downright empathize.

The over-the-top goofy dad and his beloved family finally get to Wally World and ride down the Colossus roller coaster to “Dancin’ Across the USA” by Lindsey Buckingham (a young John Candy in tow).

“Vacation” is a tribute to my dad and all the efforts he put into making his three sons happy. We are grateful, Dad, and I’m glad I watched this movie with you many times as a kid.

Reely Bernie Faves:

44. TBA

44. National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)

45. The Florida Project (2017)

46. Cinema Paradiso (1988)

47. So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993)

48. Shadowlands (1993)

49. Steve Jobs (2015)

50. ¡Three Amigos! (1986)