Vegas Vacation

Probably few have noticed that it had been six years since the last Griswald family trip. Now, they go to Vegas.

The franchise began with “National Lampoon’s Vacation” in 1983 when Clark Griswald got lost driving the family to Wally World, a fictional visit to a sanitized theme park.

The “plot” of “Vegas Vacation,” released in 1997, is so predictable that it could have been written by the writer’s children. MalVincent said in his review, “Dad gets a bonus for developing food preservatives (milk that lasts eight years) and announces, in game show terms, a fab vacation to the land of dice.”

There, the predictable happens. They get lost (again) driving to the hotel. Clark (Chevy Chase) meets an evil blackjack dealer (Wallace Shawn) and loses the family savings. Ellen, reprised by Beverly D’Angelo, is serenaded by showroom star Wayne Newton. Audrey, played by Marisol Nichols, is put into a tight dress and given a job dancing in a cage. Cousin Eddie, reprised by Randy Quaid, now living in a snake-filled desert trailer park that was once a testing ground for hydrogen bombs, shows up to eat $1.49 buffets.

However, stealing the film is newcomer Ethan Embry as Rusty. Vincent said, “Although under-age and with a false ID, Rusty becomes a high-roller, is befriended by gangster-like hanger-ons and learns the joys of bikini-clad companions in hot tubs.” Embry seems to love it so much that he brings the movie its only real energy.

Vincent admitted, “I remember getting mucho calls after reviewing one of the films because I commented that it was a ``family film'' but some family attendees thought it was too racy.” This time, you’re warned. Yes, it is about a family, but there are innuendos (even a look of incest involving Eddie’s shiftless family).

Vincent compared, “One might question the PG rating, but it seems pretty harmless - as if someone had made a faintly mischievous flick about Ozzie and Harriet.”

Newton, who often describes himself on stage as “a Cherokee Indian from Norfolk Virginia,” is either a good person or doesn’t realize that he’s destroying his own image.

Vincent ended his review by saying, “If you liked the other Griswald outings, or if you liked the movie editions of ``The Brady Bunch,'' there's no reason you won't like this repeat.” However, it is most definitely a repeat.

Like you might have noticed, this is showing the Griswold family really sinking deep with the franchise. This movie was a huge disappointment that it lost all credibility. They should have left well enough alone with how great “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” was. A great comeback followed up by another failure. What do you expect from people that just are after money? Do yourself a favor and never see this because you will regret ever playing this tragedy.

Next week we will finish off “National Lampoon Month” with the sad last effort with the Griswold family. Once again, I apologize for posting this late as I took a nap and didn’t realize it was for so long.