10 Movies I've Enjoyed for Whatever Reason #03 "National Lampoon's Vacation"

   The original and the best, I saw this film three times (with three different groups of friends) in it's first week here in the Cinema at Newcastle' Tower Cinema!! I went having read a blurb about it nearly six months earlier, trying to tell anyone who'd listen they should come along!! Expecting a B grade laugh... it was gold from beginning to end and showcased Chevy Chase' wonderful deadpan humour!! The premise is the long anticipated family holiday across the country to Roy Walley's "Walleyworld" with a long list of sights along the way... why would we fly, everyone does that? We can even visit family (including Cousin Eddie) make good time and be together while we travel...
   From the moment Clark W Griswold is pitched into accepting the wrong new car (the family truckster) and he and Ellen, take Audrey and Rusty cross country, I couldn't stop laughing!!
 
Classic scenes include:
- Clark not knowing where to put fuel sending the numberplate flying
- Christie Brinkley as 'The Girl in the Ferrari" later naked in the pool
- Falling asleep at the wheel and crash/spinning into the Hotel Car Park
- Lost luggage, money and car parts
- Aunt Edna, who dies in the car, wrapped and strapped to the roof
- Stranded in the desert
- The Policeman and Aunt Edna's dog's lead left dangling after being forgotten as they drove away
- Car graffiti in downtown LA
- Walleyworld being closed for maintenance when they finally arrive
- John Candy's cameo as the kidnapped Security Guard forced into the thrill rides
And so many more... 'Scraps', Randy Quade as Cousin Eddie (hamburger helper)

It serves no other purpose than a good laugh, phrases that entered the lexicon and the rest of the franchise where after the 'Pig in a Poke' UK Holiday that was OK, "Christmas Vacation" is almost as good and iconic as the original!!