Fans of National Lampoon’s Vacation can rejoice, as the classic family comedy – er…comedy about a family, has finally found its way to 4K. This comes alongside the film’s 40th anniversary, so we’re getting to the point where restorations of older, more iconic films often line up their 4K upgrades to coincide with the closest anniversary, which shouldn’t be surprising to anyone at this point. As a fan of films across all genres, I’m just happy to see these decades old movies get a proper dust off (quite literally when it comes to some of the original source material studios are working with) that more often than not make them look as good as they did theatrically, and the best they ever have for home viewing.
Vacation is a film that was the early works of two Hollywood players who would continue to grow in the years to come. Firstly, there was John Hughes who wrote the script, in what was actually one of his first feature scripts, right before he became the voice of the ‘80s with The Breakfast Club and all his other hits that followed. Secondly, there’s the late, great Harold Ramis who directed a number of classic comedies, especially early on in his directorial career, and Vacation was one of them. Only his second time behind the camera (his first coming three years prior in Caddyshack), Vacation follows the Griswold family across the country, as Clark (Chevy Chase), who has found that work has kept him too busy of late, looks to make up for lost time by packing up the fam and heading from Chicago to California to visit Wally World. While his wife, Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo) insists they should fly, Clark is adamant about wanting to get closer to their kids, Rusty (Anthony Michael Hall) and Audrey (Dana Barron) and believes this road trip is the way to do it.
What follows is 90-minutes of craziness, as nothing quite goes as planned, and Clark’s sanity will be put to the test. At almost 40 years old most of the jokes still hit nicely and give a good laugh, and while there may not be an abundance of moments that have you busting a gut, the movie rarely fails to keep a smile on the viewers face throughout. The heights that Clark will go to in order to make sure his family not only enjoy the trip they’re on, but also make it to Wally World are above and beyond, with some instances truly being flat out hilarious.
This is all greatly in part to Ramis being someone who understands comedic beats and how to get the most out of his actors, while also having a fantastic cast to work with as well. We’ve got a brilliant Chase leading the charge, and his mannerisms and delivery are beyond spot on for what the role asks for. Then there’s D’Angelo, who gives Chase someone that’s more level-headed and logical – albeit overall supportive of her nutty husband – to bounce off. She’s wonderful in the matriarchal role, and her chemistry with Chase is completely natural, which elevates every scene they’re in together. Hall and Barron are also perfect, also nailing their comedic timing and delivery, holding their own alongside the likes of Chase, and truly rounding out the feeling like this is a real family we’re watching take this trip.
When it comes to the movie visually, Vacation has never looked better. It’s clear there was some solid restoration work done here, as there’s plenty of clarity to the images, with lots of details coming to light on characters, outfits and scenic shots, as well as a wonderful sense of high definition and sharpness from start to finish while not taking away the often-cherished filmic look of the original. Yes, everything has a slight grain look and feel to it that’s never distracting but does give the movie that old school feel you get with this type of visual. It’s really the best of both worlds when done right, and Warner Bros. has done it right with National Lampoon’s Vacation.
Unfortunately, the 4K disc is lacking in the special features that were found on the 30th anniversary disc, so if you’re looking for a release that has everything in one place then you’ll unfortunately have to wait for something that may never come. I’m not sure why the 30th anniversary Blu-ray wasn’t included in the release, or if there’s a reason that the nice feature length A&E documentary that was found there couldn’t be added here, but if you want everything then double dipping will be the only way to go. Luckily, it’s been a decade since that Blu-ray release, so fans of Vacation, or those who are just looking to upgrade their collection may not feel the usual sting of the double-dip as strongly thanks to the 4K restoration being worthy of the purchase on its own merits.
4K Blu-ray Video and Audio Review:
The 2160p/HDR restoration here is wonderfully done, with great care to elevate the picture on all fronts, while also keeping the original filmic feel to the majority of the scenes. As mentioned in the review, the textures and details are greatly boosted and visually noticeable throughout the movie, and that’s something that hasn’t been seen on this level in any prior home release of the film. Even with the lack of special features, this one is an easy recommendation for Vacation and 4K fans alike.
On the audio side of things we’ve got a DTS-HD 2.0, which again is the best that the film has seen at home but won’t blow you away if you’re an audiophile. Still, as a whole it gets the job done on a level where your average viewer will get everything they need from it, with dialogue being crisp and clear, while the soundtrack blasts through nicely alongside an overall mix that works well with the visual restoration.
Special features
Audio Commentary – While it is the lone feature in this release, it’s one that fans who own previous versions of Vacation will already have and may have already heard. This commentary track is packed with star power, with Ramis, Chase, Randy Quaid, Hall, Barron and producer Matty Simmons all talking about parts of the film throughout. With this may of the main cast and crew involved I did expect something a bit stronger, with more banter and inside scoops, but as a whole it’s just a fine listen for those who haven’t heard it yet.
Disclaimer: A review copy of this Blu-ray was sent to me to cover in honest and truthful fashion.
Warner Bros. Pictures Presents National Lampoon’s Vacation. Directed by: Harold Ramis. Written by: John Hughes. Starring: Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Anthony Michael Hall, Dana Barron, Imogene Coca, Christie Brinkley, Eugene Levy. Running time: 98 Minutes. Rating: R. Released on 4K Blu-ray: June 27, 2023.
