Is Vacation a Remake of National Lampoon’s?

By Robert Palmer

Are you a fan of National Lampoon’s classic comedy “Vacation”? If so, you might be curious about the 2015 remake starring Ed Helms and Christina Applegate.

Is it a faithful adaptation of the original movie, or does it stray from the source material? Let’s take a closer look.

Plot

The plot of the 2015 “Vacation” movie follows the same basic structure as the original. Rusty Griswold (played by Ed Helms) decides to take his family on a road trip to Walley World, just like his father did with him when he was a child. Along the way, they encounter a series of mishaps and misadventures that threaten to derail their vacation.

Characters

While some of the characters in the 2015 “Vacation” are new (such as Rusty’s wife and children), many of them are updated versions of familiar faces from the original movie. For example, Chevy Chase makes an appearance as Clark Griswold, Rusty’s father. However, some fans have criticized the new movie for not capturing the same chemistry between characters that made the original so memorable.

Tone

One major difference between the two movies is tone. While both films are comedies, “National Lampoon’s Vacation” has a certain irreverent charm that comes from being made in the 1980s.

The new “Vacation” tries to recapture that spirit but falls short in some areas. Some critics feel that while it has its funny moments, overall it is too crass and mean-spirited compared to its predecessor.

Conclusion

So is “Vacation” a remake of National Lampoon’s? Yes and no.

It certainly shares many similarities with the original movie – from its plot to its characters to its general sense of humor. However, it’s important to remember that the new movie is not a shot-for-shot remake but rather an updated take on the classic story. Whether or not you enjoy it will likely depend on your personal taste in humor and your attachment to the original film.