Vacation is a classic comedy film that was released in 1983. It follows the Griswold family as they embark on a cross-country road trip to visit the famous amusement park, Walley World. However, the trip doesn’t exactly go as planned, and one of the most memorable moments of the movie is when they pick up Aunt Edna along the way.
If you haven’t seen the movie, be warned that there are spoilers ahead!
Who is Aunt Edna?
Aunt Edna is Clark Griswold’s (played by Chevy Chase) elderly aunt. She’s cantankerous, demanding, and not afraid to speak her mind. When Clark’s parents can’t take care of her anymore, he’s tasked with driving her from their home in Chicago to her son’s house in Phoenix.
The Road Trip
The trip starts off poorly when Aunt Edna insists on bringing her dog along for the ride. The dog is poorly behaved and causes all sorts of chaos throughout the journey. Things get even worse when they stop at a motel for the night and find that their car has been stolen.
Clark decides to rent an ugly station wagon to continue their journey. Unfortunately for them, this car has a lot of problems too – including a broken air conditioning system in the middle of summer. Aunt Edna complains incessantly about everything, making everyone’s lives miserable.
The Tragic End
As they near their destination at Walley World, things take a turn for the worse. Aunt Edna passes away while they’re driving through the desert. They’re forced to tie her body to the roof of the car – which leads to some hilarious scenes as other drivers react in shock.
So What Really Happened To Aunt Edna?
Many viewers have wondered what happened to Aunt Edna’s character after she died. In the movie, they simply leave her body tied to the roof of the car and continue on with their vacation. However, in an interview with National Lampoon magazine, director Harold Ramis revealed that there was originally a scene planned where they bury Aunt Edna in the desert.
Unfortunately, this scene was cut due to budget constraints. Ramis explained that it would have required them to dig a hole in the desert and then fill it back up again – something that would have been costly and time-consuming.
The Legacy of Aunt Edna
While Aunt Edna’s character is certainly memorable (and hilarious), she also serves as a reminder of how difficult it can be to travel with elderly relatives. It’s important to remember that they may have different needs and preferences than younger travelers – and sometimes, you just need to roll with the punches and make the best of a difficult situation.
In conclusion, Aunt Edna is an iconic character from Vacation who adds plenty of humor (and chaos) to the Griswold family’s road trip. While her fate is somewhat ambiguous in the movie, we know that she left an indelible mark on viewers’ memories – for better or for worse!