National Lampoon’s Vacation is a comedy film that was released in 1983. The movie stars Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold, a hapless father who takes his family on a disastrous cross-country road trip to an amusement park called Walley World. One of the most interesting things about the movie is its title, which begs the question: Why is it called National Lampoon’s Vacation?
To answer this question, we need to start by understanding what National Lampoon is. National Lampoon was a humor magazine that was founded in 1970.
The magazine was known for its irreverent and often controversial content, which included satirical articles, comics, and parodies of popular culture. Over time, National Lampoon became a cultural touchstone and launched the careers of many famous comedians, including John Belushi, Bill Murray, and Gilda Radner.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, National Lampoon began producing movies under the banner “National Lampoon’s Animal House,” which was a huge success. Encouraged by this success, they decided to make more movies under the same brand. That’s where “National Lampoon’s Vacation” comes in.
The movie “National Lampoon’s Vacation” was based on a short story called “Vacation ’58,” which had been published in National Lampoon magazine in 1979. The story was written by John Hughes, who also wrote the screenplay for the movie. Hughes’ story followed the misadventures of a family on their summer vacation and struck a chord with readers.
When it came time to make the movie adaptation of “Vacation ’58,” producers decided to use the National Lampoon brand for marketing purposes. By attaching the name “National Lampoon” to the title of the movie, they hoped to capitalize on the popularity of both National Lampoon magazine and “Animal House.”
In addition to the marketing benefits, using the National Lampoon brand also gave the filmmakers more creative freedom. Because National Lampoon was known for its irreverent and sometimes edgy humor, the producers felt that they could take more risks with the movie and push boundaries.
In conclusion, “National Lampoon’s Vacation” is called that because it was produced under the National Lampoon brand. The use of the brand name was a marketing strategy that helped to promote the movie and give the filmmakers more creative freedom. Today, “National Lampoon’s Vacation” is considered a classic comedy and continues to entertain audiences with its hilarious portrayal of a family vacation gone wrong.