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National Lampoon's European Vacation
1985 95 min United States of America PG-13 12+
★5.9
Adventure, Comedy
Director: Amy Heckerling
Trailers
Description
The Griswolds win a vacation to Europe on a game show, and so pack their bags for the continent. They do their best to catch the flavor of Europe, but they just don't know how to be be good tourists. Besides, they have trouble taking holidays in countries where they CAN speak the language.
Budget:
$17M
US Gross:
$49.36M
Worldwide:
$49.36M
Starring
Chevy Chase
Actor
Beverly D'Angelo
Actor
Dana Hill
Actor
Awards
1 win & 1 nomination total
Key opinion
European Vacation is widely viewed as a lesser sequel that struggles to replicate the charm of its predecessor. While some enjoy its lighthearted, slapstick tone and iconic location shooting, many critics find the reliance on lazy national stereotypes and a meandering plot to be significant weaknesses.
| Acting | Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo deliver strong, consistent performances that anchor the chaotic family dynamic. | |
| Production | The use of genuine European location shooting provides a satisfying sense of scale and adventure. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is criticized for lacking a clear, driving objective, causing the narrative to feel aimless compared to the original film. | |
| Humor | The humor relies heavily on repetitive or underdeveloped national stereotypes, which some find offensive or uninspired. | |
| Pacing | The film's pacing is uneven, with a frantic, joke-heavy beginning that loses momentum and drags toward the final act. |