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DVD Movie Rating for: National Lampoon's European Vacation

Rating for National Lampoon's European Vacation : 4 out of 5 stars

Movie Plot of: National Lampoon's European Vacation

The first time the Clark Griswald family took a trip - in National Lampoon's Vacation - the whole moviegoing nation went along for the ride...and went bonkers! Now the Griswalds are back, bags packed, for another disaster-prone tour that's just as sidesplittingly zonked-out as the first. Their destination is National Lampoon's European Vacation - and all the laugh stops in-between. Chevy Chase returns as all-American dad Clark Griswald, an endearing klutz who careens through Ide with one foot in his mouth and the other on a banana peel. And Beverly D'Angelo reprises her rote as Ellen, Clark's lovely, long-suffering wife. Together with teenage offspring Rusty (Jason Lively) and Audrey (Dana Hill) they defeat an academically over-privileged family on TV's Pig in a Poke game show and win a deluxe tour of Europe. Ecstatic Clark, who seems to have O.D.'d on Father Knows Best reruns, plans a getaway jammed with forced family togetherness. He's sure the next two weeks

The deluxe accommodations aren't. Clark just eeecqi') Ys the hang of left-handed English driving...and ends up leaving Stonehenge unhinged. Rusty goes nightclubbing to cherchez les femmes, finds a fetching French lady of the night and runsright into Mom and Dad. Audrey, jilted by the boy she left behind, compensates by eating her way through Europe. Clark' s home videos of a playful towel-clad Ellen fall into the sleazy hands of porno filmmaker. And Clark, misty-eyed at visiting his ancenstralf land, turns a slap-dancing polka into a slap-happy free-for-all his Bavarian brethren. For the Griswalds, it's just typical holiday road havoc. For you, it's the high road to hilarity. So travel with Chevy and company en the wildest, weirdest, wackiest vacation of all time, National Lampoon's European Vacation.

DVD Production Details of: National Lampoon's European Vacation

Starring: Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo
Director: Amy Heckerling

Format: Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen
Aspect Ratio(s): 1.85:1
Audio Encoding: Dolby Digital 2.0
Studio: Warner Home Video
DVD Release Date: February 4, 2003

DVD Extra Bonus Features

Available subtitles: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Thai, Chinese (Unspecified) Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 2.0), French (Dolby Digital 2.0)

Commentary by Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo

Cast film highlights

European Vacation Laserdisc version

Laserdisc information for: National Lampoon's European Vacacation:
Laserdisc: 11521LV, Extended Play, NTSC, Laservision

Cast of the movie: National Lampoon's European Vacation

• Chevy Chase .... Clark Wilhelm Griswold, Jr.
• Beverly D'Angelo .... Ellen Griswold
• Dana Hill .... Audrey Griswold
• Jason Lively .... Russell 'Rusty' Griswold
• John Astin .... Kent Winkdale, host of 'Pig in a Poke'/Policeman at Stonehenge, England
• Sheila Kennedy .... Game Show Hostess #1
• Paul Bartel .... Mr. Froeger
• Cynthia Szigeti .... Mrs. Froeger
• Malcolm Danare .... Son Froeger
• Kevi Kendall .... Daughter Froeger
• Tricia Lange .... Game Show Hostess #2
• William Zabka .... Jack
• Wendy Goldman .... Stewardess
• Angus MacKay .... Announcer at Court
• Julie Wooldridge .... Princess Diana
• Peter Hugo .... Prince Charles
• Jeannette Charles .... Queen Elizabeth
• Derek Deadman .... Taxi Driver
• Mel Smith .... Hotel Manager
• Gwen Nelson .... Hotel Manager's Mother
• Robbie Coltrane .... Man in the Bathroom
• Maureen Lipman .... Lady in the Bed
• Paul McDowell .... First English Motorist
• Ballard Berkeley .... Second English Motorist
• Eric Idle .... Bike Rider
• Elizabeth Arlen .... Mrs. Garland
• David Gersh .... Mr. Garland
• Jacques Herlin .... Hotel Desk Clerk
• Jacques Maury .... Hotel's Assistant Manager
• Philippe Sturbelle .... Cafe Waiter
• Alice Sapritch .... Dowager on the Eiffel Tower
• Isa Carol Horio .... Blonde Girl at Eiffel Tower
• Isabelle Massaro .... Brunette Girl at Eiffel Tower
• Sylvie Badalati .... Rusty's French Girl
• Didier Pain .... Video Camera Thief
• Willy Millowitsch .... Fritz Spritz
• Erika Wackernagel .... Helga Spritz
• Claudia Neidig .... Claudia, Rusty's German Girl
• Victor Lanoux .... The Thief
• Massimo Sarchielli .... The Other Thief
• Jorge Krimer .... Unfortunate Express Agent
• Moon Unit Zappa .... Rusty's California Girl
• Gloria Charles .... Stewardess
• Salvatore Billa .... Policeman

Photo Gallery of the movie: National Lampoon's European Vacation

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Reviews of the movie: National Lampoon's European Vacation

After surviving Walley World, the Griswold family wins a two week vacation to Europe on a popular game show. Traveling through England, France, Italy and Germany, the Griswolds face their share of comical problems. Audrey (Dana Hill) misses her boyfriend, Rusty (Jason Lively) wants to be treated like a man, Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo) inadvertantly becomes a European adult film star, and Clark (Chevy Chase) just causes mayhem wherever he goes.

The scenes in England work best, particularly the sequence where Clark gets into numerous traffic accidents within the span of three minutes, and another where he cannot make a left turn out of the lane of traffic he's in. Also, the "Sound of Griswold" dream sequence and the ridiculous dance number in Germany that Clark participates in are equally hilarious. It's not Chevy Chase's best work, but its far from his worst.

National Lampoon's European Vacation is available on DVD from Warner Home Video. The disc contains the film in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, a first not only for this film on any home video format, but it's also the first Vacation film to appear on DVD in its original aspect ratio (the other three are full frame releases). Warner gets extra credit for using the original artwork for the DVD case.

While extras aren't plentiful on this release, their quality is certainly appreciated. First up is the original theatrical trailer, which looks fine and did exactly what a trailer should have done to get people into the theaters. Then, after the usual cast and crew info, you get the meat of this release: a full length commentary track with star Chevy Chase. While the track is not wall-to-wall jokes or information, Chevy Chase does a great job just talking about his experiences on the film and takes the time to enjoy the film along with us. About 20 minutes into the track, he even remarks at how he always though the film "stank", but seeing it again has changed his opinion (one can only wonder if he'd change his tune about Oh Heavenly Dog if he'd ever sit through that one).

Chevy Chase even acknowledges (albeit briefly) my favorite moment in the film. During the big car chase finale, there's a moment where Chevy Chase clearly shouts "Oh f*ck!" and dubbed in its place is the innocent line "Darn it all!". It's such an absurd overdub that it's hilarious. I've loved that moment ever since I was a kid.

This is exactly what Chevy Chase needs to be doing with his time right now. Commentary tracks for his body of work will be great for his fans to enjoy, and after a while, interest will build in seeing him back in starring roles again. Warner should revisit the three existing Vacation DVDs and give them better treatment (along with releasing or re-releasing Spies Like Us, Deal of the Century and Funny Farm, to name a few). Chevy Chase sounds eager to talk, so attention studios... please give him the outlet. Fans should pick up this disc and enjoy.