Amazon.com video review:
Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the casino,
along comes the Griswold family from the popular series of National
Lampoon's Vacation movies, raising a ruckus in the now
family-friendly gambling capitol of the world. Clark (Chevy Chase),
the bumbling Griswold patriarch, gets into his usual quota of
trouble--especially on a sightseeing trip to the Hoover Dam (where
puns on the word "dam" come fast, furious, and idiotic). Meanwhile,
Mrs. Griswold (Beverly D'Angelo) gets to sing an ear-piercing
rendition of "Lovin' You" on stage with her idol, Wayne Newton (one of
the movie's comedic highlights), while son Rusty poses as a high
roller and daughter Audrey trains as an exotic dancer. Randy Quaid
reprises his scene-stealing role from the original Vacation movie,
but let's face it--the series had already worn out its welcome, and
this belated sequel earns a few good laughs but hardly qualifies as a
worthy revival. Not bad as no-brainers go, but not up to par with the
original film, and its better sequels like National Lampoon's
Christmas Vacation. --Jeff Shannon
Amazon.com video review:
Check your brain at the door, because it's time once again for
a dim-witted visit to Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) and his
happy-go-lucky family, who hit the Vegas strip for this vacation. (The
kids who originally played the Griswold children have been replaced.)
The Griswold exploits in the casinos are good for a few embarrassed
chuckles, especially when Mrs. Griswold (Beverly D'Angelo) gets
onstage with Wayne Newton for a truly mind-altering rendition of
Minnie Ripperton's ear-piercing 1970s hit "Loving You." And
because he scored so many low-brow points as the lame-brained cousin
in the original National Lampoon's
Vacation, Randy Quaid is back to cause a lot of trouble, while
Chevy Chase is reduced to uninspired slapstick and endless puns
involving the word damn. In other words, Vegas Vacation
is the kind of comedy that can convince you that civilization is
doomed. --Jeff Shannon
