National Lampoons Vacation (1983) 68.5 Points

59 Chuckles, 18 Laughs, 7 Belly Laughs

Notes: This movie is very much like Planes, Trains and Automobiles - the ridiculously challenging roadtrip where everything goes wrong. I saw this movie only once, when I was a teenager, in the movie theatre but yet, somehow I knew most of the lines, probably because my friends and I would recite them so often (so many quotable lines). This movie is rated "R" and I cringed when my parents walked in and sat down two rows in front of me. They left about mid-way through, outraged by... any number of things. I did not leave because I was pretty sure they hadn't seen me there. This is a John Hughes movie starring Chevy Chase, who was red-hot in the 1980's. It was so hilarious to see their computer. Their car is a hilarious station wagon (the "family truckster"). I was taken aback by Anthony Michael's joy in every scene. He genuinely seemed to be enjoying himself. It was so surprising to see a young Jane Krakowski (30 Rock). My favorite character is still Randy Quaid playing "Uncle Eddie!"