Just how valuable is the Vacation brand? Does Chevy Chase’s quartet of family comedies even qualify as a brand? New Line executives and director David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers) seem to think so and are gambling that moviegoers still have a soft spot for the Griswolds, last seen in 1997’s Vegas Vacation. The Hollywood Reporter wrote yesterday that the proposed film would focus on a grown-up Rusty and his own family, while Chase and Beverly D’Angelo might make token appearances as the grandparents.
As Vegas Vacation reinforced, the Griswold films are hardly sacred territory, so I’m not upset by New Line’s intentions. But why make a “Vacation” film at all? Does the name-recognition really help that much at the box office? According to the Hollywood Reporter, New Line hopes to craft a movie more like Little Miss Sunshine than RV, the Vacation-y 2006 road-romp starring Robin Williams. Great! Outstanding! But why bother calling it a Vacation movie at all? In fact, if New Line crams a Little Miss Sunshine movie into Vacation packaging, they threaten to alienate the few true Griswold fans who remain.
I’m not blind. I know that sequels and remakes are an essential pillar of the moviemaking industry, but in some cases, they seem to be bad business. Will Dobkins movie be penalized rather than rewarded at the box-office for being a Vacation film? I envision many people, even fans of the original and the underrated Christmas Vacation, sticking up their nose at this go-around, prejudging Dobkins’ personal LMS and condemning it to obscurity, fairly or unfairly.
This is a bad idea, right PopWatchers? Is the Vacation label a badge of courage or a scarlet letter at this point? Does a Vacation movie of any kind hold any promise for you? Can you imagine a new star capturing Chase’s goofy earnestness in the film?
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Every other Vacation film has been terrible, so they’re on schedule for a good one. I’ve always loved the perverse recasting of the children each installment — a pretty surreal joke for mainstream comedies. Plus, Randy Quaid has some legal bills to pay off.
Christmas Vacation is a holiday staple now. Its also by far the best one of them all.
If they have all the orignals return, this is a great idea. Not a reboot but a “further adventures of the Griswold clan”. Do you hate life so much that the Vacation movies are to be ashamed of? (Well maybe the Vegas one.)
DOne right, it can be hilarious, and the link to the original Vacation movie legitimizes it. It has potential.
rock on vacation movies…chevy chase in a supporting roll alone will bring enough vacation-lovers…to make it work..how about original rusty A.M. Hall for the title…bring original audrey back too..she is hot..
The Vacation movies are awesome! All of them! But, the idea of Rusty going out on his own could be very risky!!! I prefer Anthony Michael Hall or the Rusty from the European Vacation, they were the best Rusties! Chevy and Beverly should definitely have decent cameos. And remember, “Rusty don’t eat the Family Truckster”!!!
Christmas Vacation succeeded because
it was about Christmas. The moguls
had a 50-50 chance of guessing which
word to pursue. They guessed wrong.
Christmas Vacation is one of my favorite movies… if they can catch that spirit in a sequel then I’m all for it.
I agree. What does the writer mean “underrated”. Most people I know think Christmas was the best of all of them (with the original a close second).
Agreed. The most popular by far among my family and friends.
I never did understand the appeal of the original movie. Leaving the dog tied to the back of the vehicle – for laughs? Disgusting.
Don’t even bother including Chevy if Beverly D’Angelo and Randy Quaid can’t do it. “Cousin Eddie” and “Ellen” are just as important as “Clark”.
On a side note…can’t anybody think of anything original these days?
It could work. Especially if Anthony Michael Hall comes back to play Rusty. He’s been doing too much drama lately–time to get back into comedy. There could be so many great cameos in it.
Agreed- Casting AMF as Rusty would make it pretty appealing.
Make that AMH
I agree bring all the originals back but I think the original Audrey passed away didn’t she. Ps I love christmas Vacation and watch it every year.
Dana Hill from European Vacation died in ‘96. But the original Audrey — Dana Barron — is alive and well (and still looks good!)
Oh thanks I thought one of them did
they could always grab Juliette Lewis again, in a pinch.
The whole Vacation trilogy was histerical. I am a huge Chevy Chase fan. I would love to see more of him in anything…
Oh yeah, there were four Vacation movies, not a trilogy then, even better. I am gonna go rent European Vacation tonight, I haven’t seen it in forever…
Wasn’t Johnny Galecki the son in one of these turds? I would think that he and AM Hall would be too busy or overqualified to participate in a sequel. I guess Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo and Randy Quaid don’t have anything better to do. Ugh. Why don’t they remake “Porkys” while they’re at it. Count me out.
I’ll have some of the uh… some of the yella… now don’t get cheap on me.
I vote for Johnny Galecki (Rusty from Christmas Vacation) to be in on this instead of Anthony Michael Hall.
Chase wasn’t particularly funny in the 70’s & hasn’t gotten any better since. His political “activities” of late have only solidified his standing in the Hollywood Waste-of-Oxygen hall of fame.
How can you ever doubt Chevy Chase, The Awesome Talent!!!
Caddyshack was the one exception to an otherwise long list of just plain bad film & only because he was a sideshow bit to the rest of the cast. Beyond that he’s a one-trick-pony & the same old predictable schtick got stale a long time ago.