Cole Clay // Film Critic
VACATION | 99 min | R
Director: John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein
Cast: Ed Helms, Christina Applegate, Skyler Gisondo, Steele Stebbins, Chris Hemsworth and Leslie Mann
Nothing is held sacred today in film. Reboots, rehashes, and remakes crowd our megaplexes, but not without the unheard complaints of thousands, if not billions, of anonymous arm chair film executives on the comment boards. Thereās no point in voicing your disgust with the latest reboot of whatever 80ās property you watched as a kid because itās just an inevitability now. And hot of the presses (some of them are actually good), so just embrace the changing of the tides and maybe you will be surprised. Take for example, the reboot of VACATION. Itās a remake that nobody saw coming, or were asking for; itās really just an excuse to make a quick buck and get some R rated laughs– everybody wins.
Directed/penned by FREAKS AND GEEKS alum John Francis Daly (who is a stellar comedy writer in his own right) and Jonathan M. Goldstein, the VACATION remake is so foul, grotesque and mean-spirited that it works. Their style of humor holds zero reverence for any topic our politically correct society holds dear. The (sort-of) sequel finds regional airline pilot Rusty Griswold (Ed Helms) fed up with the complacency of his life and wants to take a road trip with his wife, Debbie (Christina Applegate), and their two sons, James (Skyler Gisando) and Kevin (Stelle Stebbins), to the infamous Walley World, 2,600 miles away. Now, just sit back and watch terrible hijinks ensue.
They picked the perfect occupation for Rusty; not only is there irony with the road trip aspect of the film – being a regional pilot gives him just enough clout to have a nice suburban McMansion – but heās still a push over in nearly every facet of his life. This was the kind of social commentary that was so prevalent in Harold Ramisā 1983 original chiefly seen in talks of Ronald Reagan and Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid).
But, all you want to know is VACATION funny? The answer is yes; itās very funny. Daly and Goldstein pack in a little meta humor mocking the fact that there is a remake. Luckily, they drop that act fairly quick. This is THE filthiest film of the year in terms of its style of humor. While the original might have had a family friendly core despite the R rating, the remake, or sequel (depending how you look at it), has no room in its tone for Kumbaya. Along the way, the Grizzwolds meet a strange cast of charactersā the Christy Brinkley role is there briefly, and thereās extended cameos. Keep a look out for Chris Hemsworth whoās doing his best impression of a right-winged, red blooded local Texas weatherman. And, of course, itās no surprise that Clark and Ellen (Chevy Chase and Beverly Dā Angelo) appear while running a tragically miserable B&B.
The core casting works with the broad comedic rhythms, especially Helms who is a veteran actor at this point. But Applegate is the one in VACATION that pulls the comedic load, playing the āstraight-man;ā although, she gets her moments to ham it up. The two brothers have a dynamic where the younger bullies the older. This could have easily gone stale, but the pencil-necked Gisandoās angsty facial expressions keep the bit working well.
VACATION isnāt a perfect remake, but the original wasnāt perfect either. The toilet humor is unabashedly committed to its premise that it allows the comedy to work. Rather than apologizing for its mere existence, it embraces the absurdity and for that packing up to Walley World again is worth the trip.
VACATION opens tonight at participating theaters and Wednesday everywhere.