2 stars (out of 5)
Supposedly a sequel in the interminable but long-dormant Vacation series, a remake of the first one (like the 1983 original it’s just called Vacation, although Number 1 was technically a National Lampoon production) and a reboot intended to get the whole franchise rolling again, this entry has the distinction of being the grossest, meanest and ugliest. But what the Hell did you expect? And try not to at least smile once or twice, especially when ghastly star Ed Helms is offscreen.
Gormless pilot Rusty Griswold (Helms from the Hangovers) feels like he needs to spend time with his family, as wife Debbie (Christina Applegate) seems understandably unattracted to him these days and sons James (Skyler Gisondo as the wimpy one) and Kevin (Steele Stebbins as the foul-mouthed younger one) are always fighting. Inspired by memories of the first film and the first vacation (which means they speak of ‘Vacation’ as if it’s a movie, not a vacation, if that makes sense), Rusty therefore rents a bizarre and dangerous Albanian car and everyone sets off for the original’s ‘Walley World’ amusement park, which is 2560 long kilometres from their Chicago home.
And that, of course, allows for plenty of time and scope for an endless series of grossout setpieces involving beer-induced puking, accidental sewage swimming (hey, it’s in the trailer!), suicidal rafting trips and more, as a bunch of familiar funsters turn up in cameos to distract you from Helms’ grisly performance. Check out Ron Livingston (as a rival arsehole pilot), Charlie Day (shrieking again), a TV star who appears at the end just when he’s needed, and no less than Chris Hemsworth and Leslie Mann as Uncle Stone and Aunt Audrey, who revel in the chance for penis jokes, Republican laffs and a graphic bit involving cow guts.
Yes, it’s all very desperate and sometimes cringingly embarrassing, but be very, very afraid, as this one’s unpleasant existence suggests that co-directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan M Goldstein might return with more and even ickier Vacations. And the xenophobic Griswolds might even leave the USA! Just imagine it: there could be a Paris Vacation, an Italian Vacation, a London Vacation, an Antarctic Vacation and even an Australian Vacation (although if that happens we’ll all be needing some serious border protection!).
I Wake Up Screening 