Vegas Vacation: 5 Ways It’s Overrated (& 5 It’s Actually Underrated)

Since the emphatic debut of Animal House, the National Lampoon series has been a defining trademark of likable, wacky comedies – some of which have received fairly mixed critical reception. For every timeless comedy classic, there have been a handful of largely forgotten, critically-panned efforts. Among these films are the popular Vacation movies; a quadrilogy of laughers that put a humorous spin on family outings and get-togethers. With regards to the strongest efforts, fans of the franchise typically point to the ’83 original and the classic holiday comedy, Christmas Vacation.

Yet Vegas Vacation stands as a laugher that just may have been unjustly panned or cast aside. At the same time, there seems to be particularly high appraisal from certain fans – especially those who grew up in the ’90s – despite being the lowest-rated Vacation film of the four, according to IMDb. What can one make of this – and is this black sheep of the Vacation family overhyped or underappreciated?

10 Overrated: Falls Short Compared To Other Vegas Flicks

It’s quite reasonable to judge a film on its own merits, even when said film stands as a silly popcorn comedy. However, that doesn’t mean fans won’t draw inevitable comparisons between this Vegas-themed Vacation romp and other films residing in “Sin City.”

From classics like Casino and Rain Man to the laughers The Hangover and Lost in America, there’s no shortage of films that, for many, outshine this one in terms of entertainment and comedic value. And being decades old now, Vegas Vacation would seem to be increasingly losing its standing amongst notable Vegas romps.

9 Underrated: Underwhelming Box Office Results Don’t Do It Justice

Box office success can be useful in gauging a film’s merit or popularity, and Stephen Kessler’s ’97 film falls pretty short in this regard. Out of the four films, Vegas Vacation ties its predecessor Christmas Vacation for the highest budget at $25 million, while only generating a fairly tepid $36.4 million. Putting this into perspective, this contrasts with Christmas Vacation‘s $73.3 million, and $61.4 earnings for the original.

It’s true that this film falls rather flat in terms of nuance or comedic value for many. Still, one would think there are enough funny, endearing, and generally classic “Vacation” moments in Vegas Vacation to warrant a box office return at least near the levels of its predecessors.

8 Overrated: Recycling Gags From Previous Movies

The term “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” may verge on cliche at this point – though many have pointed to this film sticking a bit too close to this mantra, often resorting to Vacation cliches itself.

Fans admire Christmas Vacation for its holiday charm and distinct premise, along with the introduction of many new comedic characters. Yet, this film succumbs far more to the tropes of the original hit, along with its more critically-mixed sequel, European Vacation. There’s quite a bit that can ring as “rehashed,” from the reprisal of Christie Brinkley’s “red Ferrari girl” to Ellen’s gag of recoiling from Eddie to Clark’s end-of-film pep-talk.

7 Underrated: A More Classic Vacation Structure

What’s viewed as an uninspired retreading to some could be seen as a joyous return to form or a fun throwback to others.

When it comes to Vegas Vacation, director Stephen Kessler tends to bring more of that classic Vacation feel. Similiar plot beats and classic callbacks – like the return of Eddie’s oldest two kids, and revisiting of the song “Holiday Road” – serve to color the film and appeal to old-school fans. And much like the original Vacation, stakes are particularly high as Clark finds himself way over his head – absent the comfort of his home setting.

6 Overrated: The Absence Of John Hughes

Much to the displeasure of Vacation purists, ’97’s Vegas Vacation is the first of this franchise not to feature the writing or creative contributions of National Lampoon alumn John Hughes. Not only does he hold significance with the films themselves, but his influence and contributions extend to the National Lampoon brand at large – authoring funny essays and stories for the comedic magazine.

In the eyes of many, the absence of Hughes’ screenwriting humor might be akin to Game of Thrones sans the creative input of George R. R. Martin.

5 Underrated: Cousin Eddie In Prime Comedic Form

It’s easy to disregard Vegas Vacation‘s brand of comedy as particularly cartoonish or over-the-top. But while there might be merit to this fan critique as a whole, for the zany cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid), this abundant wackiness tends to work.

Fans and critics alike have regarded Eddie as one of the funnier (if not the most humorous) aspects of this film, and he’s in full comedic, slapstick form here.

4 Overrated: Over-The-Top Goofy Slapstick And Gags

It’s hard to knock a comedy on an abundance of goofy gags – and there’s no shortage of them in the previous Vacation flicks. But for a number of fans and critics, this one may have overdone the wacky slapstick and nonsensical moments to its detriment.

It can be argued that Clark flying a car off the road or even getting stuck under a logging truck – while silly – is a far cry from some of the goofier bouts in Vegas Vacation. This includes moments like a mishap in a plane lavatory causing major turbulence, or Clark swinging across the Hoover Dam and climbing the incredibly steep structure with his bare hands.

3 Underrated: Staying Power And Sense Of Humor Compared To European Vacation

It’s tough to understate the quality and comedic value of both Vacation and its holiday-themed sequel. By comparison, it makes sense that this ’97 sequel might be viewed as more lukewarm. Yet, the general consensus among Vacation fandom is that it’s European Vacation which stands as the low point in this franchise, despite dating back to 1985. The IMDb community would disagree, as Vegas Vacation is tagged with the lowest score in the quadrilogy with a 6.0, with EV barely edging it out at 6.2.

Regardless, Vegas Vacation has somewhat withstood the test of time with its more quotable zingers – and with memorable additions like Rusty’s crazy luck and exploits as the fictional “Nick Pappagiorgio.” This is contrasted with the odder, tamer European Vacation, which has largely been forgotten or at least overshadowed by the original.

2 Overrated: “Questionable” Moments And Plot Points

Despite being an unapologetically goofy comedy, it’s easier to stay invested in a story and cast if the nonsensical moments are kept to a minimum. Even more than previous films, this version of Vacation tends to go all-in with its implausible, questionable bouts. Beyond just the unrealistic slapstick, even some of the more subtle actions and motivations of the characters are tough to fathom.

An example is Rusty’s ability to “put four dollars in and win four cars” and win at will. This is juxtaposed with Clark’s lack of ability to win anything and his apparent willingness to squander the whole family nest egg in the process. These crazy moments are meant to set up some funny gags, but for many, they do little more than taking them out of the experience.

1 Underrated: The Delightful Locales

Setting and ambiance can go along way in producing a “feel good” comedy and can set the stage for some funny and memorable moments. This is certainly the case with Vegas Vacation, whose lively Sin City locales take center stage.

From the colorful lights of the Strip to the lavish halls of the Mirage and retro downtown flair, there’s much to enjoy from a visual and atmospheric standpoint here.

About The Author

Stephen Lagioia
(250 Articles Published)

Stephen is an avid Nintendo, Indie, and retro gamer who dabbles in Xbox on occasion, mainly in the form of binge sessions of Overwatch. He’s a history buff, an aspiring writer of short fiction, and a devout metalhead who enjoys poorly drumming along to Black Sabbath on his cheap drum set. When his beloved Chicago Cubs or Bulls are not playing, he typically likes to watch random documentaries or campy horror films.

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