Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- None
- witty
- irreverent
- breezy
- lazy sunday
- family movie night
What critics said
Critics found the attractive European locations and occasional visual gags appealing but broadly regarded the sequel as a predictable, less consistently funny retread of the original.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The Griswolds encounter British driving customs, French social hostility, a Bavarian language barrier, and Italian law enforcement.
The family races through London, Paris, Germany, and Rome while the story moves from one sightseeing mishap to another.
Clark Griswold insists on maximizing the trip and maintaining family happiness despite continually worsening travel problems.
Critics specifically noted the juxtaposition of European settings with the Griswolds' funny hats, T-shirts, and soda cans.
Films like National Lampoon's European Vacation, and why
National Lampoon's Vacation
shares a chaotic family road-trip structure, broad physical comedy, and escalating travel disasters
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
shares irreverent fish-out-of-water humor, tourist culture clashes, and an episodic international journey
The Out-of-Towners
shares frantic family travel comedy, culture shock, and a protagonist whose overconfidence creates continual mishaps
Movie Details
- Director
- Amy Heckerling
- Release Date
- 1985-07-25
- Runtime
- 95 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (1055)
Cast
- Chevy Chase
- Beverly D'Angelo
- Dana Hill
- Jason Lively
- Victor Lanoux
- Eric Idle
- John Astin
- Paul Bartel
- Maureen Lipman
- Willy Millowitsch
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is National Lampoon's European Vacation about?
- The Griswolds turn a prize-funded European sightseeing tour into a whirlwind of cultural misunderstandings, family friction, and vacation calamities.
- What is National Lampoon's European Vacation like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of National Lampoon's European Vacation as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is National Lampoon's European Vacation violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in National Lampoon's European Vacation.
- What did critics think of National Lampoon's European Vacation?
- Critics found the attractive European locations and occasional visual gags appealing but broadly regarded the sequel as a predictable, less consistently funny retread of the original.
- Which films are like National Lampoon's European Vacation?
- Films with a similar feel include National Lampoon's Vacation, Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and The Out-of-Towners.
- How long is National Lampoon's European Vacation?
- National Lampoon's European Vacation runs 95 minutes.
- Where can I watch National Lampoon's European Vacation?
- In United States, National Lampoon's European Vacation is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand.
