Review: Vacation (2015)

Just when you thought I couldn’t talk anymore about Vacation on this blog, bam! Sequel/remake time. I’m in my prime right now. On a serious note though, the original Vacation was my whole childhood, and since the very recent passing of my Granny I’ve felt even more of a connection to it. Every Bank Holiday as a child would be spent at my grandparents with a KFC, and National Lampoon’s Vacation would be played.  I only watched the original Vacation once as a child so I don't have the same connection to it as Allie but I did enjoy it (even if I don't like Chevy Chase - Sorry Allie!!)

I’ve been waiting for this film for about 2 years now since it was announced. In fact, Jenna and I still worked together when it was announced! I think I had a celebratory Subway for lunch that day. I do however realise that sequels are very rarely as good as their originals, and by the time I bought my cinema ticket I was mainly just hoping it wouldn’t suck.

Rusty Griswold (Ed Helms) is all grown up now and with his family life stuck in a bit of a rut, he remembers the fun he had as a child on his family road trip and vacation to Walley World. Clearly he didn’t remember it very well, as it was a disaster, but nonetheless he decides to take his wife Debbie (Christina Applegate), and two sons James (Skyler Gisondo) and Kevin (Steele Stebbins) on the same road trip. As James wisely points out, he’s never even heard of the original vacation, but that’s okay, Rusty says it will stand on its own.  This was a great scene where they basically explained that you didn't need to see the original to enjoy this one...very clever!!

Whilst Vacation is never going to win any real awards, can I just award it an honourary ‘best opening credits ever’ award? Seriously, I was in stitches! Before I let this post turn into gushing praise though, I do accept that it’s not the best comedy in the world. No, it’s not better than the original and there are jokes that fall flat. Kevin was really irritating, and a lot of his bad language was just unnecessary.   I don't even remember the opening credits - is that bad?!  I don't think at any point I laughed hysterically, all the jokes were set up so you could see what was going to happen, which limited the surprise laughs to be had!

Other jokes though are making me laugh while I type this just thinking about it. The rocket button on the car’s key fob? I don’t even know what it was about that scene that made me laugh so hard, but my sides hurt after it! The Korean sat-nav joke never got old either, and completely caught me off guard every time. Even if you aren’t a fan of the film itself, this has got to be fun just to spot all the cameos! I didn’t even know half of them, but my friends did and we all know how fun it is to spot one of our favourite actors or actresses when we weren’t expecting them to turn up.  Thanks Allie for the reminder, I did laugh out loud a few times and they were all related to that car/key fob.  Although the fob joke was set up really early, I never had any idea what was going to happen to the car when they pressed any of the buttons so that did keep me entertained!

Hmmm...what was I saying again?

For fans of the original, there are plenty homages to spot. I think I confused everyone around me when I chuckled as the Griswold’s drove over that bridge. The biggest throwback for me though is the Holiday Road song that was played multiple times. It doesn’t matter where I am or what mood I’m in, that song will make me smile.  I think I missed most of the homages, as it has been a looooooong time since I saw the original - Allie we'll have to watch this together and you'll have to enlighten me!

I accept I may be alone in my praise of Vacation, but that’s okay. 

In this particular post, yes you are alone....

You don't understand!!

Looking Forward to Seeing in the Cinema: August 2015

This time its my turn to get in there first :-)  especially as there doesn't seem to be that much out in August - sorry Allie! I'm absolutely fine with this...there's only one thing I'm looking forward to this month! Of course, completely forgot about that one....

I was initially disappointed when I heard they were remaking Fantastic Four, the original was my first experience if a superhero/comic book movie and it started an obsession that would stay with me for a long time to come.  Unfortunately, I think I am the only one who thought much of that film so eventually the remake was inevitable.

I was also a bit disappointed to find out it was the same bad guy again but then I saw the trailer......... consider me converted.  It looks amazing and the advancements in CGI are evident plus it is another fix for my recent obsession with Miles Teller.

Fantastic Four is released in UK cinemas on 6th August 2015.

Allow me to re-name this post briefly to 'Looking forward to and absolutely terrified to be seeing in the cinema' for my half. It seems all summer I've been talking about National Lampoon's Vacation and Christmas Vacation too. This year we get a remake, named simply, 'Vacation'.

You lucky folks across the sea have already had the chance to see it, and by the time this post publishes on our blog I'll have probably already read the onslaught of one-star reviews, but as this is released on my birthday weekend in the UK, I'll be one of the first to see it over here, still holding out hope for a decent film.

Vacation will be released in UK cinemas on 21st August 2015.

Thursday Movie Picks: Road Trip Movies

It's Thursday, and that can mean only one thing, it's time for Thursday Movie Picks! This is an amazing series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves. Each week brings a new theme, and all you need to do is pick 3 movies that fit the bill. They can be the best of, the worst of, or hidden gems.

Man, it’s been too long since I’ve last taken part in Wanderer’s Thursday Movie Picks. I couldn’t miss this week though. It’s Road Trip Movies, and despite never going on a road trip myself (I don’t think 3hrs to Cornwall counts) I love road trip movies. That makes this week a hard one, but only because I can only pick 3 movies! Here goes…

I’ve got to start with my favourite. National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983) is weirdly one of my childhood movies, mainly because it’s all my family would watch on a Sunday when we all got together. Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase) takes his family on a road trip across America to Wally World, and just about anything that could go wrong, does. They’re doing a remake this year which I’m equal parts dead excited and horribly worried about.

I had to check I hadn’t picked this before, but it seems we just like to talk about Little Miss Sunshine (2006) a lot on this blog. One of my favourite Drama/Comedies, this movie focuses on a truly messed up family as they take a road trip so that their daughter can take part in a beauty pageant. Olive’s (Abigail Breslin) dance routine at the end is a major highlight and Steve Carell gets to play a serious role, which he nailed.

Another movie I like to talk about! Chef (2014) is one of my favourite movies of 2014, another Drama/Comedy following a working road trip that Carl Casper (Jon Favreau) takes with his son in their food truck after he loses his job at a restaurant. The plot doesn’t sound like much but it’s one of the most heartwarming movies I’ve ever seen. It has tasty food too, what more could you ask for? Don’t watch on an empty stomach!

Honourable mentions go out this week to Zombieland (which I did choose before), We’re the Millers and Paul, which very nearly made my list.

12 Days of Christmas - Day 1 National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

Me and Allie are both HUGE Christmas fans, we were the first when we worked together to turn up in festive earrings and jumpers with Christmas countdown timers going and Michael Buble playing out of our computer speakers.  In which case, for our first Christmas with Flick Chicks we thought we needed to do something special and big!! I will never forget that Christmas Eve that we looked after the office and had a huge feast!

I'm really looking forward to watching some Christmas films I've never seen before. I have about 5 favourites that I watch every single year, and this is a brilliant opportunity to watch some forgotten-about films and new ones too!

So, we are preparing to cover 12 days of Christmas with Christmas movie reviews.  Every day between now and Christmas Day we will post a festive movie review.  We have already decided the movies, but we won't be telling you yet, don't want to ruin the surprise....

12 Days, 12 Christmas Movies, 12 Festive reviews....

Let the countdown to Christmas begin with our first review....

I waited until the second week of November before watching my first Christmas film this year. I think that's pretty good actually, but anyone I told seemed to look at me with a face of confusion and despair. That is, until I told them I watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

I was brainwashed from a young age with the original Vacation film, so much that as I grew older and watched it again for the nostalgia, I realised many of the little quips my family and I say all the time are actually from it! No long drive anywhere is complete in my family without a loud rendition of the Marty Moose song. 

Christmas Vacation is exactly what you expect it to be, a hilarious tale of Clark Griswald (Chevy Chase) trying to make Christmas perfect for his family. He's spent his Christmas bonus on the deposit for an outdoor pool before the cheque arrives, he spends all day putting lights up on his house, and is as welcoming as he can when Cousin Eddie and family turn up without a warning. Yes, Christmas Vacation is a truly typical Christmas film. Yet, it will always remain one of my favourites.

Can you believe I hadn't see this film (Allie had that look in her eye I get everytime she tells me she hasn't seen Ghostbusters!!) I've always heard about it at Christmas but have never been a huge fan of Chevy Chase so gave it a swerve.  I will admit that I was wrong as I really did enjoy it (while wrapping my Christmas presents and putting my tree up!).

Despite its over-the-top nature, everyone will relate to at least some of the elements in this film. We've all felt that frustration over the lights when there's a problem with just 1, yet none will work, and we've all gotten fed up of certain family members after spending far too much time with them! Usually about 10 minutes after their arrival...

Christmas Vacation gives us all of this and more, and Chevy Chase makes funny moments laugh out loud ones, which is why I love him so much. It was really strange watching this the other day whilst also marathon-ing Community, he's changed so much over the years!

Very entertaining and like Allie says very over the top BUT relatable in so many ways.  That relative turning up on your doorstop who you desperately don't want to see but announce they will be staying for the whole festive period - we've all been there, no?  I think I may have to give National Lampoons Vacation a go next... Oh my God, yes! Please invite me. I promise not to sing the Marty Moose song too much. Depending on what you define as 'too much'.

This is one of my go-to Christmas films and I'll watch it every year!  This may now be added to my must-watch Christmas films every year!