MovieChat Forums > Vacation (2015) Discussion > Huge Fan of the Original...this was Unwa...

Huge Fan of the Original...this was Unwatchable

posted 9 years ago by jslavik
19 replies | jump to latest

I delayed watching this for awhile. I finally caved last night and watched it on HBO. Let me first say, that they really could have done something with this. Introducing Rusty's family (it would have been better if they actually used Anthony Michael Hall) and having Clark and wife making cameos COULD have worked. What they did here was a disgrace though. I knew within the first few minutes that this was going to be a complete mess. To make comedy work, it's got to be at least somewhat grounded in reality and have the characters in some real life situations. This wasn't. Sure, Eddie was over the top in the original, but at least the others actors kept it somewhat grounded. Literally, every character in this film was so far over the top and unbelievably stupid that I just couldn't make it through it. What a blown opportunity.

[–] theater_dreamer 9 years ago

Nearly every remake/sequel in Hollywood of late has been an unmitigated failure.

Robocop
Vacation
Ghostbusters
Terminator Genisys
Poltergeist

There are others...more than I care to remember. But Hollywood produces one failure after another, and people head to the theater in droves to watch. When something comes out and actually does well (both at the box office, and with critics) like The Force Awakens or Max Max: Fury Road, it's, unfortunately, the rare exception to the norm.

I used to place the blame on Hollywood. I thought the problem was due to lazy writers, and a lack of original ideas. Now I'm not so sure. There are a lot of really stupid people in this country, and it's become all the more obvious with the advent of social media. Hollywood is just dishing out what the ignorant masses want. They're told a movie is a comedy, and the mindless drones laugh on cue, even when the material isn't remotely humorous, or well-written.

Then, you have vacuous celebrities whose followers are legion. Kim Kardashian is the perfect example.

I can't help but shake my head. We're headed down the crapper.

Never for the sake of peace and quiet deny your convictions-Dag Hammarskjold

[–] jslavik 8 years ago

The only remake I've seen that's been worthwhile and is actually really good, are the new Planet of the Apes films. Aside from those? Nothing.

[–] Ripkens25 (2066) 2 years ago

OP, you are spot on. For a comedy to be funny, it needs to be grounded in some sort of reality. When it’s way over the top and overly contrived, it just loses me completely, and feels like a waste of time. Most comedies make this error, which is why I could never stand Will Ferrell, Adam Sandler or Jim Carrey films. Rather than having some intelligence, and lampooning something relatable , their films were just ridiculous, juvenile slapstick and dumb schtick. One trick ponies…doing bits that may work in a 3 minute SNL sketch, but not in a full length movie.

One of the only comedies in recent memory that I feel gets this balance right (lampooning something relatable and grounded in reality) is Meet the Parents. (The two sequels went downhill fast)…. But the original took the funny and uncomfortable premise of having to spend a weekend with your girlfriend’s family (and beloved ex boyfriend) for the first time, and lampooning just what a nightmare that can be.

The original Vacation did a great job spoofing the challenges of a family road trip, with just enough heart and character likability to make it work.

The remake was a waste of time.

[–] Faridah (1369) a year ago

I agree. After the first 10 minutes I gave up on it

[–] Faridah (1369) a year ago

I agree. After the first 10 minutes I gave up on it

[–] [deleted] 10 months ago

I finished it after 3 days.

Ed Helms was the second worst choice for this.

The writers/directors were the first.

[–] Tam87 (1573) 10 months ago

Ed Helms was the second worst choice for this.

He's no Chevy Chase. His attempt at kissing christina applegate at the end was hilarious, he was way too forceful. It just screamed "i'm a geek who used to crush over kelly bundy and now i get to kiss her!". She looked like she didn't like it at all, lol.