Vegas Vacation

Comedy

Chevy Chase	Clark Wilhelm Griswold, Jr.
Beverly D'Angelo	Ellen Griswold
Randy Quaid	Cousin Eddie
Ethan Embry	Russell Griswold
Marisol Nichols	Audrey Griswold
Miriam Flynn	Cousin Catherine
Shae D'Lyn	Cousin Vicki
Wayne Newton	Himself
Siegfried Fischbacher	Himself
Roy Horn	Himself

Director	Stephen Kessler
Producer	Jerry Weintraub; Susan Ekins
Writer	Bob Ducsay; Elisa Bell

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the casino, along comes the Griswold family from the popular series of National Lampoon's Vacation movies, raising a ruckus in the now family-friendly gambling capitol of the world. Clark (Chevy Chase), the bumbling Griswold patriarch, gets into his usual quota of trouble--especially on a sightseeing trip to the Hoover Dam (where puns on the word "dam" come fast, furious, and idiotic). Meanwhile, Mrs. Griswold (Beverly D'Angelo) gets to sing an ear-piercing rendition of "Lovin' You" on stage with her idol, Wayne Newton (one of the movie's comedic highlights), while son Rusty poses as a high roller and daughter Audrey trains as an exotic dancer. Randy Quaid reprises his scene-stealing role from the original Vacation movie, but let's face it--the series had already worn out its welcome, and this belated sequel earns a few good laughs but hardly qualifies as a worthy revival. Not bad as no-brainers go, but not up to par with the original film, and its better sequels like National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. --Jeff Shannon