National Lampoon's European Vacation

National Lampoon's European Vacation has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available in Australia on HBO Max. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. With 1,004 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Watch it for Chevy Chase — stay for everyone else around them. Available now on HBO Max — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

There is a reason National Lampoon's European Vacation keeps coming up in conversation. The jokes in National Lampoon's European Vacation land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. The Griswolds win a vacation to Europe on a game show, and so pack their bags for the continent. They do their best to catch the flavor of Europe, but they just don't know how to be be good tourists. Besides, they have trouble taking holidays in countries where they CAN speak the language. Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo lead a cast that never overplays a joke. It was released in 1985. The timing in National Lampoon's European Vacation is precise enough that even the throwaway lines land on a second watch. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Comedy fans looking for a reliably funny watch will find it in National Lampoon's European Vacation. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Chevy Chase's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.