Product Details

• Actors: Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Dana Hill, Jason Lively, John Astin
• Directors: Amy Heckerling
• Writers: John Hughes, Robert Klane
• Producers: Matty Simmons, Stuart Cornfeld
• Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0), French (Dolby Digital 2.0)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Georgian, Chinese, Thai
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• DVD Release Date: April 2, 2002
• Run Time: 95 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (99 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005Y71D
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #62,265 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "National Lampoon's European Vacation" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

After winning a tour package in a game show, the bickering Griswald family carve a trail of destruction through England (where they knock over Stonehenge), France, Germany, and Italy. Somehow Ellen (Bevery D'Angelo), the mom, gets kidnapped by gangsters, leading to a car chase that reunites the family, despite their differences. It's hard to believe that National Lampoon's European Vacation is only the second of the Vacation movies; it has the exhausted pallor of the last of a long series of sequels, drained of all zest or original ideas. The charmless smirk of Chevy Chase, mechanical in its idiocy, hangs over European Vacation like a death mask. It's hard to believe that this hack was once the funny and sexy hero of Foul Play. D'Angelo keeps her chin up and gives the movie whatever class it may have; she deserves better. --Bret Fetzer

Product Description

The Griswalds are on vacation again when they win a deluxe tour of the old world and take on the European continent -- the continent loses.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 65 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Zero stars. Please don't buy this. March 5, 2003

By Richard Bennett

Format:DVD

I'm flabbergasted that they put the dumbed-down tv version of this movie on dvd and not the theatrical version. They took scenes out, changed scenes and dubbed dialog to create this mess of a dvd. Not only that, but the movie looks funny. The aspect ratio they used makes the movie look weird. I was eagerly waiting for this funny, well-done movie to be released on dvd and I am bitterly disappointed at this made-for-tv garbage. This tv version will only appeal to an unsophisticated mass audience.

Attention Warner Home Video: If you are reading this, you need to issue a press release in which you apologize for this garbage and then announce that you will release an uncut version of the movie on dvd.

69 of 73 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars NOT the original theatrical version! September 19, 2003

By T. Charlton

Format:DVD

This is NOT the original version!!! I'm very disappointed that Amazon.com didn't disclose this information. Scenes are missing and parts are dubbed over. Funny parts are still funny but it's just not the same. I feel duped.

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars National Lampoons European Vacation January 22, 2003

By Pepper

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was very disappointed when I purchased the dvd from Amazon.com only to find that parts of the movie are cut and some
of the language has been either eliminated or dubbed.
I expect to purchase a movie in its entirety. I feel
I was cheated. I absolutely loved this movie and
I don't feel we should purchase movies that
have been edited from its original content.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Rating the disc, not the movie. October 5, 2010

By Dr. Sam Beckett

Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase

I of course love the first two "Vacation" movies and I always will. So I was excited to see this come out on Blu-Ray. Sadly, this is yet another "cas grab" Blu-Ray that is nothing more than an upconverted DVD in disguise - grainy picture, mediocre sound. You're better off saving a few dollars and getting the DVD instead, as you'll get the exact same home theater experience.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Look Kids.. We Know !! Big Ben...Parliament ... January 2, 2002

By Vern Shank

Format:VHS Tape

This movie was excellent. Chevy Chase was at his hilarious best in this sequel. I was just wondering about the whereabaouts of Jason Lively. I dug his part in this as well as some of the other movies he played in. He was excellent as Russell Griswald. In fact, in a small sort of way, he helped make the movie. Some of his scenes, like the dream sequence of him dancing in a european nightclub to Robert Palmer's "Some Like It Hot" and a drunken "Oink Oink My Good Man" to Chevy Chase in the european "show club" was awesome. If anyone knows his whereabouts or if he is still making movies please reply to this and e-mail me at ... I have been wondering what has happened to him. This movie, regardless of what others think, was just as good as the first one. Chevy (Clark) & his family just continued the hilarious vacation overseas and ran into more crazy insanity along the way. Hilariously Entertaining ...5 Stars. (Stonehenge...standing the test of time for thousands of future generations to see... And we were here...we were here)

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Not on par with the original, but pretty close! April 19, 2005

By Britt Gillette

Format:DVD

Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo return as Clark and Ellen Griswold in National Lampoon's European Vacation, sequel to the original Vacation movie and precursor to the holiday classic Christmas Vacation. Like the other films, this edition contains different cast members to play the roles of Griswold children Audrey (Dana Hill) and Rusty (Jason Lively). The only Vacation movie that doesn't feature Cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid), European Vacation is nevertheless one hilarious movie. It's an old school comedy like they just don't make anymore...

When the Griswold family appears on the hit TV game show, Pig In A Poke, they inadvertently beat a superior family and win an all-expenses paid trip to Europe. As usual, Clark is giddy about the wonderful trip of family bonding which he dreams his family will enjoy. But Audrey is mortified at the prospect of leaving her boyfriend behind. Nevertheless, the Griswolds hop on a plane bound for Europe.

Right off the bat, Clark's dream vacation begins to experience shortcomings. The first hotel the family stays in is a half-star dump with a community bathroom, and Clark gets stuck on a circular roadway where he endlessly passes by Big Ben and Parliament. A couple of brilliant guest appearances are turned in by Eric Idle (of Monty Python fame) who plays the role of a zealously friendly biker. In one of the funniest scenes in the film, Clark smashes into the biker, who apologizes to Clark while hobbling away from the wreck and who springs a bloody leak from his wrist that he passes off as a mere "flesh wound". When Clark hits another motorist, he and the family are given the man's bumper as a souvenir to take home to America....

As the Griswold clan makes their way across mainland Europe, especially in France and Germany, they encounter various pitfalls and cultural misunderstandings. Rusty causes a dog to jump to its death from the heights of the Eiffel Tower, and Clark instigates a riot in a small Bavarian township. One of the more memorable one-liners from the film is when Audrey tells Clark that in Germany "sex" means "six," so while searching for his relatives who live in apartment six, he greets some surprised residents with the tagline, "Hello, my family and I are looking for sex!"

When the stress becomes unbearable, the vacation inevitably drives each of the family members in a different direction, but everyone is quickly brought back together when Ellen is kidnapped by a pair of petty criminals who want to get their hands on the family vacation fund. Clark must come to the rescue and save, not only his wife, but the family's entire vacation experience as well...

A great comedy that contributes to the overall quality of the National Lampoon's Vacation films, European Vacation is a fun, family-oriented film. Those who enjoyed the exploits of Clark Griswold in the more recent Christmas Vacation or Vegas Vacation films will find it well worth their while to go back see this movie which many people have forgotten about. This is an utterly hilarious film in its own right, and clearly earns its designation as a must-see film...

The DVD Report Read more ›

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Hills Are Alive With The Sound Of Griswolds! Look out! March 23, 2002

By Dennis F. Towle

Format:DVD

Finally, this forgotten Vacation movie finds it's way to DVD after all these years! Chevy Chase returns, in his best movie role, as Clark Griswold....hero of the world! He wins a vacation to Europe, courtesy of the (not so) hit television show: Pig In A Poke, and with his quick, high IQ(not)! He plans, with his family, a detailed swing through his mother land, while he burns their barbeque!

Upon arrival in England, he books the family in a world famous hotel....with the top service you would come to expect....uh, maybe not. The next morning, Clark crashes his rental car into another car(the driver graciously gives his damaged fender to Clark) and soon after - Clark drives into a bicycler, Eric Idle(Monty Python fame) - who limps away, with his totaled bike, wanting absolutely no money or help from Clark! Out of his gratefulness, Clark manages to smash into this poor Englishman two more times, ultimately!

Clark shows Ellen, Audrey and Rusty the monumental sights of England - he spends the rest of the day pointing out Big Ben and Parliament(to an eventually sleeping family), because of his inability of making a left lane change/exit in a large loop road! Too funny! After completely ruining Stonehenge(by backing his car into and toppling it), Clark drags his weary family on a quick trek through unforgettable Paris, France....and the beautiful countryside of Germany....with more trouble looming ahead! This entire movie is hilarious and is worthwhile to see! Buy it here at Amazon.com....I did! And so, to quote Rusty Griswold, I shall close by saying...."Oink Oink, my good man!!!!" :)