Rewatchables Reference

• The Cousin Eddie sequence / meeting the family on the farm.
• The Dodge City Wild West scene where Clark gets shot with blanks.
• Clark kidnapping John Candy at Wally World; Clark's 'we're all gonna have so much fucking fun' outburst.

• Opening credits with Lindsay Buckingham's 'Holiday Road' and the postcards.
• Chevy Chase's physical comedy and throwaway lines – drying dishes with food, not knowing where the gas tank is.
• Beverly D'Angelo's performance; Christie Brinkley as an 80s icon; young Jane Krakowski.

• 'Holiday Road' by Lindsay Buckingham – unanimous pick for the opening credits.
• Discussion of apex mountain for 80s movie theme songs: Holiday Road vs. Power of Love vs. Danger Zone.

Van says 'I don't know if there is one'; if forced, Audrey (Dana Barron) does less than Rusty.

• Beverly D'Angelo's unnecessary nudity (shower scene shoehorned in).
• Clark's home computer looks ancient; Chariots of Fire jokes don't land for anyone under 35.
• Anthony Michael Hall being visibly taller in reshot Wally World scenes.

• Anthony Michael Hall is the greatest teenage actor ever – the Deniro/Pacino/Brando of teen actors.
• Clark wasn't entirely wrong to test the waters at the motel because Ellen kept rejecting his advances.

• Kim Cattrall was allegedly the original choice for Ellen.
• John Landis was wanted to direct but was filming An American Werewolf in London.

• Imogene Coca as Aunt Edna – screams the entire movie.
• Christie Brinkley – 'can't act,' just being Christie Brinkley.

• The actor from The White Shadow who plays the guy with the basketball in St. Louis.
• Dana Barron (Audrey) who later dated Brandon Walsh on 90210.
• Brian Doyle-Murray.

• Randy Quaid as Cousin Eddie – the ultimate scene stealer.
• Eugene Levy, Dinky the Dog, John Candy, Young Jane Krakowski.

• All-black cast version: Regina Hall as Clark, Sterling K. Brown as Ellen, JB Smoove as Cousin Eddie.
• Catherine Hahn as Cousin Eddie's wife.

• Budget $50 million (may be misstated), made $61.4 million domestic.
• Wagon Queen Family Truckster was custom-built from a 1979 Ford LTD Country Squire.
• Original ending: Griswolds hold Roy Wally's family hostage; test audiences hated it, reshot with John Candy.

• Chevy Chase – debated between this and 'Fletch'; Clark Griswold may be more iconic.
• Christie Brinkley – definitely yes (this and 'Uptown Girl' around same time).
• Beverly D'Angelo – yes; family vacation movies as a genre.

• Wally World would never be closed for two weeks, especially in summer.
• The kids would be more traumatized by Aunt Edna's death.
• No criminal charges for Clark after the Wally World hostage situation.

Has to be Chevy Chase.

• Where was Christie Brinkley going? Was she stalking the Griswolds?
• Why didn't Beverly D'Angelo have a bigger career?

Summer Rental with John Candy (outside the Griswold universe).

• The 'LOVE ME' license plate from Christie Brinkley's Ferrari.
• The Griswold family truckster.

• Spend time with your family.
• Take the long way around.

Chevy Chase – unanimous.

Craig Horlbeck – said the movie didn't really hit for him watching it now; found the pacing weird; 'funnier to talk about than to watch'.