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My friends and people I know really like this movie and say it's a classic. So I watched it with them and even though there were some funny parts such as Randy Quaid's character, and the sled scene, overall I was just not seeing what was so funny about it overall, to be considered a classic.
The main problem with the movie I think is Chevy Chase and the guy can just not act for the life of him, at least not with comedy. Maybe he would be better off in a drama or a thriller, but probably not those either I am guessing.
So I felt that his lackluster performance really drove the material down overall. But what you think of the movie, and was I too harsh on it?
"There were some funny parts, but …" sums up the movie pretty well. Some truly hilarious bits. But as a whole the movie is meh.
But the problem wasn't Chevy Chase. Chevy can be hilarious in the right role. The problem was the writing. It was a lackluster script from beginning to end.
"There were some funny parts, but …" sums up the movie pretty well. Some truly hilarious bits. But as a whole the movie is meh.
But the problem wasn't Chevy Chase. Chevy can be hilarious in the right role. The problem was the writing. It was a lackluster script from beginning to end.
Yup. John Hughes was a good short story writer when it came to comedy, but his slapstick comedy efforts were more spotty in the movies he wrote.
His best movie comedies in general were those that starred his close friend John Candy, who would co-write unofficially with him, or the more situational teen 'dramadies' that had as many somber dramatic elements as comedic elements in them.
'Home Alone' was his best comedy, I think. The slapstick worked very well when a little kid did it, but not so well when an adult like Chevy Chase did it. John Candy seemed to be in touch with his inner child more than the other adults.
People who grew up with some movie, tv show, or music will call things "classic". The fact that you just recently watched CV for the first time says it all, really.
Someone on citydata said recently that the Beatles did the "worst pop music ever". I had to laugh as no one who remembers the sixties would say that.
My friends and people I know really like this movie and say it's a classic. So I watched it with them and even though there were some funny parts such as Randy Quaid's character, and the sled scene, overall I was just not seeing what was so funny about it overall, to be considered a classic.
The main problem with the movie I think is Chevy Chase and the guy can just not act for the life of him, at least not with comedy. Maybe he would be better off in a drama or a thriller, but probably not those either I am guessing.
So I felt that his lackluster performance really drove the material down overall. But what you think of the movie, and was I too harsh on it?
At least watch the original "National Lampoon's Vacation" (1983) before passing judgement on Chevy Chase....and no, he would not be better in a drama. ...maybe a few Saturday Night Live shows from the '70's/'80's would help too.
His best movie comedies in general were those that starred his close friend John Candy, who would co-write unofficially with him, or the more situational teen 'dramadies' that had as many somber dramatic elements as comedic elements in them.
Correct on all counts.
Hughes's best movie by far is PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES. Hilarious, but also very touching.
His second best movie is actually the one nobody remembers: SHE'S HAVING A BABY. Again: hilarious, but also very touching.
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