Die verstörte Debbie möchte am liebsten umkehren, aber Rusty besteht auf der Weiterfahrt. Der Treibstoff geht aus, beim Ausprobieren der Fahrzeugfunktionen zerstört Rusty das Auto, die Familie sitzt in der Wüste fest. Der bekannte Trucker kommt vorbei und hält, ist aber gar nicht sauer, sondern gibt Debbie ihren am Truck Stop verlorenen Ehering zurück. Er nimmt die Familie mit bis San Francisco. Dort übernachten die Griswolds bei Rustys Eltern, Clark und Ellen.
Flight Oakland - Los Angeles (OAK - LAX) $62+ Flight Dallas - Los Angeles (DFW - LAX) $64+ Flight San Francisco - Los Angeles (SFO - LAX) $81+ Flight San José - Los Angeles (SJC - LAX) $97+ Flight Minneapolis - Los Angeles (MSP - LAX) $103+ Flight Seattle - Los Angeles (SEA - LAX) $119+ Flight Chicago - Los Angeles (ORD - LAX) $121+ Flight Houston - Los Angeles (HOU - LAX) $133+ Flight Houston - Los Angeles (IAH - LAX) $133+ Flight Detroit - Los Angeles (DTW - LAX) $154+ Flight Fort Lauderdale - Los Angeles (FLL - LAX) $164+ Flight Austin - Los Angeles (AUS - LAX) $165+ Flight Orlando - Los Angeles (MCO - LAX) $166+ Flight Boston - Los Angeles (BOS - LAX) $170+ Flight Washington - Los Angeles (BWI - LAX) $171+ Flight Atlanta - Los Angeles (ATL - LAX) $172+ Flight Philadelphia - Los Angeles (PHL - LAX) $177+ Flight New York - Los Angeles (EWR - LAX) $180+ Flight New York - Los Angeles (LGA - LAX) $195+ Flight Washington - Los Angeles (IAD - LAX) $217+ Flight Chicago - Los Angeles (MDW - LAX) $231+ Flight New York - Los Angeles (JFK - LAX) $237+
Dem Familienspaß folgten fünf Fortsetzungen: National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985, dt: Hilfe, die Amis kommen!), National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989, dt: Schöne Bescherung), Vegas Vacation (1997, dt: Viva Las Vegas – Hoppla, wir kommen), das TV-Spin-Off National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2 (2003, dt: Schöne Bescherung 2 – Eddie geht baden) und der Kurzfilm Hotel Hell Vacation (2010, dt: Hotel Hell Vacation).
For those familiar with the original (it's been too long since I last saw it), there are a few throwbacks, most of which surely can be read here. They are nice and as "tasteful" as they can be expected to be in a movie, that really takes no prisoners. And I only watched the version that was shown in cinemas. I can only imagine where they probably will go in an extended version (that's surely happening, right? If not at least many deleted scenes and outtakes, with more "fun" - for those who liked it). Also many jokes throughout the credits, that will either delight you or annoy you more - depending on how you liked the movie
