Funny film dads: Chevy Chase in ''National Lampoon's Vacation''

National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)

Published on June 18, 2005 04:00AM EDT

John Candy, Chevy Chase, ... — Photo: National Lampoons Vacation: Everett Collection

Funny film dads: Chevy Chase in ”National Lampoon’s Vacation”

PLAYED BY Chevy Chase (second from left)

WHO IS HE? Clark’s the All-American dad, desperately fighting Murphy’s Law in order to enjoy an all-American road-trip vacation with his wife Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo, center), daughter Audrey (Dana Barron, second from right), and son Rusty (Anthony Michael Hall, right).

SETTING AN EXAMPLE Um, well… he does display a certain pragmatism in dealing with the ill-fated Aunt Edna.

EMBARRASSING MOMENT How about getting the family arrested when they take hostage a theme-park security guard, Lasky (John Candy, left)?

FATHERLY ADVICE ”Everything isn’t like home. If everything were like home, there would be no reason for leaving home. Right, Rusty?”

WHY YOU’LL WATCH Admit it: Every family trip you ever took was almost this bad.

MORE FATHERLY FUN Chase reprises the role in European Vacation (1985), Christmas Vacation (1989), and Vegas Vacation (1997).

EW MOVIE GRADE C