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Looking for some nightmare fuel? Chevy Chase has just what the doctor ordered, posting a video to Instagram that might as well be called National Lampoon’s Disturbing A.I. Vacation.

The unsettling phantasm begins with a sassy, Vacation-era Chevy Chase grinning into the “camera,” a hand resting on his saucy hip. Young Chase turns around, morphing into present-day Chase holding out a plate of food. For some reason, his fruit and cheese offerings are missing several bites.

The journey into the uncanny valley continues with creepy young versions of Beverly D’Angelo, Anthony Michael Hall and Dana Barron transforming into even creepier versions of their current, older selves. I expressed an audible “Uh-oh” when Randy Quaid as Cousin Eddie appeared, morphing into the bearded conspiracy-theory-spewing crackpot he is today. Even A.I. knows something is up with Quaid — his older self drops an initial smile and scowls at viewers as...

Rusty and Audrey Griswold were famously played by a different actor in each of the National Lampoon’s Vacation movies, and that included some huge stars. The Griswold family’s patriarch and matriarch, Clark and Ellen, were consistently played by Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo across the whole franchise — even in the 2015 reboot, two decades after the last movie — but the kids were always replaced with new cast members in each subsequent sequel. It practically became a running joke throughout the series that Clark and Ellen’s kids looked totally different and aged inconsistently from movie to movie.

Part of the reason for casting new actors as Rusty and Audrey in the National Lampoon’s Vacation movies is that child actors age a lot faster than their adult co-stars. Whereas Chase and D’Angelo looked more or less the same in the 14 years between the original Vacation film and the fourth one, Vegas Vacation,...

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is one of the most beloved Christmas comedies because of the more ridiculous aspects of the plot and the cast's funny delivery. However, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure was a 2003 made-for-tv movie that was not nearly as well received. Where the first Christmas Vacation holds a 70% critical and 86% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, its sequel holds only a 13% audience score, according to the review aggregator. Likewise, it was the only movie of the National Lampoon's Vacation series not to include Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo.

Since Chase's Clark Griswold is the heart of the Vacation series, and often the butt of the joke, it is difficult to make a Vacation movie work without him. Instead, however, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure focuses on Cousin Eddie and his family when they get shipwrecked on an uninhabited island.

They're the most famous duo to play the Griswold children, Audrey and Rusty, so why didn't Juliette Lewis and Johnny Galecki return beyond National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation? Of the original National Lampoon's Vacation movies, the third outing Christmas Vacation has emerged as the favorite. Of course, the holiday setting gives audiences an excuse to revisit it every Christmas, but it's also just the funniest and warmest. The sequel continued the unspoken tradition of recasting Audrey and Rusty each time, with Juliette Lewis and Johnny Galecki inheriting the roles from Dana Hill and Jason Lively.

Christmas Vacation found Lewis and Galecki at the beginning of their acting careers, with the duo soon finding fame elsewhere. Lewis went on to roles in 1991's Cape Fear remake, the controversial Natural Born Killers, and more recently, the acclaimed thriller Yellowjackets. Galecki went to roles in two of the biggest sitcoms of the last few...

'Tis the season for everyone's annual holiday movie watch (and/or re-watch), that magical time of year where we gorge ourselves on all manner of films that take place in and around the holidays. For some cinephiles, this means delving into the darkest depths of "is it a Christmas movie because it has one scene with a decorated tree in it?," while for others, it means a first-time or 70th-time viewing of canonized holiday classics. One of the joys of watching a vintage Christmas film for the first time is seeing some of your favorite actors turn up looking impossibly young. For instance, this writer just watched 1995's "Home for the Holidays" the other night, and was delighted to see a younger Robert Downey Jr. doing his signature motormouth patter.

While that film is a bit obscure in the holiday canon, "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" is a movie that almost needs no introduction.

If you like movies about empty-headed dips and their resentful families, then National Lampoon's "Vacation" movies certainly have you covered. Clark Griswold, played by Chevy Chase, is an exemplar -- perhaps the Ur-example -- of a clueless dad obsessed with fulfilling the typical American suburban dream despite a general lack of wit or competence. Clark claims to be an expert in everything, assuring his family that everything will be fine, and yet he displays no acumen or skill, and his family repeatedly witnesses him fail. We sympathize with Clark, however, as many of his failings are the result of bad luck; Clark isn't very good at traversing the daily onus of trivial nonsense, but the world seems cosmically hellbent on punishing him for his incompetence. 

The "Vacation" movies began their life as a short story called "Vacation '58," written by John Hughes and first published in the celebrated "National Lampoon...

Chevy Chase only skipped one National Lampoon's Vacation film, which is considered the franchise's worst. The spinoff film National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2 received negative reviews and lacked the humor and charm of the original films. Christmas Vacation 2 also brought back Dana Barron as Audrey.

Chevy Chase only skipped one National Lampoon's Vacation film, which just happens to be the franchise's worst. The first National Lampoon's Vacation movie was based on a short story by John Hughes, who also penned the screenplay. Looking at the line-up of comic talent in front of and behind the camera on the original, it's little surprise it was such a success. The resulting franchise has been a mixed bag, with 1997's Vegas Vacation being a lowlight while National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is often considered the best of the franchise.

Christmas Vacation was also a high point the series never reached again. While there was...

The Vacation film series has a continuity error with the actors, ages, and appearances of the Griswold children. Each film in the series features different actors playing Rusty and Audrey. The ages and appearances of Rusty and Audrey also change throughout the series with no clear continuity.

The National Lampoon’s Vacation series is one of the most popular family franchises of all time, but it suffers from an important continuity error involving the actors, ages, and appearances of the Griswold children. The Vacation film series follows the Griswold family of Clark and Ellen and their two children Rusty and Audrey. Over a series of four original films, the Vacation movies depict the Griswolds’ misadventures surrounding vacations and holidays as Clark strenuously attempts to make the most out of every experience. While the Griswold family is at the center of each movie, the actors are not always the same.

The first film,...

Can’t see the lines, can ya, Russ? It wasn’t just Chevy Chase and his video camera that wanted a glimpse of Beverly D’Angelo in the shower in National Lampoon’s Vacation, but also her onscreen son, Anthony Michael Hall, who recently fessed up to trying to sneak a peek while she filmed her brief nude scene.

Attending Fan Expo Chicago (via EW) with fellow castmates D’Angelo, Randy Quaid (Cousin Eddie), Dana Barron (Audrey Griswold), and Christie Brinkley (the unforgettable Girl in Red Ferrari), Hall – who was just 14 while filming National Lampoon’s Vacation – was called out by his onscreen sister for once trying to spy on D’Angelo. Hall cut her off, saying, “So, I got busted because I tried to sneak onto the set when Beverly was doing the shower scene.” D’Angelo seems to take it all in stride, though, saying, “I get a lot of guys who...

“National Lampoon’s Vacation” star Anthony Michael Hall admitted at Fan Expo Chicago (via Entertainment Weekly) that he got caught trying to sneak onto the set of the 1983 comedy classic in order to see his co-star Beverly D’Angelo film a nude shower scene. Hall joined D’Angelo and fellow cast members Christie Brinkley, Randy Quaid and Dana Barron at the event. He stars in the comedy as Rusty Griswold, the son of Clark (Chevy Case) and Ellen (D’Angelo).

During the conversation, which had to be limited due to the actors’ inability to talk about filming specifics because of the SAG-AFTRA strikes, D’Angelo and Brinkley said fans continue to come up to them to talk about watching their nude scenes in the movie.

“I get a lot of guys who say I was the first boobs they saw,” D’Angelo said.

Brinkley added, “Somebody walked up to my booth yesterday and said,...

The ending found in the final cut of the 1983 comedy classic National Lampoon’s Vacation was not what was originally intended. The original film was directed by the late Harold Ramis and spawned three sequels. It concerned the Griswold family going on one of the worst vacations in the history of filmdom to Walley World. Anthony Michael Hall and Dana Barron, who played the Griswold children in the first movie, talked all about that with Entertainment Weekly.

The way the movie ends now is with the family finally making it to Wally World after a series of misadventures, only to find the park closed. So family patriarch Clark (Chevy Chase) buys a Bb gun and forces a security guard played by John Candy to open up the park for them. What Clark was originally going to do was break into the home of park owner Roy Walley and force him and...

The National Lampoon’s Vacation series is a beloved comedy franchise, but it has been up and down in terms of quality. The series kicked off in 1983 with National Lampoon’s Vacation, starring Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo as Clark and Ellen Griswold taking their kids Rusty and Audrey on a road trip to Walley World. Chase and D’Angelo reprised their roles in three direct sequels – European Vacation, Christmas Vacation, and Vegas Vacation – before Randy Quaid took the lead role of a made-for-tv spin-off, Christmas Vacation 2, and Ed Helms played an older Rusty taking his own family to Walley World in 2015’s nostalgic legacy sequel, simply titled Vacation.

Like many comedies of their era, the Vacation films haven’t aged well. For example, Clark is constantly flirting with other women despite the fact his wife is never anything less than loving and supportive. But, for the most part, the Vacation films are...

It's undeniable that the films in the National Lampoon's "Vacation" franchise have become comedy classics. The misadventures of the Griswold family of patriarch Clark (Chevy Chase), wife Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo), daughter Audrey (Dana Barron/Dana Hill/Juliette Lewis/Marisol Nichols/Leslie Mann), son Rusty (Anthony Michael Hall/Jason Lively/Johnny Galecki/Ethan Embry/Ed Helms), and cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) have become seminal watches for multiple generations, and remain endlessly quotable after nearly 40 years.

The Griswolds were a relatable look at the average, white, middle-class American family, replacing the Norman Rockwell-esque presentation of yesteryear with more authentic and unconventional problems sprinkled throughout. Okay, so maybe we don't all know what it's like to lose our Great Aunt and have to strap her to the top of the car with the luggage in the rain, but we probably know what it feels like to expect a Christmas bonus but get...

Christmas is coming at us faster than Santa’s sleigh, which means ’tis the season for streaming Christmas movies. While there are plenty of family-friendly options for parents — from classics like “A Charlie Brown Christmas” to new entries like this year’s “Spirited” on Apple TV+ — some may prefer a slightly more raunchy selection, which is where 1989’s “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” comes in.

“Christmas Vacation” is streaming on several online platforms, including HBO Max, AMC+, The Roku Channel, fuboTV, Philo, and Sling TV. It can also be rented or purchased on VOD platforms, including YouTube, Vudu, Google Play, Apple TV, and Redbox, for 3.99. In addition, AMC will air the film throughout the next few days at 8 or 10 p.m. Et, including on December 21, December 22, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.

Directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik, “Christmas Vacation” was the third and effectively final entry in the classic “National Lampoon” series...

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On July 29, 1983, Warner Bros. unveiled the Harold Ramis-directed comedy in theaters, where it would go on to launch a franchise of Vacation sequels and spinoffs. The Hollywood Reporter’s original review is below:

There’s nothing worse than a family vacation. That is, except for this delightfully witty excursion from Warner Bros., which may prove a boon to family participations, a bonanza to cross-country Auto Club sales and certainly a boost to box-office admissions lines. It’s simple but wondrously identifiable: Dad, mom, brother and sis pack up for the summer (against their personal reservations) and hop in the wagon for a cross-country trip. The agreed-upon destination: Wally World — a state-of-the-art amusement park in L.A.

This delirious, entertaining excursion has been trip-ticked by National Lampoon writer John Hughes. He’s penned a four-star entertainment, the kind of thing that even the...

Media executive Matty Simmons, a producer of the influential “National Lampoon’s Animal House” and “National Lampoon’s Vacation” comedy movies, died Wednesday in Los Angeles. He was 93.

His daughter, Kate Simmons, announced the news on her Instagram account on Thursday.

“Yesterday I lost my hero,” she wrote, in part. “My dad had gone from the sharpest, healthiest 93 year old most people have encountered to abruptly having every imaginable issue except corona. What he did in a lifetime was legendary.”

Matty Simmons was a Brooklyn native and an executive VP at the Diners Club credit card company. He founded Twenty First Century Communications in 1967 with Len Mogel to publish countercultural magazine Cheetah, then went on to publish Weight Watchers and National Lampoon magazines.

The National Lampoon launched in 1970 as a spinoff of the Harvard Lampoon humor magazine, which led to the 1972 stage show “Lemmings” and “The National Lampoon Radio Hour.” Performers included...

Matty Simmons, a founder of the Diners Club credit card and Weight Watchers magazine who found his highest profile success after co-founding National Lampoon magazine and producing film offshoots including Animal House and the Vacation franchise, died Wednesday in Los Angeles following a brief, non-coronavirus-related illness. He was 93.

Simmons death was announced by his daughter Kate Simmons.

More from DeadlineJun Maeda Dies Of Covid-19: Obie Award-Winning Theater Set Designer Was 79Veteran Casting Director Cis Corman Remembered By "Best Friend" Barbra StreisandPeter H. Hunt Dies: Tony Award-Winning '1776' Director, Uncle Of Actress Helen Hunt Was 81

“Yesterday I lost my hero,” Kate Simmons wrote on Instagram. “My dad had gone from the sharpest, healthiest 93 year old most people have encountered to abruptly having every imaginable issue except corona.”

An author of nine books including the 2012 memoir Fat, Drunk, and Stupid: The Making of Animal House (St. Martins Press), Simmons made...

1985: Guiding Light's India discovered Floyd was a killer.

1986: Santa Barbara's Kirk was released from the hospital.

1996: Days of our Lives' Kristen saw The Woman in White.

2008: As the World Turns' Lily left Oakdale."History speaks to artists. It changes the artist's thinking and is constantly reshaping it into d ifferent and unexpected images."

― Anselm Kiefer

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1938: The Life of Mary Sothern ended its run on CBS Radio. The show continued in transcription form for four more years.

1963: On The Edge of Night, Nancy Pollock (Ann Flood) and Mike Karr (Laurence Hugo) were married.

1969: On Dark Shadows,...

1985: Guiding Light's India discovered Floyd was a killer.

1986: Santa Barbara's Kirk was released from the hospital.

1996: Days of our Lives' Kristen saw The Woman in White.

2008: As the World Turns' Lily left Oakdale."All true histories contain instruction; though, in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut."

― Anne Brontë in "Agnes Grey"

"Today in Soap Opera History" is a collection of the most memorable, interesting and influential events in the history of scripted, serialized programs. From birthdays and anniversaries to scandals and controversies, every day this column celebrates the soap opera in American culture.

On this date in...

1938: The Life of Mary Sothern ended its run on CBS Radio. The show continued in transcription form for four more years.

1963: On The Edge of Night,...

It's time to light a fire, get some eggnog, and settle in for some Christmas classics. And we know which ones are at the top of the list. A Christmas Story, Jingle All the Way, Christmas Vacation, Elf, and Bad Santa are certainly favorites. But a little unknown fact is that all of these movies have gotten sequels. You might not realize that because they are all equally terrible.

So which movie has the absolute worst Christmas sequel? Well, we can scratch Friday After Next off the list, because the original was never a Christmas movie to begin with. But at the top of the list surely has to be A Christmas Story 2. While the original is so popular that it plays for 24 hours straight on Christmas day, the only place you're likely to see the sequel is playing on a loop in Hell. Sure, it has some fans, but...

Harvey Keitel takes center stage as a double-crossed crook goes for blood after a major jewel heist turns sour — and bloody. Timothy Hutton and Stephen Dorff are in on the split for one late- ’90s crime caper that’s not a stylistic hijack of Quentin Tarantino. Directed by John Irvin.

City of Industry

Blu-ray

Kl Studio Classics

1997 / Color / 1:85 widescreen / 97 min. / Street Date October 3, 2017 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95

Starring: Harvey Keitel, Stephen Dorff, Timothy Hutton, Famke Janssen, Wade Dominguez, Michael Jai White, Lucy Alexis Liu, Reno Wilson, Dana Barron, Tamara Clatterbuck, Elliott Gould.

Cinematography: Thomas Burstyn

Film Editor: Mark Conte

Special Effects: Joe Lombardi

Original Music: Stephen Endelman

Written by Ken Solarz

Produced by Evzen Kolar, Ken Solarz

Directed by John Irvin

Director John Irvin earned his right to crow early on with TV’s ‘Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and the excellent action film about mercenaries The Dogs of War.

It's hard to believe it's been more than 20 years since we first met the Griswolds in National Lampoon's "Vacation." The 1983 original followed Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold, an overly enthusiastic dad who just wants to have a fun family trip to Wally World, a California amusement park. Unfortunately, it all goes to hell as they encounter a series of misadventures along the journey. The film sparked a number of sequels, including "European Vacation," "Christmas Vacation" and "Vegas Vacation." Fast forward to 2015, as the latest installment in the hilarious franchise, "Vacation," his theaters today. The new film focuses on a fully-grown (and once again recast) Rusty Griswold, as he takes his own family on a disastrous getaway. Ed Helms is taking over the lead role, Christina Applegate plays his wife and Leslie Mann fills the role of sister Audrey. Before we welcome the Griswolds back to the big screen, we're taking...

The holidays are finally upon us, and in celebration of the seasons, we're posting five fun facts about our favorite festive flicks!Today's featured film is the 1989 comedy classic "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."1. The flick is based on writer John Hughes' short story "Christmas '59," which was published in National Lampoon Magazine in December 1980. There's actually a secret reference to the story in the movie -- during the part when Clark (Chevy Chase) finds a home movie reel in the attic, it's labeled "Xmas '59."2. The Griswolds live next door to Sergeant Roger Murtaugh? Yep, their neighbor's house is the same one that Murtaugh (Danny Glover) and his family lived in during all of the "Lethal Weapon" movies. They're all located on the Warner Bros. Studios back lot. 3. Mae Questel, who played senile old Aunt Bethany in the movie, is best known as another famous lady -- Betty Boop!

Leslie Mann is ready for a "Vacation."  The actress will play the adult version of Audrey Griswold in the latest entry in the long-running National Lampoon comedy franchise, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The role previously was played by, among others, Dana Barron in 1983's "Vacation" and Juliette Lewis in 1989's "Christmas Vacation." As prevously revealed, Ed Helms ("The Hangover") will star as Audrey's grown-up brother, Rusty, with Christina Applegate playing his wife. Along with their offsprings, they embark on a cross-country road trip as disastrous as the one Audrey and Rusty took as kids in the original 1983 film. Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo will reportedly make a cameo as the senior Griswolds.  "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" star Charle Day and Marvel mainstay Chris Hemsworth are in talks to join in on the fun as well. John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein ("Horrible Bosses" and "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone...

The Griswolds have grown up! Leslie Mann is in negotiations to play Audrey Griswold in New Line's Vacation sequel, a source confirms to E! News. The actress will join previously announced cast members Christina Applegate and Ed Helms. Charlie Day and Chris Hemsworth are also in talks with the studio, according to The Hollywood Reporter. John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein will make their directorial debut with the film. Shooting is scheduled to start next week in Louisiana. Mann would play Audrey Griswold, who was played by Dana Barron in the 1983 original. Audrey is married to an anchorman named Stone Crandall (Hemsworth). Helms will play Rusty Griswold, a role made famous by Anthony...

Leslie Mann is reportedly in negotiations to join the cast of the reboot/remake of 1980s comedy Vacation.

Leslie Mann Joining 'Vacation' Cast?

Mann is currently in talks to play Audrey Griswold in the remake of the John Hughes hit, according to The Hollywood Reporter. In the original film, the character of Audrey was played by Dana Barron. In the new film, Audrey will be married to rising star anchorman Stone Crandall, who will reportedly be played by Thor’s Chris Hemsworth.

In the new Vacation film, Ed Helms (The Office, The Hangover) will play the grown up Rusty Griswold, who is following in his father Clark Gisworld’s footsteps of planning a family road trip. Chevy Chase will be reprising his role from the original film, as will Beverly D’Angelo. Christina Applegate is reportedly already on board for the movie and It’s Always Sunny in...

Leslie Mann is in talks to join the cast of Vacation, a reboot/sequel of John Hughes' classic comedy that starred Chevy Chase. Ed Helms and Christina Applegate are set to star.

Chris Hemsworth and Charlie Day are also in talks for roles. And word is that Chase and Beverly D'Angelo, who also starred in the original, are making appearances.

The script was written by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein. The two are also directing. Production begins next week in Louisiana.

Helms will play Rusty Griswold, the grown-up son of Clark Griswold (Chase) who takes his family on a road trip similar to the one he, his parents and his sister took when he was young.

If everything works out, Mann will take the role of Audrey Griswold who was played by Dana Barron in the original. In the new version, Audrey is married to Hemsworth's character, an up-and-coming anchorman named Stone Crandall.

• Billy Bob Thornton is in talks for Our Brand Is Crisis. The Warner Bros. political dramedy is being directed by David Gordon Green and already stars Sandra Bullock and Scoot McNairy. Smokehouse partners George Clooney and Grant Heslov will produce. Bullock will executive produce. Our Brand Is Crisis is based on Rachel Boynton’s 2005 documentary of the same name, which explored the use of American political campaign strategies in Bolivia by James Carville and Stan Greenberg, former consultants to President Clinton. Bullock will play a retired American political consultant, “Calamity” Jane Bodine. Details regarding Thornton’s potential role are unknown at this time.

First-time directors (and the writers who got the thing moving in the first place) John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein are now hard at work preparing the new Vacation, a story that finds Ed Helms as the grown Rusty Griswold taking his own brood on a trip. The film has been missing someone to play his sister Audrey, but now Leslie Mann is in talks for that role.Serving as both a sequel and a semi-reboot of the franchise, this Vacation finds the characters from the 1983 John Hughes comedy as adults, with Helms married to Christina Applegate.Audrey, who was previously played by Dana Barron (twice), Dana Hill, Juliette Lewis and Marisol Nichols, will here be married to news anchorman Stone Crandall, set to take the shape – assuming his deal has gone through – of one Chris Hemsworth. Nice going, Mann!Charlie Day is planning to make a one-scene cameo in the film,...

The Other Woman star Leslie Mann has entered talks with New Line ahead of a potential role in the studio’s upcoming reboot-cum-sequel of John Hughes’ 1980s lampooning comedy classic, Vacation, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Mann will join Ed Helms and Christina Applegate in the film as Audrey Griswold, the all-grown-up daughter of Clark and Ellen — played by Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo in the original, respectively. Early reports suggest that the two goofball parents will make cameo appearances in the upcoming movie.

New Line’s reboot-cum-remake of Vacation is scheduled to begin shooting next week in Louisiana, with first-time directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein stepping behind the camera. Elsewhere on the casting bill, the filmmaking duo have tapped Kyler Gisondo and Steel Stebbins as Rusty Griswold’s sons, with reports stating that Charlie Day and Thor’s Chris Hemsworth are also in talks to star.

After New Line's reboot of the comedy classic National Lampoon's Vacation gained a superhero in Chris Hemsworth and a cameo appearance by Charlie Day (reteaming with his Horrible Bosses writers John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, directing this time), the supporting cast continue to fill out. THR reports Leslie Mann (This is 40, The Other Woman) is now in talks to play Audrey Griswold, brother of Rusty Griswold (Ed Helms) who is all grown up and taking his own family on the kind of road trip that his parents (Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo) took the family on when they were just kids. More below! Audrey was played by Dana Barron in the original 1983 film, but was played by a different actress in every sequel that followed (it became a running gag in the films). As we learned previously, Hemsworth would be playing an anchorman named Stone Crandall who is married to Audrey.

Casting on the Vacation reboot continues to hum along, with Leslie Mann in talks to play Audrey Griswold, daughter of Clark and Ellen and sister to Rusty.

Ed Helms is the star of the movie, playing Rusty Griswold, as he and his wife (Christina Applegate) plan their own WallyWorld vacation. The film will also include appearances by original stars Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo as the Griswold Grandparents.

Vacation begins shooting next week in Louisiana. Chris Hemsworth is in negotiations to star as Aubrey's boyfriend. And Charlie Day will play a river guide.

John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein will make their joint directorial debut on the comedy from a screenplay they wrote themselves. John Hughes wrote the original 1983 Vacation, which was directed by Harold Ramis.

Leslie Mann will be the fifth actress to play Audrey Griswold. Dana Barron originated the role in the first installment, and returned to reprise...

Merry Christmas Eve! One of the most beloved Christmas movies has to be "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"-- and to celebrate the holidays, we've found five fun facts about the classic comedy! 1. The flick is based on writer John Hughes' short story "Christmas '59," which was published in National Lampoon Magazine in December 1980. There's actually a secret reference to the story in the movie -- during the part when Clark (Chevy Chase) finds a home movie reel in the attic, it's labeled "Xmas '59."2. The Griswolds live next door to Sergeant Roger Murtaugh? Yep, their neighbor's house is the same one that Murtaugh (Danny Glover) and his family lived in during all of the "Lethal Weapon" movies. They're all located on the Warner Bros. Studios back lot. 3. Mae Questel, who played senile old Aunt Bethany in the movie, is best known as another famous lady -- Betty Boop! Mae...

"Holiday Ro-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oad, Holiday Ro-o-o-o-o-o-oad..."

Hard to believe it's been 30 years since the Griswold family first took to the road in "National Lampoon's Vacation." Ever since its release on July 29, 1983, the landmark comedy seems a permanent fixture of pop culture, having created the signature roles of Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, and Randy Quaid's careers, having helped make stars out of Anthony Michael Hall and Jane Krakowski, and having helped launch the filmmaking career of John Hughes. The movie seems to play on an endless loop on TV, like the neighbors' slideshow of a nightmarish trip you were grateful not to have taken yourself. (Except, let's face it, you probably have a family road trip this disastrous in your past.)

Still, as many times as you've seen the film, there are some details you may have missed. Read on to learn about the in-jokes you haven't spotted, the scenes you didn't get to see,...

Clark Griswold and the rest of the Griswold’s infamous trip to the magical land of Walley World returns to Blu-Ray in a special re-released 30th Anniversary Edition of National Lampoon’s Vacation. Now, you can relive the famous cross-country road trip film that made way for one of National Lampoon’s most successful series’ of all-time. Harold Ramis’ Vacation isn’t as memorable as some of the later entries in the series, but it’s a lot of fun, thanks to Chevy Chase and the rest of the cast.

The Griswold family vacation has one end point — Walley World. Clark Griswold has cemented it in his mind that he and his family will make it to Walley World, no matter how long it takes or what they have to physically do to arrive at their destination. And the reality of what they do eventually put themselves through to get...

Chicago – Few comedies from the ’80s are as beloved and rewatchable as “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” a surprise hit that produced multiple sequels and legions of fans. It’s probably playing somewhere on cable right now and will be for another three decades. However, in those cable airings, you won’t get to see the feature-length documentary, “Inside Story,” about the making of the film featuring new interviews with nearly all of the major players from Chevy Chase to Harold Ramis to Jane Krakowski. If you’re a comedy fan, the Blu-ray is worth picking up just for that special feature alone.

Rating: 4.5/5.0

From the location scouting to Imogene Coca’s fear of travel to Anthony Michael Hall’s crush on his sister in the film, “Inside Story” is a really strong “Behind the Music”-esque look at one of the most iconic comedies of its era. “Vacation” has held up remarkably well.

Christina Applegate is in final talks to join the cast of New Line Cinema's Vacation reboot, alongside Ed Helms.

The story is essentially a hybrid of a sequel and a reboot, with Ed Helms portraying a grown-up Rusty Griswold, who takes his own family on a vacation to Walley World, just like his childhood trip portrayed in 1983's Vacation. Christina Applegate will play Rusty's wife who may be losing interest in her husband.

The character Rusty Griswold was portrayed by a number of very different actors throughout the original franchise, including Anthony Michael Hall in Vacation, Jason Lively in European Vacation, Johnny Galecki in Christmas Vacation, and Ethan Embry in Vegas Vacation.

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone writers John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein will make their directorial debuts, working from their own screenplay. It isn't known when production will begin.

Christina Applegate is currently shooting Anchorman: The Legend Continues in Atlanta.

If you’re really missing Community on NBC these days, why not ease off the fast-forward button on the ol’ DVR and feast your eyes upon Chevy Chase in the latest batch of Old Navy commercials! Said nobody, because these commercials are kind of sad. But check them out for yourselves…

You’ve likely already seen this one, “Plug in the Pop,” in which Chevy (as Sparky) fires up the Griswold Family Light-tacular as Beverly D’Angelo and Juliette Lewis roll their eyes behind him in a spoof of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

Just to be clear: Sitcoms are...

Cue up Mavis Staples. Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo and Juliette Lewis have participated in a new ad campaign for Old Navy that spoofs their beloved holiday classic, "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation."

Selling an Old Navy item called "pop pants" -- the color's pop, apparently -- Chase once again embodies Clark Griswold, well-meaning idiot and patriarch of the Griswold family. The commercial goofs on the famous scene in "Christmas Vacation" when Clark tries to plug in the Christmas lights on his house to varying degrees of success. D'Angelo and Lewis, as, respectively, Clark's wife and daughter, are there to lend support and eyerolls.

This isn't the first time in 2012 that Chase and D'Angelo have reunited. The pair, along with Dana Barron and Anthony Michael Hall, got together for the 29th anniversary of "National Lampoon's Vacation" in October. That film, the first in the "Vacation" franchise, was release in 1983; "Christmas Vacation," with...

Almost 30 years have passed since "National Lampoon's Vacation" and the Griswolds' disastrous trip to Wally World. Now, five sequels later, the original cast is back for a mini reunion.

Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Dana Barron and Anthony Michael Hall reunited for the cover of Entertainment Weekly's annual "Reunions" issue.

ABC's "Good Morning America" caught up with the "Vacation" cast at the EW photo shoot and discovered that, even after all these years, the chemistry remains.

"Chevy's a genius and my dear friend. I love you and I'm so glad that the four of us can be together at the same time," D'Angelo, the 60-year-old actress who once played wife Ellen Griswold, told Gma. "Because it was a special time. You know, you kind of hope that you can touch somebody's life in some way and you don't think you're gonna do it unless you're getting an Oscar for it.

The Griswolds are together again -- as the cast of "National Lampoon's Vacation" reunited for a new photo shoot!Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo and the original Rusty and Audrey, Anthony Michael Hall and Dana Barron, got together for Entertainment Weekly's Reunions Issue.The gang reminisced about making the movie almost 30 years ago in some behind-the-scenes footage that aired today on "Good Morning America."“It was classic, but it was also a family experience for me because we were all on vacation together, literally. So, it became its own film within its film,” Dana says.“I just remembered laughing and having a great, great experience the whole summer,” adds Hall ... who would go on to star in "Sixteen Candles" and "The Breakfast Club" only a short time later.And Beverly, she's just happy to see everyone again."Chevy’s a genius, and my dear friend, and I love you," she says.

We found out, long ago, it’s a long way down the holiday road.

It’s just difficult to believe how long ago that was.

Nearly 30 years have passed since National Lampoon’s Vacation sent Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Dana Barron and Anthony Michael Hall on the Griswold family’s ill-fated trek to Wally World. The kids were replaced for each of the sequels, but now the original clan is back together for EW’s annual Reunions issue.

Cousin Eddie, unfortunately, remains at large.

Check out video of the dysfunctional movie-family’s reunion.

The Griswold clan may be strange,...

Holiday rooooooooooad. Come on. You know the words. It’s that time of year when the weather is starting to heat up, families are planning their yearly excursions to the greater parts of the world, and the highways of this great nation of ours are going to be filled with Family Trucksters. What better time than to visit the original cross-country, family quest for fun? That’s right. We’re talking about National Lampoon’s Vacation. Not only was I shocked to find there was a commentary track on this 20th Anniversary Special Edition, but it contains director Harold Ramis, producer Matty Simmons, and most of the Griswold clan, Cousin Eddie included. Sadly Beverly D’Angelo didn’t make this trip, but our hearts and prayers are with her. As for the rest of the tribe, they give us more than our fair share of Vacation trivia, insight into the filming, and...

Horrible Bosses writers John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein have boarded New Line Cinema's Vacation reboot.

The original, which starred Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Anthony Michael Hall and Dana Barron, followed the Griswold family's cross-country drive to the Walley World theme park which proved to be much more arduous than they ever anticipated.

The reboot will center Rusty Griswold, now a grown man, who decides to take his own wife and kids on a road trip to Wally World before it closes forever. Chevy Chase is expected to be a part of the film, playing his role as Clark Griswold, now a grandfather.

John Francis Daley and Jonathan M. Goldstein are also involved with upcoming New Line projects Horrible Bosses 2 and Burt Wonderstone.

Vacation was released July 29th, 1983 and stars Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Imogene Coca, Randy Quaid, Anthony Michael Hall, Dana Barron, Eddie Bracken, Brian Doyle-Murray.

We have a brand new exclusive clip from the upcoming home video release Happythankyoumoreplease, which hits Blu-ray and DVD on June 21. Click on the video player below to watch a scene with Josh Radnor telling Michael Algieri why it's wrong to hit people.

Click to watch Exclusive: Deleted Scene - I Trust You!

On his way to meeting his publisher, aspiring novelist Sam Wexler (Josh Radnor) meets Rasheen, a young boy separated from his family on the subway. When Rasheen refuses to be left alone with social services, Sam learns the boy has already been in six previous homes and impulsively agrees to let the boy stay with him for a couple days. Dropped into Sam's chaotic, bachelor lifestyle, Rasheen is introduced to Sam's circle of friends: Annie (Malin Akerman, The Proposal) who has a habit of dating the wrong men, but finds a promising new suitor (Tony Hale, Arrested Development), Mary-Catherine (Zoe Kazan,...

Chicago – More, please! Along with our recent Hookup for advance-screening movie passes to the new comedy/drama “Happythankyoumoreplease,” in this follow-up edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film one lucky winner will score a mega prize pack! The prize pack comes with:

The film’s signed poster by stars Josh Radnor, Malin Akerman, Kate Mara and Michael Algieri A $100 gift certificate to Michael Stars (retail or online) A “Happythankyoumoreplease” tote (pictured on right)

The film features Josh Radnor (star of “How I Met Your Mother” on CBS), Malin Akerman, Richard Jenkins, Zoe Kazan, Michael Algieri, Bram Barouh, Dana Barron and Sunah Bilsted.

“Happythankyoumoreplease” also stars Jimmy Gary Jr., Tony Hale, Marna Kohn, Kate Mara, Laith Nakli, Katharine Powell and Maria Elena Ramirez from writer and director Josh Radnor. The film opened in Chicago on March 11, 2011.

To win your completely free prize pack courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do...

Chicago – In our latest comedy/drama edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film, we have 25 admit-two passes up for grabs to the advance Chicago screening of the new film “Happythankyoumoreplease”! The film stars Josh Radnor (star of “How I Met Your Mother” on CBS) and Malin Akerman.

“Happythankyoumoreplease” also stars Richard Jenkins, Zoe Kazan, Michael Algieri, Bram Barouh, Dana Barron, Sunah Bilsted, Jimmy Gary Jr., Tony Hale, Marna Kohn, Kate Mara, Laith Nakli, Katharine Powell and Maria Elena Ramirez from writer and director Josh Radnor. The film opens in Chicago on March 11, 2011.

To win your free pass to the advance Chicago screening of “Happythankyoumoreplease” courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just answer our question below. That’s it! This screening is on Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. in Chicago. Directions to enter this Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.

The movie poster for “Happythankyoumoreplease” with Josh Radnor,...

If you’ve been reading my columns with The Retro Machine at all, then you know I’m one of Fused Film’s resident horror nerds. I love the genre and (almost) all it has to offer. From lesbian vampires to pranks gone awry, horror has it all. As such, I have made it my mission to become as well-versed as I can in each little subgenre. But even a girl like me can play favorites. As much as I hate to admit it, my favorite subgenre touts some of the worst horror has to offer. Despite the dreck the subgenre releases onto the masses, I love a good slasher film.

It all started when I was a wee lass. I stayed home from my kindergarten ten miles away because I had the stomach flu. I was throwing up in my footie pajamas, y’all. It was not pretty. My father,...

Date NightExtras include:

CommentaryGag ReelExtended Car ChaseDirecting off cameraDate Night PSAs (three versions)Directing 301 with Shawn LevyDeleted Scenes (Bd-exclusive)Extended Scenes (Bd-exclusive)Disaster Dates with the Cast (Bd-exclusive)Steve and Tina camera tests (Bd-exclusive)Live Lookup (Bd-exclusive)

The Joneses

Extras include:

Deleted Scenes

La Mission

Extras include:

The Music of 'La Mission'[Read More...]

Crumb (Criterion Collection)

Extras include:

Commentary with director Terry ZwigoffCommentary with film critic Roger Ebert and ZwigoffUnused footage (*with optional commentary by Zwigoff)Stills galleryBooklet - 28-page illustrated booklet containing film critic Jonathan Rosenbaum's essay "Crumb Reconsidered", reproductions and more

Vacation Blu-ray

Extras include:

Intro to the film with Chevy Chase, Randy Quaid, and Matty SimmonsCommentary track with Harold Ramis, Chevy Chase, Randy Quaid, Anthony Michael Hall, Dana Barron, and Matty Simmons

European Vacation Blu-ray

Extras include:

Commentary track with Chevy Chase

What's Up, Doc? Blu-ray

Extras include:

CommentaryScene-Specific Commentary by Barbara StreisandScrewball Comedies—Remember Them? 1972 featurette...

Jonathan Ke Quan : Short Round in Temple of the Doom and Data Wang in Goonies

Dana Barron: Audrey Griswold in National Lampoon's Vacation

Austin O'Brien: Danny Madigan in The Last Action Hero

Ben Savage: Cory Mathews in "Boy Meets World"

Harvey Stephens: Damien in the original The Omen

Jeremy London: Ts in Mallrats

Jeremy Miller: Ben Seaver in "Growing Pains"

Jonathan Lipnicki: Ray Boyd in Jerry Maguire

Glenn Walker Harris Jr.: Jason Dobler in Say Anything

Ron Lester: Billy Bob in Varsity Blues

Ross Malinger : Jonah Baldwin in Sleepless in Seattle

Tiffany Brisette: Vickie the Robot in "Small Wonder"

Jonathon Taylor Thomas: Randy Taylor in "Home Improvement"

Jason Hervey: Wayne Arnold in "The Wonder Years"...