Fourths Of July: VEGAS VACATION (1997)

What do you do when you need the Griswolds to get together for one more family vacation, but you no longer have access to John Hughes or the National Lampoon name? You go all in, placing it all on red, in hopes that sending the kookiest family from Chicago, and hoping that they will hit it big in Sin City. And that's just what Stephen Kessler (THE INDEPENDENT) and executive producer Matty Simons (NATIONAL LAMPOON’S ANIMAL HOUSE) bet on with 1997's VEGAS VACATION, the fourth entry in the VACATION series.

Sending the Griswolds on a family vacation to the not-so-family-friendly locale of Las Vegas alone makes you giggle.

Sure, Vegas has toned down a bit since, aiming at pulling in big spenders of all ages. But in the late 1990s, there wasn't a lot to cater for the younger crowd. You'd have lounge singers and aging magicians instead of the current pop divas and breakdancing troupes.

Fun still can be had though when Clark, Ellen, and their two shape shifting kids are around. But, more importantly, there are important life lessons to learn:

Only gamble with what you can lose.

Clark (Chevy Chase) started out small with his bets, but once finds the black jack table hosted by Wallace Shawn (THE PRINCESS BRIDE), he's found an adversary that he doesn't want to lose to. And yet, that's exactly what he does. Over and over. "You don't know when to quit, do ya Griswold? Here's an idea: Why don't you give me half the money you were gonna bet? Then, we'll go out back, I'll kick you in the nuts, and we'll call it a day!" Before he knows it, he's well over $22,000 in the hole, and yet still keeps going. Never a great idea, kids!

Be mindful of your fellow travelers,
especially when Wayne Newton is around.

The buddy system works! Especially when your wife is being ogled by a wealthy lounge singer.

Ellen, played by Beverly D'Angelo, is a diehard Wayne Newton fan, and yet, is completely oblivious when he is utterly smitten of her. Sending her a dress and VIP tickets to their show, he even pulls her on stage mid song.

"Holy crap, Wayne Newton is hitting on mom!" And as oblivious as Ellen is, she's nowhere near as clueless as Clark. "It's all part of the act, Russ!"

If you use a fake ID, get to know what it says before you use it.

Prior to Rusty (Ethan Embry) becoming the high roller Nick Pappagiorgio, he's presented with the ID of an older Black man by a sidewalk hustler (character actor supreme Toby Huss). Rusty learns quickly about the importance of such details as he's later quizzed about his residence in Yuma and his needs for corrective lenses.

Buffets are where it's* at.
(*mystery meat)

Buffets are everywhere in Vegas, but it may be best to stick to those that are more high end and avoid All-You-Can-Eat for $1.49 to which Eddie (Randy Quaid) takes Clark. "This doesn't look like chicken!" Clark points to two vats of goo, one bright blue and one bright yellow. "Oh. You're right! This one is chicken and this one is beef!" The buffet cook proceeds to swap the sign.

The many uses of Yuban Coffee.

When searching for more gambling funds, Clark and Cousin Eddie take to digging in the dirt yard around Eddie's irradiated compound. Stumbling upon $6 in a coffee can, we learn this life hack from the lunkhead cousin. "Oh yeah, Yuban Coffee. You know you can sprinkle that stuff on anything? Ice cream, mashed potatoes, or just eat it right out of the can for a quick pick me up."

Be kind to those around you:
You never know how much it might mean to them.

When the Griswolds realize they are down to their last two dollars, they hit up the Keno game, in a final Hail Mary.

Mostly deserted, there is only one player sitting, played by actor/comedian/musician Sid Caesar. The older gentleman comments on how nice it is the family is spending time together, and how he wished he had that for himself.

Clark welcomes him to join them. As the numbers are read off, they realize they lost again, but the older gentleman gets excited as he won the jackpot. He then proceeds to have a heart attack, and whispers to Clark to take his ticket. Clark's brief generosity in spirit ended up paying off financially as the dying man's winnings more than covered his losses thus far.

And in case you need more time on your Vegas Vacation, then might I recommend these following sequels that also rolled the dice by being set in Vegas: HONEY, I BLEW UP THE KID; LEPRECHAUN 3; STEP UP ALL IN; and lastly, EVIL BONG 777. And if you ever need to figure out where to take yourself or your movie franchise, just remember these rules and then hit that Strip!