WHAT’S IT ABOUT?

Rusty Griswold (Ed Helms) drives his wife (Christina Applegate) and children across the country to Wally World in an effort to bring them closer together.

WHAT DID WE THINK?

Dominic says yet another in the recent glut of rush-job studio comedies, although this one improves noticeably as it goes. It’s at its best when trying new ideas (e.g. a running joke with Seal’s “Kiss From a Rose”, copious cameos from modern comics) and not making obvious reference to the previous Vacation movies. Fun performances from Helms, Applegate and Chris Hemsworth as a randy Texan rancher can’t quite redeem the tired gags and flip-flopping tone.