Harold Ramis directs, John Hughes wrote the original script, and Chevy Chase (despite his off-screen persona) is comedy gold in this 1983 classic. It’s been forever since I watched it, and while I remembered bits and pieces, a lot passed me by, and it was amazing to see it all over again.

And oh man, the cast! Alongside Chase is a stunning Beverly D’Angelo, Anthony Michael Hall, Christie Brinkley, Randy Quaid, John Diehl, a very young Jane Krakowski, Dana Barron, Eugene Levy, and who can forget the climax of the film with that great turn by John Candy?

Clark Griswold (Chase) is about to take his family, Ellen (D’Angelo), son Rusty (Hall), and daughter Aubrey (Barron) on a two-week cross-country trip ending in three days at the happiest place on Earth, Walley World!

But things go wrong from the beginning, and everyone is guaranteed a laugh as they recognize parts of their own family and family trips on the screen. Stacking one moment on top of the other, the film ups the ante on holiday incidents and makes it incredibly hilarious.

There are interactions with family that they don’t like, getting saddled with Aunt Edna (Imogene Coca) and her less-than-friendly dog, and one horrible incident after another that completely mars the memory of any of the good times they had on the trip. And there were a few…

But the laughs come fast and furious; there aren’t many moments in this film that aren’t packed with gags and great dialogue.

At just over an hour and a half, the film rockets along and Ramis gets the best moments out of his cast and the story. Everything works like gangbusters.

And sure, Brinkley is hot and beautiful, but I always had a thing for D’Angelo, and Krakowski (we’re almost the same age, and the first time I saw her in this as a kid, I was taken in by her), even though some of her dialogue in the film is a little troubling.

Then there’s the iconic theme song, Holiday Road by Lindsey Buckingham.

This whole film is just iconic, and sure, today’s kids would have their iPads and phones, and road trips are a completely different thing. But you can share it with them, and show them how good they have it now.

This, for me, is peak Chevy Chase: Fletch, Three Amigo sand Spies Like Us played huge roles in my teen years.

Iconic comedy and must-see.