I went into this movie without any prior experience with the series, so I couldn’t really judge it against earlier installments or hold them responsible for anything. While I've encountered many movies with a similar premise, it wasn't quite as awful as some people claim. With stories like these, the fundamental plot tends to stay consistent; what matters most are things like the characters, settings, and how the story branches out. It seemed to me that the two new directors who also wrote the script handled those aspects adequately. The movie centers on the Griswold family – a couple and their two teenage sons. After noticing his family seems unenthusiastic about everyday life, the father decides to surprise his wife and kids with a vacation. The intention is for it to be enjoyable, but they struggle to maintain a positive atmosphere as a unit. As their journey progresses, they encounter numerous obstacles, though they don’t give in easily. What kind of adventure they end up having is what you see unfold later on. The acting was pretty good. Ed Helms and Christina Applegate both did well, even if the film isn't something to write home about. Some of the jokes landed really well, although many are geared toward adults. It’s an R-rated movie, not a family film, despite what you might think from the promotional materials. For older viewers, it's worth checking out. I can’t recommend or discourage seeing it based on its predecessors because I already explained why. People with similar tastes to mine could probably find some enjoyment in it. _6.5/10_

Source on TMDB