Why Is Russ Younger Than Audrey in Christmas Vacation?

By Anna Duncan

If you’re a fan of the holiday classic movie Christmas Vacation, you may have noticed that Russ, played by Johnny Galecki, is younger than his sister Audrey, played by Juliette Lewis. This age difference has puzzled many viewers over the years. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind this age gap and how it affects the movie’s plot.

Who are Russ and Audrey?

Before diving into the age difference between the two characters, let’s quickly introduce them. Russ and Audrey are the children of Clark Griswold, played by Chevy Chase, and his wife Ellen, played by Beverly D’Angelo. They are an integral part of the Griswold family that embarks on a chaotic Christmas adventure in Christmas Vacation.

Why is Russ younger than Audrey?

The reason behind Russ being younger than Audrey is due to a casting change made for this movie. In the previous film in the National Lampoon’s Vacation series, European Vacation, both characters were played by different actors. Jason Lively played Rusty while Dana Hill played Audrey.

For Christmas Vacation, director Jeremiah S. Chechik decided to recast both roles with different actors. Johnny Galecki was cast as Rusty while Juliette Lewis was cast as Audrey. Galecki was only 14 years old at the time of filming while Lewis was 16 years old.

How does this affect the movie?

The age difference between Russ and Audrey doesn’t have any significant impact on the movie’s plot or storyline. However, it does create some inconsistency in terms of their ages compared to previous movies in the series.

One could argue that casting younger actors gave a fresh perspective to these characters and allowed for new dynamics within their relationships with other family members. For example, having a younger Rusty allowed for more comedic moments when he interacts with his parents or grandparents.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the age difference between Russ and Audrey in Christmas Vacation is due to a casting change made by the director. While it doesn’t affect the movie’s plot significantly, it does create some inconsistency with previous movies in the series. Nonetheless, both actors did an excellent job portraying their characters and contributed to the movie’s success.

If you’re a fan of Christmas Vacation or the National Lampoon’s Vacation series, this tidbit of information may have satisfied your curiosity about this age gap.