Why Is Rusty Younger in Christmas Vacation?

By Anna Duncan

Have you ever watched the beloved holiday classic movie, Christmas Vacation? If yes, then you must have noticed that Rusty, the son of Clark Griswold, looked a little different than he did in the previous movie of the franchise.

So why is Rusty younger in Christmas Vacation? Let’s find out!

What is Christmas Vacation?

Before we delve into why Rusty looked younger in Christmas Vacation, let’s discuss what the movie is about. Christmas Vacation is a 1989 American comedy film directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik. It is the third installment of National Lampoon’s Vacation film series and stars Chevy Chase as Clark Griswold.

In this movie, Clark Griswold decides to host a big family Christmas with all his relatives coming over to his house. However, things don’t go as planned and hilarity ensues.

Why is Rusty Younger in Christmas Vacation?

Now coming back to our question, why did Rusty look younger in Christmas Vacation? The answer lies in the fact that there was a change in casting for the role of Rusty between National Lampoon’s European Vacation and Christmas Vacation.

In European Vacation, Rusty was played by Jason Lively, whereas in Christmas Vacation, he was played by Johnny Galecki. Since Galecki was younger than Lively at the time of filming, it made Rusty appear younger than he did in European Vacation.

Who is Johnny Galecki?

For those who are not familiar with Johnny Galecki, he is an American actor who is best known for his role as Leonard Hofstadter on the popular TV show The Big Bang Theory. However, before he rose to fame with The Big Bang Theory, he had appeared in several movies and TV shows including National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

The Bottom Line

So, to sum it up, Rusty looked younger in Christmas Vacation because of the change in casting for the role. While some fans might have noticed this difference, it didn’t take away from the overall charm of the movie.

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is a timeless classic that has been entertaining audiences for over three decades now. So, if you haven’t watched it yet, make sure to add it to your holiday watchlist this year!