A Vacation sequel has been threatened for a while now, so this should come as no surprise. According to Variety’s scoop, we now know who’ll be playing Rusty Griswold: Ed Helms. Because you’ve always known that Anthony Michael Hall would grow into a Johnny Galecki that would then morph into an Ethan Embry before finally emerging from its cocoon as a fully grown Ed Helms. The developmental stages of a Rusty Griswold (the character, not the hideous sex act) in the wild are fascinating, indeed.
Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo are also back as Clark and Ellen, respectively. And I have to believe that the studio will cast an Audrey eventually as well. Regardless of your thoughts on The Hangover films, Helms was the best thing about them. And Cedar Rapids was easily one of the funniest comedies of 2011.
If we’re going by pre-Abrams Star Trek logic (but in reverse), this franchise is actually due for a winning installment. Seeing as how the odd Vacation films (the original & Christmas) have been great while the evens (European & Vegas) have been shit sandwiches, we might be in for a treat.
Then again, there is a Christmas Vacation 2 out there… lurking. So maybe such hopeful logic is no longer applicable.