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That’s the main problem with
writer/director’s Thomas Bezucha’s dramedy. We just
don’t get to know the characters well enough to really connect to
them. It tries earnestly to push your buttons – ‘laugh
now’, ‘cry now’, ‘aww now’ – but
many just won’t ‘feel it’.
Still, that doesn’t mean this all-star
festive offering isn’t entertaining – it most certainly is.
All the ingredients that make up for a perfect Christmas comedy are
here – slip-ups, mismatched couples, squabbles, food fights,
tantrums, crushes, embarrassing moments, revelations. In fact, the only
thing missing seems to be Chevy Chase. Crazy families at Yuletide are
always easy to watch, the Stone’s are no exception.
In a nutshell: One of the sons (Dermot Mulroney)
is bringing his new girlfriend – whom he plans to pop the
question too over the course of the holiday – home to meet the
family for Christmas. Unfortunately, she (Sarah Jessica Parker), a
snooty Manhattan-ite in a designer suit, doesn’t mesh well with
the bohemian clan – led by Mum and Dad Diane Keaton and Craig
T.Nelson – and Christmas starts to look rather grim.
Where Bezucha’s film scores points is its
successful intertwine of comedy and drama. Just when it looks like this
is going to be an out-and-out comedy, it throws us a curve ball and
injects a touching sub-plot about the importance of family and the
possibility of losing a member. Again, you probably won’t feel
the need to reach for the Kleenex – it tries a little bit
‘too hard’ in spots – but you might come close.
If The Family Stone
is worth a look for any reason – it’s the cast.
They’re all brilliant. Diane Keaton shines in her role as the
family rock, Craig T.Nelson gets one of the best roles he’s had
in years as her empathetic husband, Rachel McAdams is perfect as the
self-interested youngster of the clan, and Luke Wilson robs laughs as
the token stoner of the family. And though he’s good too, Dermot
Mulroney’s straight man looking for love character is getting so
tired. Dude, how many movies have you played the same role now? My Best Friend’s Wedding, The Wedding Date, Dog Park, How To Make an American Quilt, Must Love Dogs…..time to get a new shtick me thinks.
If crazy Vietnam Vet uncle Oliver dropped by, or
even feisty and foxy Aunt Sharon, these Stone’s might have been
even better – but as it is, they’re a clan worth dropping
in on for a couple of hours, but not a lot longer.
EXTRAS
A commentary track, deleted scenes, a gag reel and a couple of
behind-the-scenes featurette pad-up the reasonably entertaining extras
component of the DVD.
Conclusion:
Movie 65% Extras: 60%
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