Four ChristmasesRated PG-13
Running time: 1 hr 21 mins
Cast:
Vince Vaughn
Reese Witherspoon
Robert DuVall
Sissy Spacek
Jon Voight
Mary Steenburgen
Critical Consensus:
** out of *****
(25% Fresh Rating!)
Mikey @ The Movies Official Rating:
*** out of *****
The Premise:
A couple struggle to visit all four of their divorced parents on Christmas Day.
MY REVIEW
Pleasant surprise alert! Here I was expecting 'Four Christmases' to be just another random and stupid family Christmas film that we see a ton of every holiday season. Well OK it was a family holiday film and it was a bit on the random side. But you know what? It was not stupid. This movie was actually quite hilarious! You know what else? I kinda quite took a liking to this movie. Yes, I will forget about it in maybe a week or two, and it won't be a nominee for my best comedy award. But this movie provided some good, near clean fun that I think families can enjoy.
The movie really nailed dysfunctional families. Obviously they threw in a comedic twist, but the family situation in the film were almost like reality. There were so many awkward moments for the two main characters, but they also made me feel uncomfortable like I was in the rooms with them. I felt bad for all the characters! Babies screaming, dads yelling, crazy moms, off the wall siblings, bizarre step-parents, the works. It's kind of silly to admit, but this movie was somewhat realistic. Now, my family is not like this, but there are families out there that are very similar to what's featured in the film.
The story was probably the weakest part of the film. It follows a long term relationship couple played by Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line, Legally Blonde) and funny man Vince Vaughn (Old School, Wedding Crashers) being forced to visit their divorced parents when they should have been going to Tahiti for Christmas. This couple seems perfect and loving, and we have no reason to believe other wise. Through their family gatherings, they each learn a new thing or two about each other. Some of the stuff is upsetting to them, but nothing really traumatic. Then about 16 or 17 minutes before the film ends, the big fight happens and all these pent up issues arise in a car ride. I was like, "Whoa! To much, to late". The big dilemma of the film happens way to far into the movie, and it get's resolved way to fast. The last 20 minutes felt like one of those half hour sitcoms where a problem happens but then it's solved by the end of the episode. This wasn't really all that bad for the film, but they just tried to incorporate to much sappiness into an otherwise lighthearted family comedy.
This movie was darn funny! I laughed quite a bit! I've never really appreciated Vince Vaughn as a comedic actor. Usually he's in films where his dialog is a bit risque for me, and is just littered with sex crap. Usually I said, not all the time, don't yell at me. To see him here, and act in his Vince Vaughn persona but with clean dialog was just great! He really was the funniest part of the film! The rest of the case was great comedically too. Most of them were mere extended cameos, which was nice. We didn't have to deal with a large cast together with to much screen time.
Hey if you are bored during the holidays and want to go see a fun movie, don't waste your cash on Yes Man I would suggest 'Four Christmases', it's a much better, less forced comedy!
The movie really nailed dysfunctional families. Obviously they threw in a comedic twist, but the family situation in the film were almost like reality. There were so many awkward moments for the two main characters, but they also made me feel uncomfortable like I was in the rooms with them. I felt bad for all the characters! Babies screaming, dads yelling, crazy moms, off the wall siblings, bizarre step-parents, the works. It's kind of silly to admit, but this movie was somewhat realistic. Now, my family is not like this, but there are families out there that are very similar to what's featured in the film.
The story was probably the weakest part of the film. It follows a long term relationship couple played by Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon (Walk the Line, Legally Blonde) and funny man Vince Vaughn (Old School, Wedding Crashers) being forced to visit their divorced parents when they should have been going to Tahiti for Christmas. This couple seems perfect and loving, and we have no reason to believe other wise. Through their family gatherings, they each learn a new thing or two about each other. Some of the stuff is upsetting to them, but nothing really traumatic. Then about 16 or 17 minutes before the film ends, the big fight happens and all these pent up issues arise in a car ride. I was like, "Whoa! To much, to late". The big dilemma of the film happens way to far into the movie, and it get's resolved way to fast. The last 20 minutes felt like one of those half hour sitcoms where a problem happens but then it's solved by the end of the episode. This wasn't really all that bad for the film, but they just tried to incorporate to much sappiness into an otherwise lighthearted family comedy.
This movie was darn funny! I laughed quite a bit! I've never really appreciated Vince Vaughn as a comedic actor. Usually he's in films where his dialog is a bit risque for me, and is just littered with sex crap. Usually I said, not all the time, don't yell at me. To see him here, and act in his Vince Vaughn persona but with clean dialog was just great! He really was the funniest part of the film! The rest of the case was great comedically too. Most of them were mere extended cameos, which was nice. We didn't have to deal with a large cast together with to much screen time.
Hey if you are bored during the holidays and want to go see a fun movie, don't waste your cash on Yes Man I would suggest 'Four Christmases', it's a much better, less forced comedy!
To view this film's theatrical trailer, click this link: Four Christmases
*This is the 176th new film I've seen and reviewed this year.
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