Four Christmases

Four Christmases

Directed by:

Seth Gordon

Written by:

Matt Allen
Caleb Wilson

Starring:

Vince Vaughn
Reese Witherspoon
Robert Duvall
Sissy Spacek
Mary Steenburgen
Jon Voight
Jon Favreau

Quote:

We just gotta get through these four Christmases as quickly and painlessly as possible.

So Mr. italkfilm has been harassing me about not going to a film all month. I conceded he was right and started by seeing something that would make me laugh.  

I think I chose well.

Brad (Vince Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon) are a happily unmarried professional couple living it up in San Francisco.  Part of their bond has been commiserating about living through the aftermath of their parents’ failed marriages and bitter divorces.  They have even resorted to lying about doing charity work during their Christmas break in order to avoid visiting these houses of pain.  They pack up their stuff and head to the airport, only to find that the airport is completely fogged in and all flights have been canceled.  Upon hearing the news, their parents jump on the opportunity and quickly guilt them into visiting all four homes on Christmas day.   There is pain both in the realm of the physical and of Dr. Phil, but in the end; they find that their parents have also worked through most of it to find their own personal joy.  The day also shows the “happy” couple that maybe they haven’t been living life to the fullest after all.

Don’t get me wrong, this is not a film of great depth.  There are grown brothers wrestling, fat jokes, obnoxious children and a hysterical demonstration of why you should have a professional install your Satellite dish.  But it does touch on a collective dread that washes over many a person this time of year and I glad that it has been acknowledged. The parents are all played by screen veterans such as Sissy Spacek and Robert Duvall, and Jon Favreau even shows up as Brad’s brother, who has a penchant for ultimate fighting. (Kids, don’t try this at home.) It’s a lot of fun though, and I think it will soon be a family favorite for those with older kids.

Will this film make it to my Top 25 Christmas Film list?  Only a loyal reader who hits us next week will know for sure!

Bookmark with: