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By CityThe Family Stone
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The Family StoneA fantastically entertaining relief from holiday stress!
2005-12-20
Article Written by: Sami Jo
If this movie would have come out a few weeks earlier, it would have definitely made my list for Sami's Picks for Favorite Flicks: Top 13 Holiday Movies article. This romantic comedy features an all-star cast that includes Claire Danes ( Shopgirl ) with first billing and Diane Keaton ( Something's Gotta Give ), Rachel McAdams ( The Notebook ), Dermot Mulroney ( The Wedding Date ), Craig T. Nelson ( The Incredibles ), Sarah Jessica Parker (HBO's "Sex and the City") and Luke Wilson ( Anchorman ). Written and directed by Thomas Bezucha, The Family Stone is the perfect fun-loving movie to see this holiday season.
Everett (Mulroney) takes his up-tight girlfriend Meredith (Parker) home to meet his family for Christmas. Things become so disastrous in the first 24 hours that Meredith not only leaves the Stone house and checks in to the local Inn , but she calls her sister to join her. The film has absolutely no surprise element – the ending is clear from the moment certain eyes meet; however, since it's Christmas, I won't spoil the ending.
The Stone Family is that family that says everything your family is thinking but never says. When Meredith refuses to sleep in the same room with Everett , his mother Sybil (Keaton) puts her in Amy's room, which forces Amy (McAdams) to sleep on the couch. "I hope I'm not putting anyone out," Meredith says as she helps re-make the bed. "Me. You're putting me out," Amy replies. In my family a person would have been highly shunned upon for using such improper manners. Bezucha capitalizes on the use of such rude manners throughout the film, resulting in humor from beginning to end. In addition to humor, Bezucha creatively adds sorrow and drama to the mix.
The true pleasure of the film comes in the delight that a romantic comedy was finally released that doesn't resemble massive destruction. If you want to compare romantic comedies to interior decorating, The Family Stone just put Martha Stewart out of business. Finally, we get an ensemble cast that doesn't let one actor shine over another. For this film, a script was written that touches on many issues without completely forgetting the point of the story. It's a formula film that actually follows the formula instead of unsuccessfully trying to substitute x for y. It's an entertaining break from the stress of the holiday season.
Final Thought: While Sarah Jessica Parker was nominated for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for her role as Meredith, I think the only acting award this film deserves is Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role to Luke Wilson for his portrayal of Ben Stone.
