Beautiful Little Surprises
There's nothing like encountering a movie that surprises you in all the right ways. That's what I encountered last night when I saw The Family Stone. A funny, yet incredibly heartfelt Christmas comedy that extols the state of family.The movie is about a liberal, wealthy family living in the suburbs of Connecticut who meet Meredith, the girlfriend, of the eldest son, Everett. Most of them completely dislike her uptight, mannered approach to life. And why not? They're carefree, contemporary post-hippie yuppies who talk openly about one another's sexual conquests. It might not be Focus on the Family's definition of what constitutes an appropriate family, but without a doubt, this is one clan that cares passionately about one another. They are willing to destroy anything or anyone that has the potential to cause one of their brood misery. Despite their loud grumbling, yelling and scheming, every single Stone cares about the others' best interests.
Performances from the cast are first-rate all around, bolstered by a nimble screenplay, and assured direction. Sure, it's a bit predictable, but it's a Christmas movie. Nobody's going to see it for its originality of plot. What we want is a movie with depth, real emotion, and a reminder of why people travel halfway around the world to be with the people they love at Christmas.
This movie has those things in spades.
Find the people you love. Take them to go see it. Consider this suggestion my Christmas gift to you all.
posted by cinegod @ 11:43 AM
1 Comments:
We have to start with - "Sure, it's a bit predictable" - A BIT! Well ain't that an understatement. The audience is always three to four scenes in front of the characters and most likely the director. Of course he is "assured," he has seen this garbage just as much as the rest of us on all those made-for-tv Christmas movies. Movies don't get off the hook b/c they deal or at set around Christmas. Forget the nice warm feeling that has come over you. It is a fraud. There is nothing to this film but sentimental offerings of re-tread crap. I hate the fact that this movie had a cast that could have pulled off anything. They should have stuck with the plan and just made this an indie film. And Sarah Jessica Parker's hands are huge. She has man-hands.
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