JPF Home Page Forums Creative Arts Forums Acting, Theater, Film and TV Forum "GAC Review": "FOUR CHRISTMASSES"/ V.Vaughn/ Reese Witherspoon

La Femme & I did a Mental Cointoss last Saturday & "FOUR CHRISTMASSES" came up The Winner. (There weren't all that many Fabulous "New Contenders"..heh!)

This lack of Serious Competition PAID OFF at the Boxoffece: A Movie that cost $12 Mil to make earned $18.2 Mil last weekend..and $69.4 Mil since it opened. (Maybe Detroit shoud get some "Cues" from Hollywood, eh?) ;-)>

Directed by Seth Gordon (2003 Cinematographer for "Dixie Chicks: Top of The World"), here's a Quirky Comedy about a "Let's Stay Unmarried" Professional Couple (Vince Vaughn [Brad] & Reese Witherspoon [Kate]). They usually fib to their Divorced Parents (both Sets) that they're off in some part of the Globe.."Helping Humanity" & too-far-off to return home for A Christmas Visit.

Many-a-Year, this ruse has worked wonders. But THIS year, the plane for a Christmas on the Beach in Fiji gets Fogged-In. Can't fly outta San Francisco ALL DAY...& a TV Reporter-cum-Camera Crew bushwacks 'em, asking "What'll they do NOW that all flights are Cancelled for the day?..."

Cell phones ring, & Brad & Kate each tell a TV-Watching Parent that "Sure, they'd LOVE to Visit...(Gulp!)..Today!"

Their One-Day's Visit to 4 Separate Abodes shows a wide divergence of "Families-From"..& reveals some formerly-hidden Childhood Names..Teasings..& Love-Habits..that kinda Mar Brad & Kate's relationships with each-other..AND..their "Loved Ones."

I DID laugh a LOT, it's well-paced, well-written (by Matt Allen & Caleb Wilson), with Great Acting by Robert Duval, Sissy Spacek, Jon Voight, Mary Steenbergen (As "The Parents"), Dwight Yoakam (as Pastor Phil) & Tim McGraw and Jon Favrea (as his Still Rasslin'-Away Grown-Up Kid Brother.)

BUT...there's a whole Lotta SQUIRMIN' Humor goin'-on, with the Vicissitudes of Baby-Having & Raising. When it finally ends-up, it doesn't feel like it's REALLY resolved all the Issues it Feeds-Upon. Rates a "6-outta-10". There ARE some great Humorous Moments in this Movie/&, like a kid, it does move along FAST-Enough, you won't be bored!

JMO..Keep-or-Sweep-it!
Big Hugs,
Stan

Hey Tampa,

I never go to movies (I shouldn't admit that, being on the board of two film organizations, huh?) and minus a working TV to even watch them on cable...so I honestly have nothing to add to your commentaries...but I just had to drop in to tell you that I very much enjoy your reviews. I haven't been able to spend much time on the boards this year...but am gradually trying to get back to business.

Glad I stopped here to check out a number of your reviews. Fun stuff and well written IMO. Thanks for taking your time to check these all out...and share your POV with us! Nice work. My compliments.

BPH,
Bobbie

HiDee Fave NashVilLady!

I enjoy doin' these...makes me pay a bit More Attention to what's Up There...(& Behind It!)

And....I need that Weekly Dose of Fantasy at the Flicks...sure breaks up the Usual Boredom!

Real Glad t'hear you've enjoyed my Rants & Ramblin's!
Hope 2009's a Biggie for Ya in NashCity!

BPH,
Ol' Stan