——–
Released 26th November 2008
——–
———-
Vince Vaughn is a bit like Marmite — you either love him or you hate him. You either get into his crazy ramblings from the start, or get lost, annoyed and switch off. So, depending on your frame of mind, you’ll either really love, or simply hate this festive fiasco, co-starring Hollywood’s ‘Darling of Comedy’, Reese Witherspoon. Thankfully, after last year’s cringeworthy ‘Vaughn Xmas turkey’, Fred Claus, Seth Gordon’s new comedy is like pure honey — s-w-e-e-t! And considering there are rumours that Vaughn and Witherspoon did not get on during filming, it’s rather surprising, as on-screen they simply shine and complement each other wonderfully.
———-
The key to this successful Vaughn-Witherspoon screen pairing is both have the gift of the gab and could out-do one another in a verbal contest any day. As Witherspoon remarked: “Vince is a force of nature… You just let him do his thing and hope you can react around him”. Although true, as emphasised by the hysterical nativity scene in the film, Witherspoon as Kate also demonstrates that she is Vaughn’s equal in developing comic moments, and is definitely no pretty sidekick. Both actors expose their characters’ vulnerabilities, whilst trying to using words as a defence, and this is the magic of this partnership.
——–
Perhaps, another reason this comedy duo works is the friction caused by the subject matter, and one which brings tension every holiday season: returning to the ‘dreaded’ family fold, where we are raised to be one way, but that’s not ultimately who we become, or want to be. If the rumours are true, then Vaughn and Witherspoon have used their very own friction to their advantage to portray a bittersweet relationship that is both touching and hilarious. Witherspoon reacts with her trademark, cutesy expressions that say it all, and then she comes back at Vaughn’s quips like the seasoned comedy pro she is, with far more feistiness and sarcasm than we are used to seeing her deliver. It’s these dynamics that drive the story to the end.
———
The script from debut screenwriters Matt Allen and Caleb Wilson is also refreshingly mature and more sadistic in humour than previous ‘home for Christmas’ offerings, with some deliciously funny lines that include: “You really can’t spell ‘families’ without the ‘lies’” (Vaughn as Brad). There are the obvious see-it-coming moments, laced with some uniquely bizarre ones, as the ‘farce’ at each divorced parent’s home escalates, including Brad’s young nephew who strips and streaks when he gets upset. Thankfully, the plot’s emphasis is on the relationships and not setting up one goof after another — although it wouldn’t be a festive homecoming film without them. The screenplay is also generous with its time in the limelight for the brilliant supporting cast that include Robert Duvall as Brad’s bigoted, redneck father, Jon Favreau as Brad’s muscled-bound, but sensitive hillbilly brother, and Mary Steenburgen as Kate’s flirtatious, born-again Christian mother. It is these contradictory characteristics that add further depth to each leading and supporting character and to this commendable comedy as a whole.
——-
Utterly hilarious, totally touching, but brutally honest, Vaughn and Witherspoon are a comedy force to be reckoned with this season!
——-
By Lisa Keddie
——-
Synopsis
———
When upscale, happily unmarried San Francisco couple Kate and Brad find themselves socked in by fog on Christmas morning, their exotic vacation plans morph into the family-centric holiday they had, until now, gleefully avoided. Out of obligation-and unable to escape-they trudge to not one, not two, but four relative-choked festivities, increasingly mortified to find childhood fears raised, adolescent wounds reopened… and their very future together uncertain. As Brad counts the hours to when he can get away from their parents, step-parents, siblings and an assortment of nieces and nephews, Kate is starting to hear the ticking of a different kind of clock. And by the end of the day, she is beginning to wonder if their crazy families’ choices are not so crazy after all.
——-
Film Facts
———
Official UK site: http://www.fourchristmasesmovie.com/
UK release date: 26th November 2008
Director: Seth Gordon
Writers: Matt Allen, Caleb Wilson
Cast: Vince Vaughn (’Brad’), Reese Witherspoon (’Kate’), Robert Duvall (’Howard’), Sissy Spacek (’Paula’), Jon Voight (’Creighton’), Jon Favreau (’Denver’), Mary Steenburgen (’Marilyn’)
UK Distributor: Entertainment Film Distributors Ltd
Certificate: 12A
Run-time: 88 mins
-
Video on Real.com
–
Trailer:
–
——
TWO CLIPS:
——–
———–
Feature:
————
———
