For a holiday themed comedy starring a host of big time talent, I expected so much more. “Four Christmases” takes a truly modern idea (the characters involved would make George Bailey run and hide) and adds contemporary music and latch-key situations in effort to create a memorable and festive laugh fest.
It’s not that it doesn’t have its moments of fun, it just gets too repetitive at times and the story itself manages to fall flatter than week old eggnog.
“Promise me no matter what happens today we’ll still have each other.” Brad (Vince Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon) are a seemingly perfect couple. After a plot to avoid the holiday season with a tropical vacation backfires, the pair are forced to attend four separate Christmas parties in one night, each hosted by a family member seemingly more crazy than the one before.
Brad and Kate are an overly happy pair, the kind that seems so perfect on the surface that anyone watching would envy. They have a powerful intimate relationship (as discovered just a few minutes into the movie) and are best friends as well. Neither want children or the pressures of marriage as they are both the products of broken homes.
Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon deliver with their usual standard; both are funny, and both can tone it down when the situation calls for it. They work well together as an on screen couple, with a natural flow to their conversations and actions. Its obvious they are fueled by love, but is there something more?
I’m a fan of both actors and have been for some time. If you can picture Vince Vaughn spoiling his nephews day by telling him the truth about Santa, you’ll understand why he fits perfectly into the role of Brad. Vaughn can make any situation funnier, and has a knack for finding the right place in comedies.
Reese Witherspoon has a more versatile side to her repertoire. Don’t be blinded by her beauty, she can be hysterical when need be. One of the best scenes in the movie shows her strong fear of children as an in-law has passes to her a crying baby.
The supporting cast of “Four Christmases” is hit or miss with development. The great Robert Duvall plays Brad’s dad Howard McVie. Howard is a typical old school stalwart who doesn’t want fancy things and has an aversion to all things technology. When Brad gifts his father with a satellite dish, and advises an installer will be by next week, Howard quickly barks “cancel it! We install things ourselves in this house.”
I love the casting of Jon Favreau and singer Tim McGraw as Brad’s obnoxious and hick brothers, but the tomfoolery and brotherly fisticuffs goes on a bit too long.
On Kate’s side we see her cougar mother (Mary Steenburgen) and slutty sister (Kristin Chenoweth) each spilling out of a too-tight dress, and both openly flirting with Brad. Hysterics ensue when Kate is forced to take a leading role at a church celebration of the birth of Jesus.
As the long day progresses and the parties and family members get more and more bizarre, will the Christmas season tear apart the seemingly perfect couple?
“Four Christmases” isn’t a bad movie, its just average. Coming from the cast and the concept, it falls short of humorous expectations. Nevertheless, its still worth giving it a shot. Just don’t expect extensive replay value.
by – Matt Christopher
