Christmas should not be this painful! However painful for Kate and Brad (played by Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon), it is hilarious for us to watch as their vacation plans (a tropical trip to Fiji) are thwarted and they have to spend time with not just one family, but four.
Anyone whose family has put the ‘fun’ in dysfunctional will thoroughly enjoy this spoof on the modern family system and the holidays. Basically, Christmas becomes a chore to be endured, and we have all been there and can hardily relate! But to endure it four times in one day…well, that is a bit much for Kate and Brad!
Brad and Kate have successfully avoided the painful gathering of Yuletide for years but fate catches up with them as their flight out of the country is canceled. They have no choice but to attend the fated four festivities. Their parents have divorced and so two gatherings become four, as the parental units have found their own lives.
The first house they go to is dad, Howard, played by Robert Duvall. He is of the country ilk. The couple is forced to learn about one another: things that have never been mentioned before come to light such as Brad’s real name is actually ‘Orlando’ and he and his brothers Dallas and Denver (played by Tim McGraw and Jon Favreau) are named after the cities they were conceived in.
Brad must deal with his brothers as they continually pummel him into the carpet with Kate looking on, open-mouthed in supreme surprise. They have also inadvertently gone way over the ‘$10 cap’ on gift giving and hilarity ensues as the Dallas, Denver, Brad, and their dad Howard try to install the gift that keeps on giving - a direct TV satellite on the roof.
Brad manages to destroy the family room and start a small fire. Duvall plays Howard as only he could - the grouchy old man intent on keeping his rabbit-eared television. He doesn’t keep his opinion of Brad’s mom to himself, as she has left him for a life of her own. Funniest line, Duvall sotto-voiced: “Boys, I don't want to speak ill of your mother on Christmas, but she's nothing but a common street whore.”
A nod to Katy Mixon (I just chanced to see her in All About Steve), who plays Denver’s put-upon wife Susan to the hilt. I loved the scene where she is cooking Christmas dinner and adds Doritos to the top of the casserole (who makes a casserole for the main entrée of Christmas dinner??? With chips on top???). She adds a bit of countrified charm to her scenes with her winsome Southern drawl and manages to be gracefully engaging and weary at the same time.
From setting the fire and destroying Christmas at Howard’s, the couple heads to Kate’s mother’s house. They have started to unravel a bit, as Kate is miffed at Brad for never telling her his real name. But its payback time as Brad finds out more about Kate then she would like, things like the kids called her ‘Cootie Kate’ and that she went to fat camp. Kate’s mother, Marilyn, is played by Mary Steenburgen. Marilyn, as it turns out, is dating her preacher, Pastor Phil, played by Dwight Yoakam.
Some of the funniest scenes come from having to attend Marilyn’s church. Pastor Phil turns out to be one of those TV evangelists, well, you ken the type! The spiritual-healing-praise-Jesus-can-I-get-an-amen-praise-the-Lord type. Brad and Kate end up playing Jesus and Mary in the church play, and Vince Vaughn shows his true acting style as he gets into the part of Joseph.
The next family to be graced with their presence is Brad’s mom, Paula, played by Sissy Spacek. Paula has embraced her inner-self and apparently that means shacking up with Brad’s former childhood best friend, which Brad is still angry about. A funny scene about Grandma’s special brownies…well, you get the picture.
From Paula’s New Age/hippie home, they make it to the last house, Kate’s dad. His is probably the most traditional, a warm and inviting home with the Christmas tree twinkling and decorated. Jon Voight plays Kate’s dad, Crieghton, and he is the voice of wisdom. However, by this time, Kate and Brad have broken up and it is just her at her dad’s house. He gives her some sage advice but it might be too late.
The ending will really make you laugh, and I won’t give it away, but it was perfectly done and a very nice wrap up that will leave you smiling.
At 88 minutes, this film does not drag you down into the-its-not-funny-anymore syndrome. The length is perfect for what it is - which is laughing at the pain of having to endure the Christmas holiday (which we have all been there) times four.
Star-studded with a spectacular supporting cast, Four Christmases is a holiday movie you won’t want to miss. It is heavy on the laughs and well-acted, and it isn’t long enough to become old and worn.
A must-see for this holiday season, special features include a gag reel, a featurette of Holiday Moments, and a Seven Layer Holiday Meals in a Flash by Paula Dean and Katy Mixon. Highly recommended for many sympatric laughs and just plain, painful fun.
Four Christmases [Blu-ray] is now available at Amazon . Visit the DVD database for more information.
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