Movie Review: Four Holidays

FOUR CHRISTMASES (FOUR HOLIDAYS)
Main Players: Vince Vaughan, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall, et al.
Calling the shots: Seth Gordon
Running time: 88mins
What's it about? A very dysfunctional couple, who've been avoiding seeing their families on Christmas get caught on camera, stranded at the airport. In comes the phone calls and before you know it, they agree to spend Christmas with their families. ALL FOUR OF THEM. Cue the laughs and the discovery of the strength of their relationship. And blah, blah, blah...

What did I think? As you can probably tell already by my tone (or not) this movie is very very average. Nothing about it is all that new and because of that, it fails to really leave an impression. One thing that really makes you wonder is why they even bothered to change the title for the Australian release...

Another problem is that it is absolutely predictable. The visits to the individual families are funny in parts but with each visit, it becomes less and less funny and by the end of it, it's almost like the filmmakers had lost interest as well; with the last visit not even raising a laugh. Along the way it gets distracted by a stock-standard plot turn about: what do they really know about each other? Is there a future? etc. etc. The usual stuff.

Thankfully, because of it running out of gas it has a mercifully short running time. The other impressive aspect is it's incredible supporting cast. The parents are literally played by who's who of veteran actors. Robert Duvall, Mary Steenburgen, Sissy Spacek and Jon Voight; all take turns in trying to make us laugh. Though like I said, by the time Jon Voight shows up it's not very funny.

Vince Vaughan tries to do his usual schtick, and for a while it works. But then it seems like he just talks and talks and becomes quite annoying. Reese is quite enjoyable because she's done so many of these but together, they seem to lack a certain chemistry.

This movie does have a very "holiday" feel to it and it's no wonder it's out-done Twilight, Quantum, Australia and HSM3 in the states. With the stars involved it has wide appeal. It's a pity it doesn't have much else.

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