Customer Reviews

Four Christmases

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(25)
3 star:		(24)
2 star:		(18)
1 star:		(30)

 

 

I agree with the 1 star reviews. There are some great stars in this movie and I love Reese Witherspoon. This had all the makings of a Christmas classic, but it is certainly missing something. There are some humorous spots, but too few and I looked forward to the end of the movie. I am donating my copy to Goodwill!

The stress of family and in-laws during the holidays and how we wish we could avoid it on full display. This is not an Oscar caliber movie at all but was an entertaining holiday family reunion comedy. Reese & Vaughn's chemistry was funny but seemed to be weak in the romance area. Only a mild spark came through the screen. They didn't seem to fit romantically real well but was not a serious flaw. Fit as good as some real life couples I know so not unrealistic.

Vince and the vomit scenes are just too funny. He does the manic goofball well here. Good cast executing a silly comedy in a respectable way. I like most all of Vaughn and Reese's work to date. There is more to these two than a lot of other Hollywood types.

This not a classic but still a cut above some of the junk coming out lately. Some story plots telegraphed but this is seems to be the norm too often, including big budget and acclaimed movies too. Hey movie makers we're not stupid and can handle a surprise! (Even been known to be able to follow a book) Light fun with good supporting cast.

Give it a look and you will be surprised. Solid 4 stars. (To some other reviewers: one star, really? 2-4 range I see but one?)

I would not call this a Christmas movie. You could take away the holiday aspect and the movie would still be funny. Both Vince and Reese are true veterans. They no how to take an ok script and turn it into a decent movie. The biggest problem with the film is that it really holds back. These are the same people that created the movie Stepbrothers which was hilarious because it was so over the top. This movie seems afraid to just let everything hang out. I would definately not buy this one. Just download it off the net. It's funny but definately nothing to run over anyone to see.

Awful movie!!! Rented it last night and wished I hadn't spent my dollar! Great cast of characters but the director and producer obviously didn't know what to do or where to go with their ideas. Tried to be funny and tried to be serious but failed at all attempts. If you want to see some really Christmasy movies Elf and Polar Express are must-sees! Leave Four Christmases on the shelf with the elf!

Funny because it is all too real for many folks at the holidays. Not as good as Chevy Chase in Christmas Vacation, but a good flick.

Awesome and refreshing!

A must see to have some laughs. I love the whole film and actors. I'm not going to go into the breakdown of what it was about, there is enough of that here. But GO RENT IT, loved it.

Merry Christmas!

:)

My Husband and I saw this movie in the theatre last December and we both thought it was really funny. We just purchased it on dvd to watch again this Christmas.

I really like Reese Witherspoon and had seen a lot of positive promotion for this movie. What a major disappointment. In all honesty I would rank this film among the top 25 worst films I have ever seen. I found very little humor in it. Many of the attempted gags are ripoffs of other successful Christmas movies, including Christmas Vacation. In this film they fall flat. The adult characters all act like back woods idiots. The kids are ill mannered brats. The movie was so annoying I had to turn it off after an hour. Nobody has a perfect family, but Four Christmas paints such a cynical and negative view of families it's actually offensive to watch. I'm really surprised that Reese Witherspoon would agree to this script after her critically acclaimed performance in Walk the Line. This is a major step back for her.

This movie had me laughing throughout most of the film. Before I continue I'm going to touch on some bases. I think it's crazy to give this movie a bad review. The sexual references and the language is to be expected since it's rated PG13 and warns of sexaul references/language the back cover of the movie. So of course it isn't appropriate for a young child. The studios never tried to disguise anything that's why the movie has a PG13 rating. Now in regards to the santa clause spoilers. The movie has its rating for a reason. If parents want to make sure its appropriate, check the ratings and or view the movie without the kids first. Then make your decision if you want them to watch it or not. Again don't blame the movie for being bad because of them saying Santa dosen't exist. In regard to them mocking christians. I'm a christian and I didn't feel insulted about the Mary/Joseph scence with Baby Jesus. They never said anything bad about Jesus or Mary/Joseph. They just made light of the situation to tell the Mary/Joseph story to the congregation. The movie wasn't terrible, you just have to understand the plot and humor in the storyline. Yes they show the somewhat bad sides of families, but that's how Vince and Kate's families are in this movie. Hence, they have avoided going to their families for christmas for a few years until they finally had no choice due to the facts they were caught on the news at the airport and there were flight delays. While it has some crude humor and shows the bad aspects of families; it only makes sense that it's this way in the movie. Because it would be boring and not funny if their families were sweet functional wonderful faimilies. In addition, it wouldn't match the premise behind the plot. They have avoided their families for the reasons you see in the movie. Overall, they avoid their families every year and lie to their them telling them they're helping kids in a third world country. When in fact they're treating themselves to tropical vactions in order to escape from their dreaded dysfunctional families. Nevertheless, I recommend this movie to anyone who wants to have a good healthy laugh. Because frankly it truly gives you a good perspective on dysfunctional families.

Resulting from a Fiji flight cancellation, Brad (Vince Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon) are forced to act out a Christmas tradition: visiting their families. Although Brad and Kate have been dating for three years (and are currently living together), neither one of them has met the other's parents. And for good reason.

Including Brad's mishap with a satellite dish, Kate's upsetting several babies and even an overly evangelical performance of the nativity, the four-stop tour to each of their divorced parents' houses is exaggerated to say the least.

In typical fashion, the parents are eager to share baby and childhood pictures with their child's significant other. This causes some complications for Brad and Kate when they each discover that neither one of them has been completely honest about their childhoods. Some of the epiphanies are more or less embarrassing than others, but ultimately the arguments drive away Brad and Kate's perfectly pre-rehearsed happiness during the first scene of "Four Christmases."

There is little chemistry between Vaughn and Witherspoon. This may have been intentional, to show the deterioration of their relationship. Nonetheless, Vaughn is guilty of his trademark outbursts of hilarity. Vaughn is the master of unknowing misunderstanding and resulting miscommunication. As in "The Break Up," his and his cohabitating co-star's connection breaks down in the face of his never-ending, albeit hilarious, soliloquies.

Witherspoon plays a fairly comedic role as well, although Vaughn overshadows her (literally). Kate does, however, offer most of the substance of the movie, ruing past Christmases spent away from family and contemplating the future of Brad's and her relationship.

The all-star cast holds the film together. Brad's parents are played by Robert Duvall and Sissy Spacek, while Kate's parents are played by Jon Voight and Mary Steenburgen. In a way, both fathers and both mothers play the same role. The mothers are very welcoming to their child's better half, while also being overtly sexually open and thus entertaining for audiences. The fathers, on the other hand, offer the most advice and life lessons, causing Brad and Kate to realize the importance of family.

The siblings are also worthy of mention. Brad's brothers, played by Tim McGraw and Jon Favreau, execute their cage fighting routine on Brad when he arrives to exchange gifts. Kate's sister, Kristin Chenoweth, brings out Kate's motherly tendencies while simultaneously embarrassing her with sisterly teasing. In his role as Pastor Phil (Dwight Yoakam), Kate's mother's boyfriend, is undoubtedly an amusement.

The couple's four Christmases are a lesson in the reality and difficulty of relationships. However, with a year-later scene tacked on the end, the viewer questions how much Brad and Kate actually learned from their previous holiday.