well, maybe ONE if not "4 Christmases"
well, maybe ONE if not "4 Christmases"
Auggie27
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/03
#1well, maybe ONE if not "4 Christmases"
Posted: 11/29/08 at 8:58am
(MILD SPOILERS) The other grown-up fare was sold out or front row only, so I actually paid to see FOUR CHRISTMASES. What surprises remain in the competing dysfunctional families at the holidays genre? Few. And this one has an expecially pedigreed supporting company, Spacek, Duval, Steenburgen and the board's beloved Miss Chenoweth, mining her sun-tanned cleavage for laughs and plot twists for the first time. What this movie doesn't have is a new idea or any suspense -- will the funloving if self-absorbed couple mature and commit to marriage and kids despite nightmare backstories involving both? I wonder! And really, vomiting babies and unbridled horniess from strange relatives is so been there/done that. And can we retire the always uneasy moment when someone announces that Santa isn't Santa for cheap comic effect? Here -- the fresh spin -- it provokes a child to streak. Streak? As in David Niven at the Oscars in the 80s? Huh? And call me old fashioned, I still feel the authenticity/veracity of Mr. Claus should be hands off, especially in a PG-13 overflow movie that could have young kids in the house.
What this movie has, if you want him, is Vince Vaughan. He single-handedly makes it kick into high gear. Even if you're sick of his on-screen bloat, physical and histrionic, one sequence showcasing him at his hammy best is almost brilliant -- the forced participation in a smallish mega church Christmas pageant that manages to send up many things at once, including acting and actors. Vaughan mines this one section, playing Joseph to Witherspoon's Mary, as wannabe who cannot resist the spotlight. For about ten minutes the script seems to suggest a much better movie -- but then, with four screenwriters, you get the usual blenderized combo of bodily function humor and 11th hour sentimentality.
Witherspoon has nothing to do but look irritated or upstaged or irritated because she's upstaged. And the irony isn't lost -- Reese had what mightbe called the Kristin Chenoweth role. Kristin's bumped down to the smaller, better part -- the pushy, fertile sister. Clearly, what Reese needs is a new agent.
FindingNamo
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
#2re: well, maybe ONE if not '4 Christmases'
Posted: 11/30/08 at 12:30pmI guess there's just a cottage industry for these movies to come out on DVD so Xmasphiles have something else to buy and watch during the holidays.
SueleenGay
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/9/03
#2re: well, maybe ONE if not '4 Christmases'
Posted: 11/30/08 at 12:32pmIt sounds like they did it better on Will and Grace. Or was that Four Thanksgivings?
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#3re: well, maybe ONE if not '4 Christmases'
Posted: 11/30/08 at 1:43pm
Go buy Surviving Christmas and watch my husband and I play a gay couple!
Type casting!
nygrl232
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/19/08
#4re: well, maybe ONE if not '4 Christmases'
Posted: 11/30/08 at 2:04pmThere's a "Four Christmases" movie poster ad on a nearby subway entrance. I didn't have my contacts in the other day and thought the poster said, "For Chrissakes."
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#5re: well, maybe ONE if not '4 Christmases'
Posted: 11/30/08 at 2:36pmOr maybe "For Craps Sakes"?
#6re: well, maybe ONE if not '4 Christmases'
Posted: 11/30/08 at 5:56pm
Not surprised the movie's terrible, nor am I surprised it opened well. I can see Witherspoon wanting to step out and do something frivolous but I don't think she's the sort of actress people want to see stoop to the levels this movie promises, just to show she can play something for laughs.
Vaughn, sure, we already know he has no dignity.
SueleenGay
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/9/03
#7re: well, maybe ONE if not '4 Christmases'
Posted: 11/30/08 at 6:07pm
"I can see Witherspoon wanting to step out and do something frivolous but I don't think she's the sort of actress people want to see stoop to the levels this movie promises, just to show she can play something for laughs."
Most her films are comedies. How is this any more of a stretch than Legally Blonde II?
#9re: well, maybe ONE if not '4 Christmases'
Posted: 11/30/08 at 9:38pm
Most her films are comedies. How is this any more of a stretch than Legally Blonde II?
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Legally Blonde was intelligent comedy where Reese portrayed an empowering female lead, as most of her comedies are. Vince Caughn movies tend to be frat-boy level slapstick where the comedy is about how far down in the toilet they can take the humor (and I like Vince Vaughn movies, I'm not slamming them.)
It's not about doing comedy, it's about the style of comedy.
nygrl232
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/19/08
#10re: well, maybe ONE if not '4 Christmases'
Posted: 11/30/08 at 10:21pmNo, guys. Not those other sayings. Just the one.
Auggie27
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/13/03
#11re: well, maybe ONE if not '4 Christmases'
Posted: 12/1/08 at 9:35amYikes, it was actually number one for Thanksgiving. Startling. What next, a sequel? FOUR FLAG DAYS?
#12re: well, maybe ONE if not '4 Christmases'
Posted: 12/1/08 at 10:13amGreat cast, a couple of funny moments, but otherwise...blah.
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