| THE FAMILY STONE |
 2005 - USADirector: Thomas Bezucha
- Reviewed by Vickie
Sarah Jessica Parker is Meredith, an uptight businesswoman whose pinched face and throat-clearing tick scream out: “I am a repressed ice queen!” Meredith is a chatty Cathy with a devoted boyfriend named Everett Stone (Dermot Mulroney), who thinks it’s time she met his whole family… and what better, stress-free time to do so than over Christmas! Sadly for Meredith, trying to assimilate into the Stones is, for her, a bit like shoving a hexagonal peg into a triangular hole—it’s not just difficult, it’s exceedingly complicated and practically destined to fail. The family Stone are, to put it mildly, nothing like Meredith. They’re warm and loving and greet each other with hugs where she’s chilly and distant and extends a firm handshake. They’re lefties and socially conscious and listen to NPR where she’s conservative and unable to express herself and perpetually attached to her cell phone. The clan checklist goes as follows: there’s mom Sybil (Diane Keaton), who’s terrified that Meredith might become a permanent family member through marriage; patriarch Kelly (Craig T. Nelson), who’s like a cuddly, protective papa bear; pregnant oldest sister Susannah (Elizabeth Reamer, in a quietly effective performance); supremely bitter (and therefore hilarious) youngest sister Amy (Rachel McAdams), who has no qualms about letting Meredith know just how unwelcome she is in the Stone home; middle brother Ben (Luke Wilson), an amiable pothead and the only person who seems to actually like Meredith; and youngest brother Thad (Tyrone Girodano), who’s gay and deaf and hoping to adopt a baby with his partner (Brian White). Almost immediately, Meredith becomes the object of derision for the entire clan, and the harder she tries to please them or fit in, the worse things get. She’s nervous and afraid, and that just makes her stumble and fumble all the more. She can’t say anything right, she can’t do anything right, and she becomes more of an outsider with each passing second. The tides change when she calls on her sister Julie (Claire Danes) to come rescue her. Julie arrives with her great personality and winning charm and spectacularly shiny hair and instantly wins over the whole family. Why, they all seem to wonder, would Everett ever in a million years choose to be with Meredith when her wonderful sister is also single?! What unfolds is a funny, quirky, laugh-out-loud-and-then-wipe-away-tears movie that boasts an entire cast full of spot-on performances. Sure, some of the characters feel familiar in archetypal ways, but so what? They feel like a real family, so their joys and sorrows deliver the perfect emotional impact as a result. Parker nails her character, right down to the smallest gesture, and it’s a testament to her work that Meredith, despite all her flaws, is supremely sympathetic. Even though you might not like her, you can’t help but love her. The actors portraying the Stone brood are just as impressive, with Keaton and McAdams as standouts, and Wilson proving himself a better actor than we might give him credit for. The Family Stone is a Christmas movie that’s perfect for Christmas. It’s about love, it’s about family, it’s fun, it’s touching and it ultimately makes you feel all warm inside. See it with your mom, or your siblings, or that alienated aunt you only hear from once a year. But see it. And bring a tissue. |
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Here’s my warning for those of you (like me) who appreciate this kind
of information: The Family Stone will probably make you cry.
More than once. As much as it’s a terrific dark comedy about family,
it’s also a moving story about love, relationships and finding your
groove when the world wants you to pick something different.
