The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
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Marley & Me
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Bedtime Stories
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| Doubt |
| Valkyrie |
| The Spirit |
The Dark Knight
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Wanted
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Step Brothers
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Horton Hears a Who!
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Hancock
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The Dark Knight
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Horton Hears a Who!
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Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
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Wanted
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Step Brothers
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Burn After Reading
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Death Race
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The Duchess
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| Eagle Eye |
| Ghost Town |
| Hamlet 2 |
| House Bunny |
| Mamma Mia! |
| The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor |
| Traitor |
Generation Kill
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Lost: Season 4
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Petticoat Junction: Season 1
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| Swingtown: Season 1 |
Casablanca: Ultimate Collector's Edition
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Resident Evil: Degeneration
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An American Carol
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Towelhead
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Geek: Season 2
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| Nip/Tuck: Season 5 |
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 Directed by Seth Gordon, Written by Matt Allen & Caleb Wilson and Jon Lucas &
Scott Moore
Stars: Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Mary Steenburgen, Jon Voight, and Jon Favreau
Rated PG-13 for some sexual humor and language. 92 minutes.
 
“Four Christmases” is a first in many categories, none of them good. It’s the first film I’ve seen that wastes the talents of no less than 5 (count ‘em) Oscar-winning actors (Duvall, Spacek, Steenburgen, Voight and star Witherspoon). It’s also the first film that has a running time of 82 minutes that still feels padded. And finally, it’s the first film I’ve seen that makes likable Vince Vaughn unlikable and lovable Reese Witherspoon unlovable.
The thin premise has selfish couple Brad and Kate (Vaughn and Witherspoon) lying to their respective families about going away for the holidays to perform do-gooder deeds that would make Angelina Jolie jealous. Of course, Brad and Kate really want to sneak off to a Fuji holiday far away from their dysfunctional siblings and parents. The way they’re presented, the families are broad caricatures of macho posturing (that would be Duvall and his sons, Jon Favreau and country star Tim McGraw) or Christian fundamentalists (Steenburgen whose new boyfriend is a totally wasted Dwight Yoakum who doesn’t even get a chance to sing!). Then there’s Sissy Spacek playing a female cougar married to one of Vaughn’s childhood friends. No one is spared ridicule save for Jon Voight who somehow escapes with his dignity intact.
Kristen Chenoweth turns up as Witherspoon’s sister (a great casting choice, by the way, since she matches up perfectly with Witherspoon) but yet again, the film wastes her talent; in fact, there’s so much talent wasted in “Four Christmases”, the film should be officially declared toxic.
Naturally, these multiple Yuletide visits put a damper on Brad and Kate’s relationship. Frankly, who cares? There’s no emotional investment in these people and they aren’t real people anyway; they’re sitcom stereotypes posing as people. There’s not one speck of reality in this frayed farce, and certainly no one to root for. The laughs are reduced to baby vomiting and Vaughn falling off a roof. The only person who generates any laughs is Favreau and his wife (Katy Mixon) who outduel Vaughn and Witherspoon in a overly competitive board game contest. That’s the only sign of wit in this otherwise tired formulaic film that strains mightily for its few genuine laughs.
Director Seth Gordon hit a home run with his documentary last year, “The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters” which, amazingly, featured a cast of characters that seemed unreal too, but they were actual living beings. The competition between Steve and Billy for the title crown was believable, moving, hilarious, and fast-paced…everything this film isn’t.
Vaughn does his usual schtick, the high-energy guy and Witherspoon does her best, but this film runs out of gas well before its short running time expires. Essentially “Four Christmases” is a one-joke film repeated over and over…and over and over again to the point that by the film’s end, we’ve not only lost sympathy for the characters, we just wish the Ghost of Christmas Movies would show up and give this film a mercy killing.
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