The Family Stone (2005)

I am not sure whether it is the streaming effect or whether people genuinely hold this film in high esteem, but 2023 was the year that I finally couldn’t seem to avoid seeing The Family Stone mentioned as a standard Christmas movie favourite for many people. So I figured I should see what all the fuss is about. I am still none the wiser, despite some good moments here and there that either deliver chuckles or tug on the heart-strings. 

Dermot Mulroney plays Everett, a young man who decides to take his girlfriend along to the usual family Christmas. The problem is that his girlfriend, Meredith (Sarah Jessica Parker), seems a bit uptight and prone to confuse herself while stressed. This amuses some of the family, but also eventually causes them to become upset as Meredith appears to display some horrible bigotry. Things get messier and messier, not helped by Everett’s brother, Ben (Luke Wilson), taking a shine to Meredith while her sister, Julie (Claire Danes), proves to be quite a surprise distraction for Everett.

Written and directed by Thomas Bezucha, The Family Stone has plenty of snow, a number of Christmas traditions, and a final scene that underlines the good intentions it was aiming for. Unfortunately, it also has a bunch of people who seem quite horrible, either unprompted or due to the escalating circumstances they’re caught up in, and it’s hard to find anyone to fully care about. I am not sure that I wanted anyone here to have a happy ending, and the tone fails to get the balance of sweet and sour right.

The cast aren’t bad, and they all do what they can to elevate the material they have to work with. Diane Keaton and Craig T. Nelson are absolute highlights, the mother and father trying to maintain order as things start to slip further and further out of control. Parker can do uptight and stressed very well, and she manages to become more likable when she finally gets a chance to relax as she continues to struggle with her own awkwardness. Mulroney and Wilson feel well-suited to their respective roles, Danes shines in a way that will have many viewers questioning why she never got enough huge movie roles, Rachel McAdams is irritatingly bratty, and there are fleetingly worthwhile moments for Tyrone Giordano, Brian White, Elizabeth Reaser, and Paul Schneider.

I cannot say I disliked this, the cast alone kept it watchable and more entertaining than it otherwise would have been, but I also cannot say that I actually liked it. The whole thing has a mean spirit that doesn’t feel counter-balanced by enough festive cheer, and it’s strange to watch such an ensemble cast of characters that only have a few people you hope have a relatively happy ending.

I already know that many people feel different to me on this one. I hope there are maybe some others who agree with me though, if only to make me feel less like I am taking crazy pills for being so disappointed with it.

5/10

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Shopgirl (2005)

Written by Steve Martin, adapted for the screen from his own novella, Shopgirl stars Claire Danes as Mirabelle, the titular girl, a slightly lost young woman who finds herself first being wooed by the clumsy Jeremy (Jason Schwartzman) before falling for the more charming and attentive Ray Porter (played by Martin). The problem is that Ray knows exactly what he wants in life and keeps things on the path that he chooses. He keeps Mirabelle slightly at a distance even as he tries to treat her as she deserves. Jeremy, on the other hand, may not have the life experience or money to treat her as well, but has a sincerity mixed in with his slightly abrupt manner. His head may not be completely screwed on, but his heart is good and completely open to Mirabelle.

Directed by Anand Tucker, this movie looks stylish and pretty throughout, although the emphasis is on the great script by Martin. It's nice to see that everything wasn't just ignored while the script was made the focus, but there's no denying that the movie belongs more to Martin than Tucker, in my view.

It also benefits from three great central performances. Danes is very sweet and bright and desirable. Schwartzman is endearing, even in his early, horribly clumsy, attempts to get Danes to like him. Martin works very well in his role, playing a man who wants to be good to a woman he likes, but is also just too comfortable with how his life has been running for a number of years. Bridgette Wilson-Sampras is a lot of fun in a small role, playing a very envious colleague who sees the transformation in Mirabelle and sets out to discover what brought it all about.

The film is romantic, funny, smart and feels very honest. The characters onscreen are capable of being quite mean to each other, but it's all handled in a way that keeps everything sweet and light, even while deftly dealing with some weighty affairs of the human heart.

One of the more atypical screen roles for Martin (in a number of subtle ways), it's also, paradoxically, one of the best translations of his celebrated written work into movie form. Well worth watching. It may seem like a very light and insubstantial piece, but appearances can be deceptive.

7/10

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shopgirl-DVD/dp/B000B83J4K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375531038&sr=8-1&keywords=shopgirl