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Picture the idyllic Christmas, complete with fresh snowfall, cherished family moments and meaningful gifts. Now destroy that image because “Four Christmases” denounces the myth of a Merry Christmas once and for all. “Four Christmases” is rom-com gone wrong, as a very unhappy couple flits from one dysfunctional family gathering to the next without an iota of glee or cheer. Those who enjoy holiday movies overflowing with happy endings and sentiment, steer clear.
Brad (Vince Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon) form the stereotypical jet-set metro couple, refusing to adhere to ancient social constructs like marriage and childrearing. They are too cool for rings and diapers, and as it turns out, they’re too cool for their own families. Each year as the holidays roll around, they come up with a far-fetched excuse to miss the family fetes.
But just as Brad and Kate are about to embark on yet another scuba-diving, massage-receiving, tropical holiday escape, bad weather sets in, preventing their plane from taking off. With a news camera catching the footage and broadcasting it live, they are faced with a fate worse than death – family time on Christmas. Sarcasm, headlocks, inappropriateness, a flashy nativity scene and hijinks ensue.
“Four Christmases” tries four times as hard as it should. With two A-listers in leading roles and Christmas right around the corner, success should be a given, but this film is more hollow than a Christmas bulb. Although Mary Steenburgen, as Kate’s flighty mother, and Robert Duvall, as Brad’s raucous father, provide a few laughs, they can’t keep the story afloat.
Vaughn’s usually amusing rants and tangents come off here as irritating immaturity. Witherspoon, who usually shines in these roles, offers little, save for a few slapstick, gross-out moments. Sparing full blame for this disparaging film on the actors, the dialogue leaves much to be desired. In the end, “Four Christmases” is a holiday version of the same old story that has been played out countless times in romantic comedies.
It seems that conceptually, this was meant to be an easygoing comedy to lighten up the holiday season and remind people why they avoid their families. But toward the conclusion, “Four Christmases” tries to pull off tenderheartedness and falls into mawkish awkwardness. At times, it’s hard to know whether to laugh for their sake or to feel uncomfortable.
To its credit, the plot delivers some decent laughs and may amuse a few undemanding moviegoers. Here is a film boasting the grown-up Ralphie (from “A Christmas Story,” Peter Billingsley) as producer, not to mention five Oscar-winning actors, the cute and funny Witherspoon and brash, quippy Vaughn in leading roles. And still, walking out of the theater is like waking up to a package of socks on Christmas morning – it just isn’t what you were hoping for. At least there’s always next year.
Grade: C
Bangor Daily News