Four Christmases

Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon, Robert Duvall and Jon Voight star in Four Christmases, in what feels like the billionth Christmas movie Vince Vaughn's been in. Vaughn and Witherspoon bring their traditional charm here, and have a good chemistry, despite their giant height difference.

Brad and Kate are a couple who take great pride in the fact that they have no children, aren't married, and have no plans to - ever. For the last 3 years, in fact, they have skipped Christmas with their families for vacations - although they tell their families they are leaving for charity.

Then on Christmas Day, when they are supposed to leave for Fiji, all flights are cancelled due to awful weather. (Although oddly enough, later on in the film the weather is crystal clear.) When Brad and Kate are seen on TV and their parents phone in, they get stuck in a situation - they have to visit all four of their divorced parents for Christmas. Mayhem ensues.

I wrote a little checklist in my head about what to expect during this movie. Homophobia? Check. Crazy relative who beats up Vince Vaughn? Check. Awkward revaltions about Brad and Kate, spilled by their parents? CHECK!! This movie is exactly what you'd expect, and frankly, I had low expectations.

Vince Vaughn, when given the right material, beats Will Ferrell and Ben Stiller anyday. Reese Witherspoon is a great actress (see Election & Walk the Line) who seems tailor-made for these comedies. The problem lies not with the cast, the cast is actually the best part of the movie. Jon Favreau as Vaughn's wacko brother is really funny. (The name sound familiar? Favreau directed a little movie earlier this year called Iron Man.)

The film's marketing is questionable. While it delivers everything you'd expect, (not a plus) some stuff here is way too mature for the little kids who'll wanna see this. Nothing totally inappropriate, but a revelation about Santa Claus that'll seriously impair their vision of Christmas. It's also interesting how Jon Voight is featured so prominently in the marketing and has, literally, 3 lines.

I was disappointed. The cast was good but lets face it, this has been made before and better. C-