Mini-Review: Four Christmases

Four Christmases
Directed by Seth Gordon
Released November 26, 2008

A holiday movie often means a contrived setup and uncreative plot. As far as “Four Christmases” go, it’s never been truer. A couple who usually ditch their families for the holidays find themselves grounded by bad weather and forced to spend time with all four of their parents. Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Mary Steenburgen, and Jon Voight play the parents and while that’s an impressive lineup, these guys aren’t trying at all. They’ve all given terrific performances in the past, and this movie isn’t about performances, but it’s truly a waste of time. There a few laughs, mostly from the energetic Vince Vaughn, but otherwise, there’s little worthwhile. Reese Witherspoon, so perfect for “Legally Blonde,” is here reduced to a whiny, needy girlfriend who isn’t give enough to do. It’s not supposed to be a great movie, but it could have been a whole better than this with Witherspoon and Vaughn leading the charge.

D-