A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

The Evaluation System Reviews by Title Reviews by Date

Reviews from Video Reviews of the Classics Personal Background

Title: The Family Stone

Date Viewed: 1/7/06

Details:

Diane Keaton (Sybil Stone)

Craig T. Nelson (Kelly Stone)

Rachel McAdams (Amy Stone)

Dermot Mulroney (Everett Stone)

Luke Wilson (Ben Stone)

Tyrone Giordano (Thad Stone)

Elizabeth Reaser (Susannah Stone Trousdale)

Sarah Jessica Parker (Meredith Morton)

Claire Danes (Julie Morton)

Written & directed by: Thomas Bezucha

Score: +

The Review: We all think our own family is uniquely crazy -- but then, we know first-hand all the quirks, oddities, medical records, secrets and histories, and would find it just marginally believable were someone else to make identical claims of zaniness. But let me submit to you that The Family Stone has us all beat, hands down. And more to the point, seldom has so much back-story been communicated so quickly and with so much humor.

Elder son Everett (Mulroney) is bringing home his fiancee (Parker) for her first visit with his family, and for better or worse, doing so across the Christmas holidays. Of course, the holidays draw in all of the Stone family, including those still resident (McAdams as younger daughter Amy; Wilson as middle, stoner son Luke) and those who must travel (Giordano as youngest, deaf son Thad; and Reaser as older, married, and mondo-pregnant, sister Susannah). The anchors are the parents Sybil (Keaton) and Kelly (Nelson) -- and they are anchors of the film as well. The house is full, and is a veritable zoo. Throw in typical bantering gossip laced with an atypical massive dose of honesty, the hash-enriched Christmas brownies, the fiancée's sister (Danes) -- and consider the pot (!) stirred.

Keaton in particular is amazing, both the role and her performance.

Simultaneously fun, cringe-inducing, and touching. Recommended.

(5-Mar-06)

Back to the chronological list of reviews