Weather Afternoon: 14°c Light showers Tonight: 9°c Light showers

Five of the Best...Films
1. Tulpan
Remarkable romantic comedy set among a nomadic tribe in Kazakhstan.
2. An Education
Nick Hornby's sensitive adaptation of journlaist Lynn Barber's excellent memoir of her first boyfriend.
3. The White Ribbon
Michael Hameke's Palme d'Or winner at Cannes is set in a German village just before the start of the First World War.
4. 2012
Roland Emmerich's thrilling apocalypse movie with John Cusack as the hero.
5. Fantastic Mr Fox
Wes Anderson’s take on Roald Dahl is full of quirky magic — with a sly George Clooney voicing Mr Fox.

Critics' Choice

Film

Andrew O'Hagan

quoteNew Moon is nothing if not an international advertisement for the hungry virtues of virginity and young people can’t get enough of itquote

Andrew O'Hagan The Twilight Saga: New Moon Theatre

Henry Hitchings

quoteA smart, prickly and rewarding view of sexual and emotional confusionquote

Henry Hitchings Cock Restaurants

David Sexton

quoteKitchen W8 is a bargain for this area, if such sophistication is what you crave quote

David Sexton Kitchen W8

Reader reviews

Film

Adam, Harrow

quoteToo long and drawn out but very entertaining with excellent special effectsquote

2012 Theatre

Rob, London

quoteThis is a peculiar play and does not work for me. Some of it is very funny but there are real flawsquote

The Habit Of Art Music

Bernard, London

quoteAlex has a strong powerful voice and was faultless, she is far better now than she was on the X-Factorquote

Alexandra Burke

Film news and reviews London,

Four Christmases

Your rating
one startwo starthree starfour starfive star
Click on a star to rate
Cert: 12A

Evening Standard rating Charlotte O'Sullivan's rating
Evening Standard rating Reader rating
 Add your review

Dir: Seth Gordon. Cast: Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon, Jon Voight, Mary Steenburgen, Robert Duvall

 

Description: Happily unmarried couple Brad and Kate have been together for years and love one another's company - so much so, that every December 25, they make their excuses so they can spend the holiday season together in an exotic location, soaking up the sun. Unfortunately, this year, thick fog traps Brad and Kate at San Francisco airport where a local TV news crew follows their plight and reveals to their respective families, who are all watching, that they have nowhere to go for the holidays. Reluctantly, the lovebirds must visit their divorced parents and respective partners for four Christmas celebrations, each more deranged than the last.

Country: US. 2008. 88mins
Please wait the page is loading extra content
  • Show details
  • Hide details
  • Showing at
  • See trailer

Festive cheer in Four Christmases? We missed it

By Charlotte O'Sullivan, None  27.11.08
 
Four Christmases

Relics: Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn fail to live up to their past promise

Look here too

Four Christmases in one day sounds an awful prospect. But far worse is the realisation — upon meeting Californian couple Brad and Kate — that these two unmarrieds are going to learn things about themselves as a result of the 24 festive hours they must spend with each of their divorced parents in turn.

Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon play the leads. Do they convince as lawyers or lovers? No. Do they convince as space aliens trying to infiltrate the human race? Yes. Unfortunately, no one, not even the film’s director, Seth Gordon, ever twigs.

The script, an awkward mix of generic gags and indulgent improv, has a few bright spots. Robert Duvall plays Brad’s desiccated, macho dad, Howard. At one point his son unexpectedly returns to the homestead. Says Howard, with a cackle: “Did you forget your tampons?”

Meanwhile, Brad’s mum, Paula (Sissy Spacek), a gentle therapist, reveals a darker side while playing the party game Taboo, wielding the penalty buzzer like a Taser gun.

This is a vehicle meant to show off the talents of Vaughn and Witherspoon but it exposes them as relics from the past. He was an angry young man, she seemed a natural heir to Katharine Hepburn — where did all that spark go?

Spacek and Duvall, by contrast, look as good as ever — you believe they were once a couple, that she moved on and he didn’t. A comedy with them in the lead — now that’s what I’d like to find in my stocking this Christmas.

More


Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.

 

Reader reviews (1)

 Add your review

Watch it online : http://xtshare.com/movie/viewfilm.php?Id=174&view=Four-Christmases

- Asba, usa


Add your comment

 

Your email address will not be published

Terms and conditions make text area bigger You have  characters left.


 
 
 
London's Weather
Afternoon
Light showers
14°c
Tonight
Light showers
9°c
5 day forecast
 
 

Daily Mail Mail on Sunday Travel Mail This is Money Metro

Loot | Jobsite | Homes & property | London jobs | FindaProperty.com | Primelocation.com | Educate London | Holiday Villas