When upscale, happily unmarried San Francisco couple Kate and Brad find themselves socked in by fog on Christmas morning, their exotic vacation plans

When upscale, happily unmarried San Francisco couple Kate and Brad find themselves socked in by fog on Christmas morning, their exotic vacation plans morph into the family-centric holiday they had, until now, gleefully avoided. Out of obligation—and unable to escape—they trudge to not one, not two, but four relative-choked festivities.

PG-13 For some sexual humor and languageFour Christmases Four Christmases © New Line Cinema. Review © David Bruce

VINCE VAUGHN (Brad)VINCE VAUGHN (Brad)

He is known for his fast-talking, sarcastic delivery He decided to become an actor in 1987, after being involved in a car accident which derailed his chance at athletic success

Four Christmases Four Christmases © New Line Cinema. Review © David Bruce

REESE WITHERSPOON (Kate)REESE WITHERSPOON (Kate)

2001 marked her career's turning point with the breakout role as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde She owns a production company named Type A Films She is actively involved in children's and women's advocacy organizations She was raised as an Episcopalian


ROBERT DUVALL (Howard)ROBERT DUVALL (Howard)

His father was a Methodist and his mother was a Christian Scientist, and he was raised in the Christian Science religion He is related to Barack Obama, yet backed John McCain. He is also related to former President Harry Truman and Vice-President Dick Cheney


SETH GORDON (Director) SETH GORDON (Director)

This is his feature film debut He is a graduate of Yale University, where he studied architecture and documentary film He has directed several short films- "Squirt," "Fears of a Clown" and "The Problem with Percival“ -that won awards at the Sundance Film Festival


JEFFREY L. KIMBALL JEFFREY L. KIMBALL (Director of Photography) (Director of Photography)

In 1986 he broke out as Tony Scott's cinematographer on the box office smash Top Gun In 2000, he joined John Woo as the DP on Mission Impossible II Reunited with Woo for 2002's Windtalkers and 2003's Paycheck


The film began production in The film began production in December 2007, during the December 2007, during the Writers Guild of America strike, Writers Guild of America strike, which meant that no changes which meant that no changes could be made to the scriptcould be made to the script During production New Line During production New Line Cinema became a unit of Warner Cinema became a unit of Warner Bros. which put the film's Bros. which put the film's completion at riskcompletion at risk


No one enjoys the holidays more than Brad and No one enjoys the holidays more than Brad and Kate. Every December 25th, this happily Kate. Every December 25th, this happily unmarried, upscale San Francisco couple unmarried, upscale San Francisco couple embark on a holiday tradition they have shared embark on a holiday tradition they have shared every year since they met-ditching their crazy every year since they met-ditching their crazy families for a relaxing, fun-filled vacation in families for a relaxing, fun-filled vacation in some sunny exotic locale.some sunny exotic locale.


Thus avoiding the chaos and emotional fallout of their four respective households: divorced parents, squabbling siblings, out-of-control kids and all the simmering resentments and awkward moments that are the hallmarks of every family Christmas.


But not this year. Shorts and sunglasses packed, Brad and Kate are trapped at the San Francisco airport by a fogbank that cancels every outbound flight. Worse yet, they are caught on camera by a local news crew, revealing their whereabouts to the whole city... and to their families. With no escape and no excuses, they are now expected home by Brad's Father and Kate's mother. F

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And Brad's mother (Sissy Spacek) and Kate's father (Jon Voight). Four Christmases in one day. As they brace themselves for a marathon of homecomings, Brad and Kate expect the worst-and that's exactly what they get. But as Brad counts down the minutes to their freedom, Kate surprisingly finds herself tuned to the ticking of a different clock.


At the end of the day, each will gain a new perspective on where they came from... and where they're going. Getting to know themselves and each other as they really are could finally give them a chance at the kind of love they've only been playing at.


First Christmas: Brad's father, Howard’s home:1. A state of unchallenged male-centric comfort 2. No change at all in the last 20-plus years , when the ex moved out


Second Christmas: Second Christmas: Kate's mother, Marilyn’ s Home:Kate's mother, Marilyn’ s Home:1. Reflects Marilyn's malleable personality - Marilyn’s 1. Reflects Marilyn's malleable personality - Marilyn’s new man has prompted her to eschew her usual Santa new man has prompted her to eschew her usual Santa and reindeer for something a tad more spiritualand reindeer for something a tad more spiritual2. Surfaces and veneers, reflect no real sense of self2. Surfaces and veneers, reflect no real sense of self3. It reveals a dedication to symmetry and order, with 3. It reveals a dedication to symmetry and order, with wallpapers matched to upholstery patterns wallpapers matched to upholstery patterns


Third Christmas: Third Christmas: Brad's mother, Paula’s home:Brad's mother, Paula’s home:1. Exterior views were zen-styled1. Exterior views were zen-styled2. Interior, a kind of a hippie academic aesthetic 2. Interior, a kind of a hippie academic aesthetic –with stained glass and eclectic, international –with stained glass and eclectic, international furnishings, hand-loomed rugs, piles of books, furnishings, hand-loomed rugs, piles of books, mementos from travelmementos from travel


Fourth Christmas: Kate's father, Creighton’s home:1. Journey's end point2. Evoke the most traditional, classic, and nostalgic sense 3. Beautiful romantic look4. A large fireplace and hearth that serves as an iconic image of family gathering

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Consensus voice:Consensus voice:"Four Christmases is "Four Christmases is a fun and fascinating a fun and fascinating -- if ultimately -- if ultimately featherweight -- featherweight -- comedy not only for comedy not only for the whole family, but the whole family, but for every kind of for every kind of them" them" --Todd Gilchrist, --Todd Gilchrist, IGN MoviesIGN Movies


"The bottom line is, no one can drive you crazy like your family. Still, you'll drive 100 miles in the snow, sit in airports for hours, just to be with them on the holidays. It's the human condition. We cannot deny them.“-- Producer Jonathan Glickman

Identity, family background, and transparence are emphasized themes.


George Burns comically said, “Happiness is having a George Burns comically said, “Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.” large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.” And I believe this is the very premise that the film is And I believe this is the very premise that the film is based. Family used to live closer together, now they based. Family used to live closer together, now they don’t. Schools, careers, divorce and remarriage spread don’t. Schools, careers, divorce and remarriage spread families all over the landscape. It is hard to stay families all over the landscape. It is hard to stay connected, and especially so with broken families –connected, and especially so with broken families –which this film is about. Madeleine Albright wisely said, which this film is about. Madeleine Albright wisely said, “I don't want to sound Pollyannaish, but I hope that out “I don't want to sound Pollyannaish, but I hope that out of a tragedy like this something good will come. I hope of a tragedy like this something good will come. I hope we understand we're one family.” This film is a terrific we understand we're one family.” This film is a terrific reminder of this truth, and it speaks to the responsibility reminder of this truth, and it speaks to the responsibility we each have in maintaining loving connections.we each have in maintaining loving connections.

Four Christmases Four Christmases Review © David Bruce

Vince Vaughn: "Ultimately, the story is about what the holiday season itself is largely about: being thankful for your family—the good, the bad and the ugly of it—and being appreciative for the love you have. Of course, none of that has to get in the way of having a lot of fun."


“Family is so important. You have to accept them as they are because, honestly, they're not going to change”--Reese Witherspoon

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When upscale, happily unmarried San Francisco couple Kate and Brad find themselves socked in by fog on Christmas morning, their exotic vacation plans