Four Christmases

Review may contain spoilers:

Four Christmases was a pretty eclectic movie. For example, one moment I would be laughing out loud, the next I would be cringing at some of the suggested sexual innuendos.

The story was pretty simple. Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon play Brad and Kate, a couple who try at all costs to avoid their families at Christmastime; they lie to their families (as Brad repeatedly says, “you can’t spell families without lies”) telling them that they are doing humanitarian aid and therefore can’t visit during the holidays. To be honest when we eventually get to meet their families it’s not that hard to sympathize with them. However, something goes wrong which means that they have one day in which to visit all four parents, who are divorced… hence the four Christmases.

The movie plays out in a series vignettes and could have been a really funny and touching movie had the producers opted for something other than the constant scraping of the proverbial barrel.

First up they visit with Brad’s father, a bully of a man, and his brothers who happen to be UFC fighters. There are some funny moments in which Brad is beaten up by his brothers and a great scene when he tries to install a satellite dish, but the tone is lowered in a couple of scenes. Unfortunately this set the precidence for the rest of the movie.

Next up they visit with Kate’s mother, gran, aunt, and sister; she warns Brad referring to her mothers house as “the cougars den.” In this chapter of the movie there is mention of sex, lesbianism, breasts, and a promise of satisfaction from grandma to her sleeping husband. There is one extremely funny moment in which a baby pukes on Kate and Brad is trying not to be sick himself; I was crying. However, this episode was laced with smutty innuendos and talk which was bothersome.

Another thing that bothered me was that while visiting with Kate’s mom they attend a church Nativity play in which both Kate and Brad are coerced into; they play Mary and Joseph. By the way Kate’s mother is dating the pastor of said church. I found this scene to be offensive and tasteless as the Nativity story is mocked, which led me to thinking should we expect anything more from the Hollywood machine?

Next stop, Brad’s mother who is shacked up with Brad’s ex-best friend. Nothing really funny happens in this set of scenes. There is smutty talk, a game of Taboo which is amusing, and more smutty talk.

Finally on to Kate’s dad, who happens to be the most normal parent. Nothing much happens here, apart from Kate and Bard splitting up and getting back together. In fact, nothing much really happens after the couple leave Kate’s mom.

I find it a shame that this movie was so filled with crass talk. I wanted to like it and the story could have been special (albeit simple). But alas Four Christmases went down the same road as other Christmas disaster movies such as the terrible Ben Affleck vehicle Surviving Christmas, and the DeVito/Broderick turkey, Deck the Halls. It did have some laugh out loud moments, but they paled in the light of the sheer amount of smut on offer.

As a parent I like my Christmas movies to be family friendly. Four Christmases was anything but!

Chris St John