Review of The Family Stone (2005) by Owenl. — 28 May 2006

[**Spoilers**]Gah. I really wanted to like this movie, and for the first act I did. I admit it. Even though Parker was patently unlikeable, the family circus into which she's thrown was intriguing.

Rachel McAdams plays the harpie well and Diane Keaton the shrew. And Luke Wilson plays Luke Wilson, so what's to complain about? But come on--did the screenwriter have to take every shortcut and cliche in the book? Claire Danes' character is completely extranaeous! Why are we rewarding Dermot Mulroney's character for treating Parker so poorly? Where's the law that says everyone has to match up nicely at the end? The Luke WIlson/Parker + Mulroney/Danes thing was apparent from the moment Danes was introduced, but why was she even necessary? Why couldn't this be a movie about the Family Stone, with their intriguing and beguiling cast of characters, and the efforts of Parker to be accepted and Mulroney to stick up for his choice in women? Why did this have to suddenly dissolve into a ridiculous love quadrangle? And what was up with the slapstick climactic scene? Who in their right mind punctuates an explosion on Christmas morning with a mad dash to the casserole dishes? Ugh.

I'm sorry--this movie annoyed me, broke my heart even, because there was a well-written, funny, and even heart-warming film underneath, but it was ruined when the writer/director decided to hit every cliche he could think of on the way to mediocrity.