Review of The Fitzgerald Family Christmas (2012) by Manny C — 25 Jan 2013

All holiday-themed films should be this rich in humor and heartbreak. The Fitzgerald Family Christmas is low on bullshit, high risk-taking storytelling, all of it courtesy of Edward Burns, the writer, director and star who mines his Irish-Catholic roots and the spirit of his solid 1995 debut The Brothers McMullen.

Burns is a man who knows the business of family. Burns is Gerry Fitzgerald, oldest of seven children whose mother is Josie (Anita Gillette, wonderful), a singel mother since her hsband, Big Jim (Ed Lauter), left them 20 years ago.

Big Jim now has cancer and wants to be with the family for Christmas. Josie's not buying it, and the kids are divided. That's the film. Sounds contrived, but Burns and his stellar cast play it achingly for real, with deft comic notes and grit.

Burns' film juggles a lot of characters, but we end up getting to know each one well. Brother Quinn (Michael McGlone) is looking to propose to his younger girlfriend (Daniella Pineda). Sister Sharon (Kerry Bishe) has her own sexual escapades with an older man (Noah Emmerich).

Sister Dottie (Marsha Dietlin-Bennett) leaves her husband for a hunky gardener, sister Connie (Caitlin Fitgerald) is dealing with a pregnancy by an abusive boyfriend, while youngest brother Cyril (Tom Guiry) is fresh out of rehab.

Then there's sister Erin (Heather Burns), who looks the part of the normal one and looks down on her family save for her father. The emotions roiling beneath are palpable. Burns brings in his Brothers McMullen co-star Connie Britton (tv's Friday Night Lights and Nashville) as Gerry's new love interest, and their scenes together are excellent and vibrant.

Burns is a consummate indie filmmaker, an actor who works the Hollywood game to finance his own personal films. The Fitzgerald Family Christmas may be his finest.