Zachary FenellThe Family Stone
February 11th 2009 17:22
The Family Stone, 2005
But not because I didn't like it.
In fact, it's one of those movies that you pick up around Christmas (because, hey, that's when the movie takes place), expecting it to be wacky and full of madcap mayhem, and then somewhere in the middle, your jaw drops open and you start thinking, "Oh god oh god oh god, they can't be serious, are they serious, holy cow, what the heck!?!?"
Again, not in a bad way.
The short version is that the Stones are a very atypical New England family. The parents, Cybil (played by the inimitable Diane Keaton) and Kelly (played by our favorite ex-coach Craig Nelson), are seemingly enlightened folks, "free-thinkers", raising their children to call them by their first names, loving and supporting each one of them unconditionally despite their varied and wild natures. The truly telling moment is near the beginning when their son Thad (who is deaf) shows up to the family Christmas celebration with his husband Patrick - and Patrick is just as accepted as any of the natural-born children.
Enter in Everett (Dermot Mulroney) escorting his harshly angular girlfriend Meredith (Sarah Jessica Parker done up to look as severe and uptight as her character should be), and zaniness ensues...
Except, that's not the real story.
I'm not going to give away any plot lines past that. You'll enjoy seeing Claire Danes, Rachel McAdams and Luke Wilson as well, and you can really buy into their family dynamic.
I'm going to give you the fair warning that that darned stewardess didn't give me: watch this with a cup of hot cocoa and a BIG box of tissues. The moral of the story is that the world doesn't end, even when we want it to, and everything works out, even when it hurts. It was nominated for seven awards (none by the Academy) and won one of them (from Teen Choice?!), but don't let that get in the way. I watch it about twice a year myself, and sometimes more often. It's a beautiful tale that runs a pretty wide gamut of emotion, and you'll enjoy the ride.
4 Stars
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