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Four Christmases (2008)

Director: Seth Gordon

Time Out rating

Average user rating

56 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Family plus Christmas equals nightmare. That seems to be the calculation guiding this festive frolic, in which Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon tell their respective folks they’re doing charity work so that they can avoid the usual get-together. Alas, their ruse is uncovered, so they end up visiting all four post-divorce enclaves in one fateful Christmas Day.

Playing out a seasonal riff on the same comedy of embarrassment as ‘Meet the Parents’, Vaughn’s mean old coot of a pater Robert Duvall and wrestling-freak sibling Jon Favreau, along with Mary Steenburgen as Witherspoon’s lubricious yet church-happy mom, supply plentiful warning of the dangers of procreation. As we grind through the gears of consecutive drop-ins, however, behind the strained knockabout lurks a none-too-subtle conformist agenda, assuring the unmarried, childless couple that their only chance for genuine happiness is to get with the family programme.

‘Humbug!’, we say. Dismaying, indeed, that a movie purportedly selling itself on refreshing nay-saying scepticism should so cravenly succumb to the same old schmaltz, without the craft even to make the process seem anything other than a series of empty would-be ‘feelgood’ platitudes. Still, there are occasional felicities en route, with some ably delivered ‘trailer moment’ slapstick – watch out for that baby vomit! – and the cast do their best with the uneven material, even if Vaughn in particular makes the patter a tad too effortful. Nostalgic for some to have him and Favreau reunited here, yet seeing the ‘Swingers’ duo desperately mugging away in such mainstream mulch, their catchphrase ‘You’re so money’ takes on an awful new resonance.

Author: Trevor Johnston

Time Out London Issue 1997, November 29 – December 3, 2008

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User reviews of this film

KJ said...

Posted on Jan 04 2010 13:13 Definitely the worst film I have seen in a long time. Very juvenile humor - do not waste your money on this one.

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Claire said...

Posted on Dec 23 2009 18:59 Unfunny drivel, no chemistry, depressing at times. I was persuaded to risk this last year and we all utterly regretted the decision. I like reese, and the guy is usually funny but do not expect either of their talents to be utilised in this drab concoction. I can't belive it merits a re-run at the cinema, in all justice it should've gone straight to dvd the first time round. Avoid at all costs.

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Hannah said...

Posted on Dec 22 2009 13:44 I don't care what everyone says I really enjoyed this film and am thinking about getting it on dvd. I don't listen to anyone else's reviews anyway

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codger said...

Posted on Dec 21 2009 17:53 I don't know what the film is like, but the comments on it are - mostly - astonishing in their witless banality; incoherent drivel thrown out by brain-dead zombies to whom spelling is an arcane mystery and who neither know nor care about how to put sentences together in a way that makes some kind of rudimentary sense. Er...wooo...lol...blud man,.. and on and on until Hell freezes over. Tedious tripe

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hubu said...

Posted on Dec 19 2009 12:22 injihhhu type in this box will appear on the site

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Victoria said...

Posted on Jan 02 2009 11:14 Rubbish. There is a lot more better things to do than watch this rubbish film. Don't waste your money.

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upsydaisy said...

Posted on Dec 28 2008 12:24 sick blud luvin dis man it is sick blud i bluudy luv it blud xxxxx

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shilxx said...

Posted on Dec 25 2008 10:40 nice film.its entertaining and funny as well.its wroth watching it once.both the actors have done a gr8 job!!

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HarleyQuinn said...

Posted on Dec 24 2008 12:16 It was alright, at some parts I was laughing, at some parts I was bored. Still, if you go see it with your friends you'll have fun. :)

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Suzanne said...

Posted on Dec 23 2008 18:43 Forgot to rate it, had to post again. Now rated, 5 *

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Suzanne said...

Posted on Dec 23 2008 18:43 Superb! Totally funny, did not stop laughing from start to finish and neither did my friend who watched it with me. I will definately watch this one again and recommend it. Though only if you have a sense of humour will you enjoy it. Those who moaned on here obviously don't have one.

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gabriella and georgiaa x said...

Posted on Dec 23 2008 15:52 Heloo again ceneworld and people who are reading this. just a thing to say... BRAP BRAP nn2 !!! lkin 4ward too deee filmm matee ! <3 xx xxx x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x THANKYOU WHO EVER YOU ARE WHO BUILT CENE WORLD TO THIS WONDERFULL WORLD WE ARE LIVING IN RIGHT NOW.we should appreciate this world and not liter and we have got to love what god has given us ,, thankyou for reading BABEZZZ .x

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gabriella and gerogiaa x said...

Posted on Dec 23 2008 15:48 hellooo cineworld,, we are going to see it tonight ,, looking forward to it mann !!! WOOOOOO :)

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lauren said...

Posted on Dec 22 2008 19:08 a brilliant film, funny in bits, i definatly watch it again, i don't know what some of them are watching up there ^ !! :) 5 star :)

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Cheese face said...

Posted on Dec 22 2008 16:48 rubbish never watch it . oh by the way boris johnson i love you

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