The Family Stone

This film is a bit ridiculous, but the performances shine and make it worthwhile. Sarah Jessica Parker plays Meredith, the uptight fiancé of Everett Stone. The two visit Everett’s home for the holidays, and her dealings with the family are sometimes very unpleasant. Diane Keaton is fun as the matriarch, as is Rachel McAdams as the mean (and extremely good looking) sister. Craig T. Nelson does good work as the daddy, and Luke Wilson provides decent comic relief as the stoner brother. When Meredith’s sister (the also extremely good looking Claire Danes) comes to her rescue, people start switching partners, and things get a little weird. The movie gets more than a little heavy handed when serious illness enters the mix. It’s all a bit nutty, but Keaton and company keep things moving right along at an acceptable level of entertainment.