Movie Review: Four Christmases

John Thompson

Print

Four Christmases is not for all the family

Rating: PG-13

Genre: Comedy

Release Date: November 26, 2008

Running Time: 89 minutes

Child friendly?: A lot of the laughs in this film come in the form of family dysfunction, fighting or sexual innuendo, making it most appropriate for children 14 and up. The gags are often cartoonish, which softens their impact a bit, but the script has not been written with small children in mind.

'Tis the season for holiday movie-watching, when dads, moms and kids venture out to the theater in the hopes of finding a special cinematic present that the whole family can enjoy.

At first glance, Four Christmases seems to be marketing itself as this type of entertainment. However, parents should be aware that it is a film which derives most of its chuckles from familial dysfunction, sexual innuendo and rather juvenile physical comedy.

The plot centers on Kate and Brad, a San Francisco couple who have a holiday tradition of telling their extended families they are doing charity work in a far-away place to avoid spending Christmas with them - then they enjoy a vacation at a plush resort instead.

One year, flights are grounded due to fog, and Kate and Brad end up on the evening news, exposing their deception.

The rest of the film shows the couple dutifully making the rounds to four different Christmas celebrations - filled with eccentric divorced parents and other wacky family members - and learning that they may not have as much in common as they originally thought.

Fathers may find themselves laughing out loud at several scenes in this movie - but you may want to make sure your kids are old enough to handle the humor as well.
ADNFCR-1662-ID-18927807-ADNFCR

Subscribe to the pregnancy newsletter or 4-8 year olds newsletter.

Email this | Print

Login with Facebook

Post a Comment


First Name:
City:
Email Address:
Comments:	Total Words: (400 words*)
	Enter the characters you see in the image. They are case sensitive.

Shopping

Article List

	Movie Review: Men in Black III
	Movie Review: Dark Shadows
	Movie Review: The Pirates! Band of Misfits
	Movie Review: The Three Stooges
	Movie Review: Mirror Mirror
	Movie Review: The Hunger Games
	Movie Review: Puss in Boots
	Movie Review: John Carter
	Movie Review: The Lorax
	Great Academy Award nominee dads in history - Brad Pitt
	Family-friendly Academy Award nominees to see with your kids
	Three family-friendly films to watch this Valentine's Day
	Which dad film won big at the Golden Globes?

All section articles

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17