A holiday comedy that critics loathed but audiences flocked to see in 2008
In short: Released in 2008, Four Christmases follows a couple forced to visit four divorced parents in a single day after their tropical vacation is canceled. Despite a star-studded cast and a massive worldwide box office haul, the film faced harsh critical reception, with many reviewers labeling it joyless and cliché-ridden.
Directed by Seth Gordon, the film stars Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon as Brad and Kate, a couple who avoid their dysfunctional families by pretending to do charity work abroad. Their plans are derailed by heavy fog, leading to a frantic tour of four separate family gatherings. The production, which began in December 2007, was hampered by the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike, preventing any script changes, and faced corporate uncertainty as New Line Cinema became a unit of Warner Bros. during filming.
The critical response was overwhelmingly negative. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 25% approval rating, with critics citing a hackneyed script and a lack of narrative core. Reviewers from The Hollywood Reporter and Variety described the movie as joyless and misanthropic, while Roger Ebert famously critiqued the film by writing his review as a fictional pitch session. Despite these reviews, the film was a commercial success, earning $163.7 million worldwide.
The film's structure follows a traditional three-act format, a point director Seth Gordon noted was inspired by his earlier documentary, The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. While the film was criticized for its slapstick humor and reliance on stereotypes, it resonated with audiences during its Thanksgiving release, securing the number one spot at the box office for its opening weekend. The story concludes with a time jump to the following New Year's Day, where the couple welcomes their first child.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Four Christmases
- Also: Wikidata — Four Christmases · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — Four Christmases and a Wedding · CC0
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