Reviewed by Victor Rebikoff.
Director: Seth Gordon, New Line Cinema, PG 108 Minutes.
This Christmas comedy drama from director Seth Gordon (‘Identity Thief’) centres on a loving couple, Brad (Vince Vaughan – ‘Couples Retreat’) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon – ‘Legally Blonde’) – with no plans to have children – do everything to shun spending the holidays with their dysfunctional families.
However, as fate would have it, their attempt to go abroad falls flat ending up on Christmas day with no choice left but to visit both sets of their divorced parents beginning with Brad’s dad Howard (Robert Duvall – ‘The Godfather’).
Besides Howard they catch-up with Brad’s brothers – Dallas (Tim McGraw – ‘Blind Side’), Denver (Jon Favreau – ‘Iron Man’) including their families before visiting Kate’s mum, Marilyn (Mary Steenburgen – ‘The Proposal’) her sister and aunts only to learn of Marilyn’s newfound love in religion.
Brad and Kate now go to meet Brad’s bohemian mum Paula (Sissy Spacek – ‘Carrie’) and with the pleasantries over, it is Brad’s meeting with his stepdad which turns sour – resulting in them leaving to see Kate’s dad Creighton (Jon Voight – ‘National Treasure’).
To Kate’s surprise she finds her mum Marilyn accompanied by her Pastor Phil (Dwight Yoakam – ‘Crank’) at her dad’s home chatting to him having earlier thought that they had hated each other until she is told they had reconciled.
It is after Brad has gone back to speak to his dad again that he is finally made aware of the time being right for him and Kate to have a family which is against his dad’s views.
Gordon’s comic drama shines a special light on family relationships especially during the Christmas season when certain families experience difficulties at this time in interacting with their parents – some of whom may be divorced or living with different partners.
Such is the drama that unfolds in ‘Four Holidays’ as Brad and Kate are required to reluctantly navigate their personal visits to four different parents and encounter a number of sensitive situations – between father and son and mother and daughter.
It ultimately comes down to a free-spirited couple initially intent on not getting married or having children and changing their mind on seeing what happened to their divorced parents; and as shown in the concluding scenes as Brad and Kate are seen with their bundle of joy.
Despite the storyline’s surreal theme it is still an enjoyable experience due to the personal chemistry between Vaughan and Witherspoon – supported by a stellar cast that includes Duvall, Steenburgen, Spacek and Voight.
Vic’s Verdict: 3 Stars
Four Holidays is being televised at 8.50pm on Channel 9 on Saturday 25 December.
