The Family Stone

[Piemam]

Anyone else seen this, advertised as a Christmas film? I followed it right to the very end, then was like "What the fuck was that?". It's been raved about, but I can't see why at all. Yes, a couple of actresses (Keaton, Danes) are good, but really, that's it.

Anyone else share this view or have famous movies to discuss?

It’s raved about all the time but I never warmed to it- I thought they were a family of bullies and the ending was ridiculous and unnecessary- it just didn’t want to go holiday rom com route so did that instead!

Saying that I hate The Holiday too …

Oh I love this film. It’s totally bonkers but I watch it every year! You just have to kind of surrender to the madness.

I loved it because it was so fraught and self indulgent and SJP was a dick.
Havent watched it in years though. Will rewatch this year.

I’ve watched that movie soooo many times and I love it, but every time I watch it I cannot figure out why I like it. I can’t think of a single nice person in it, except maybe the dad and Tad’s husband.

I think it might be the stunning house and inn. So pretty!

I love the film. SJP is so uptight, anxious and over eager to please but his siblings are horrible to her, so snotty and frosty. The scene where she gives them all the framed photograph is so touching. I really like it, I think I will watch it again this Christmas.

I love it as well but completely see why people don’t, not sure I like it when I’m actually watching it because everyone is mostly awful but afterwards I’m left with the feeling that it’s a great film and I end up watching it again (which is quite rare for me).

I think it’s because its a Christmas film that shows no one is perfect and families are messy which resonates at this time of year. I really feel for SJPs character whilst understanding why the family didn’t like her but also feel that the family behaved badly but again, you can understand why.

I love it and really felt for SJP in it, she’s so anxious and eager to please. Her original boyfriend is such an arsehole

Watched it last weekend and thought it was not special at all. Some great actors in it too but not enough of a story to make it a must see for me.

It’s entertaining but that whole family are horrible and SJPs character should have gone straight back to New York!

It’s not a great film. I’ve never understood the hype.

It’s my favorite Christmas film. I think because despite the unreality of the plot, what it really captures quite authentically, is that struggle and heightened drama / emotions of family dynamics at Christmas (though ofc the film packs every possible difficult dynamic into 90 mins!)

Yeah, I love Christmas movies but this one is an automatic avoid for me.

They are so unnecessarily nasty to SJP, it’s horrible to see. And the cheating couple are gross, not romantic.

It got to the point where I didn’t care what was happening with Diane Keaton’s character, DK could have disappeared and I’d have been fine. (No offence to the real DK, who was a queen).

Home for the Holidays (with Holly Hunter) does this so much better.

Sorry OP it’s a great movie. Love it.

Dermot Mulroney though 🤤🫠

I watched it for the first time last week and it is so, so weird.

I love it and watch it every year.

I still cant understand it! 1. Why do they hate SJP so much? But then 2. Why does she start saying so much weird shit? 3. Creepy stalking and cheating and falling over each other isnt romantic. It’s creepy! And why on earth did that guy think he wanted to marry SJP? 4. NONE OF THEM ARE LIKABLE OR FUNNY.

I genuinely couldnt understand!

Watched it for the first time the other day, it was awful.

Why were they so mean to SJP? I would have told them to fuck off then jetted off back to New York to enjoy my Christmas.

And the brother sister partner swap at the end? Ick.

I think it’s one of my favourite Christmas films. I can understand it’s a bit marmite though.

YANBU, I watched it years ago - the family are all rude and insufferable, horrible to SJP’s character and really unpleasant. I thought it was a pointless, annoying film.

I love this movie, I wish it was on TV more often.

I love it. The family are (mostly) all awful to each other but think they are a lovely close family. Add in SJP as the most uptight person on screen and it is just a case of watching them all unravel. Hurrah
I watch it every year.

It’s terrible but I love it. SJP dramatically shouting “I didn’t know” when she puts mushrooms in the breakfast dish is hilarious 😆

The whole movie is a hash of nothing dressed up as emotional drama.
We are never made to think SJP & DM actually love each other so why the whole storyline about the potential proposal.
All the family are horrible to her for no reason and all come across as bullies including the 2 parents.

but also for no reason they trip over themselves to like her sister who they have just met.

The entire movie squeezes its entire DEI quota into one couple (disability,gay,race) and uses those 2 characters only to justify a big fall out with SJP. Which they later recover from when she hooks up with the other brother. Again we are never convinced of any reason why they suddenly love each other. Or why their wooden siblings fall in love either as neither has much of a personality.

Yet all apparently happy swapping shag partners with siblings