Chock full of great actors and easy laughs, FOUR CHRISTMASES is a fun Christmas film for any lazy holiday afternoon.
Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon star as Brad and Kate, an unmarried couple committed to NOT being committed.
Every Christmas they stage an elaborate ruse that they are traveling around the world to perform charity acts just to avoid their four divorced parents.
As you might guess, flights get delayed and they end up visiting each of their four parents houses.
Robert Duvall has a lot of fun as Brad's Dad and John Favreau and Tim McGraw are a blast as Brad's brothers, who used to beat him up mercilessly as a kid and see no reason to stop now.
Mary Steenburgen is Kate's cougar mom, whose latest flame is an evangelist preacher played by Dwight Yoakham in a funny turn.
Sissy Spacek is Brad's hippy Mom and Jon Voight is very good as Kate's level headed Dad.
The four houses get less crazy as they go, with Voight's Dad providing the most traditional visit and perhaps some life lessons along the way as the film slides from comedy to holiday feel good.
It's all rather predictable, but well executed by a terrific cast.
Vaughn is very funny with dry delivery intact. His scene at Steenburgen's house with all the grandma cougars hanging all over him is quintessential Vaughn shtick.
Witherspoon is incredibly likeable throughout and her moments with Voight are terrific.
Throw in Kristen Chenoweth as Kate's baby happy sister and Katy Mixon (Mike and Molly) as Brad's white trash brother's constantly pregnant wife and you round out a funny, game cast of actors elevating average material into a fun holiday film.
Anytime Vaughn wants to install my satellite dish, I'm ready for laughs. Duvall's reactions during the entire scene are priceless.
Wrap a bow on it and settle in for some laughs, Four Christmases gets a B-.
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