Four Christmases Details

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A superb Christmassy film................

This is a superb festive Christmassy film. It stars Vince Vaughan as Brad or Orlando to his family and Reece Witherspoon as Kate.

Every 25th December, Brad and Kate - a happily unmarried, upmarket San Francisco couple continue on a holiday tradition, they have shared together every year since they met, by ditching their crazy families for a relaxing, fun-filled holiday in a sunny exotic location.

As they are sipping margaritas by the swimming pool, Brad and Kate toast the festive season, knowing that they have once again avoided the chaos and emotional fallout of their four respective households, that consist of divorced parents, arguing siblings, out-of-control children and all the festering resentments and awkward moments that are the trade marks of every family Christmas in their families.

But not this year............

Brad and Kate are trapped at the San Francisco airport by a fog bank that cancels every outbound flight. Worse still, they are caught on camera by a local news crew, revealing their whereabouts to the whole city - and to their families.

With no escape and no excuses to save them, they are now expected home by Brad's father (played by Robert Duvall). And Kate's mother (played by Mary Steenburgen). And Brad's mother (played by Sissy Spacek). And Kate's father (played by Jon Voight). They have to attend four Christmases in one day.

As they prepare themselves for a marathon of homecomings, Brad and Kate expect the worst—and that is exactly what happens.

But as Brad counts down the minutes to their freedom, Kate surprisingly finds herself tuned to the ticking of a different clock.

What happens next, I am not going to spoil it for you, watch the film to find out !

A Shame.

When it's funny it's really funny, side splitting in fact. But this is a case of watch the trailer and you've seen 90% of the best bits.

Good plot, the wonderful Vaughn and Witherspoon with some great lines. Then someone decided to throw the moral effect in and the recipe curdles. Almost to cottage cheese.

Teenagers loved it, right up until the last 20 minutes when it just dies. A real shame.

Okay for a filler over the festive period.