The world adores matt hayward

Heya. Saw this the other day. It harks back to a time of seasonal family slapstick comedies. So in case you haven’t guessed, it’s a bit of a Christmas-based chick flick. Probably a bit too chicky for my tastes.

In Malaysia, I remember they had these Chinese New Year happy family fantasy kinda movies. They all had the fabulously wealthy guy and the pheasant Chinese chick that’s whisked into a life of luxury because she has a nice pair of tits or something, with a few laughs along the way and some religious references. There’s no shame in that, and these movies have their place. Just hopefully my place is not in front of the screen when it’s on.

The Family Stone is the same kind of concept. Some soppy sentiment you dust off once a year like a Christmas tree and laugh and cry at the parody presented before you of your own extended family. They do try and be a bit topical though though a deaf, gay brother who brings his boyfriend home for Christmas. For most of the movie they converse in tongue and sign for the deaf brother.

For all intents, this movie could be a pantomine and was probably written as one. Most of it’s in the house and there’s probably about 4 scenes outside. It’s all about the slapstick timing, ‘comedy of errors’ style faux pas around the Christmas table and how it feels when you’re the outsider at the Christmas table. It’s funny, but has too many sob sob moments, because the mum is dying of breast cancer and this is quite predictably, her last Christmas with the family. So there’s lots of oestrogen laced, soppy moments.

Acting wise, this movie is all Sarah Jessica Parker. It has to be said, that if you want an annoying, neurotic, stuck up, whiney, size 6 bitch that has more shoes than IQ points, give Sarah a call. She is fantastically good at this and you can’t really imagine anyone else fulfilling this role. She makes you cringe with disgust at her character constantly.

Take your girlfriend along ladies, not the man to this one. 6 out 10.

Happy new year peoples! These wines rock and are well worth checking out  (in no particular order). They’re all Australian

Trentham Estates Petit Verdot 2003
Lush cranberries, nice acidity, low tannins. About $15 bucks. Good with Chicken or Turkey.

Tahbilk (Central Victoria) Reserve Shiraz 2001
Easily one of the best Shiraz’s in Australia. About $60 if you can find it.  Good with bloody anything.

Goundrey Estates (Margaret River) Unwooded Chardonnay 2004
Dry, crisp white wine with a little citrus in the pallete. Great with fish or just to drink in the sun. About $15

Brokenwood Estate (Hunter Valley) 2005 Semillon
I’d believe claims that it’s one of the best Semillons from Oz. Words can’t describe how well this goes with salmon. Just try it. About $16.

Angoves Estate Limited Release Petit Verdot
Quite easily the biggest surprise of the year. This was one of James Halliday’s ‘top reds under $10′ picks for 2006. I didn’t know that at the time but it was fantastic. Actually cost around $15

De Bortoli Sacred Hill Cabernet Merlot 2004-2005?
Don’t pay more than $6. Cab merlot is already a fantastic mellow blend, but De Bortoli got this blend perfect. Great quiet night drinking wine.

D’arenberg D’arry’s Original (McLaren Vale) Shiraz Grenache 2003
D’arenberg can’t put a foot wrong. This is about $15 and is just the right amount of gruff and fortitude thanks to the grenache.  It’s spicy and tannic but not overpowering. if it was music it would be Kiss’ ‘Detroit Rock City’, in other words a great standard song every rockin’ band should know.

If I can think of any more, I will add them. but so far, they’re the most memorable wines so far. And look! Most of them are cheaper than a six pack of beer. Only one is more than $50. So give some wine a try some time. There’s never been a better time to get started than now,

Yes you guessed it. Seldom do I go out of my way to talk about a specific wine or do a review. But my god, this thing will blow the bloody doors off, in a bad way.

This organic wine I bought from Dan Murphys about 8 months ago and I can only assume it hasn’t got better with age. It’s 15% alc content couldn’t be more transparent. Yes I like my wine with fortititude, but why they went Mataro (Mourvedre), Shiraz and Grenache instead of the far better appelation Grenache, Shiraz Mourvedre I have no idea. The Mataro bites your head off, making you cough and splutter with every drop.

I had a look in the 2006 James Halliday wine guide to see what he thinks of it, but it wasn’t among the 10 or so varieties he’d reviewed.  Avoid it at all costs unless you are a Courtney Love and enjoy drinking Evian and battery acid.