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.