"The Family Stone" can't decide if it wants to be "The Royal Tenenbaums" or "Terms of Endearment." So it settles on old-school screwball along the lines of "You Can't Take It With You," which won best picture in 1938. But what worked then doesn't necessarily work now. And writer-director Thomas Bezucha is neither George S. Kaufman nor Moss Hart nor Frank Capra. Read the full review
Director: Thomas Bezucha
Starring: Dermot Mulroney, Diane Keaton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Claire Danes, Rachel McAdams
Run time: 102 minutes
Release date: Dec. 16, 2005
Rating: PG-13 for some sexual content including dialogue, and drug references.
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: C+
"The plot is motored more by convenience than credible character behavior and for much of the time, the cockles of our hearts remain unwarmed."
Austin American-Statesman: 2 of 5 stars
"It's hard to imagine why Meredith would worry a bit about being accepted by the Stones or why audiences should cough up money to spend time with them."
The Palm Beach Post: B-
"... you may find yourself saying, 'At least no one is dying' and then a character reveals a fatal disease."