three out of ten
It is very rare for me to watch a movie and actually feel my stomach hurt with the degre with which I loathed it. Well in that regard Family Stone is... special.
The movie begins as we watch Everett the eldest of a large stereotypically happy and connected but misfit family drive into town to spend Christmas with his family. She is uptight. She wears her hair in a bun and only wears black and does not smile. Seriously, typecasting? The family is loud and obnoxious and instantly dislikes her particularly Everett's sister Amy who truly loathes her and sets out to make her feel more uncomfortable and awkward than she already does. In the background Everett is trying to get his mother's permission to use the family diamond to give to his uptight girlfriend because he wants to marry her. They are not right for each other and we all see it but him. That is until things get really bad and she invites her sister to come. Then the equally typecast happy relaxed (and I'm not sure she's supposed to be, but totally indifferent) sister comes in to handle things and the story takes off.
The reason this movie even gets a three out of ten as opposed to a 0 out of ten is because Diane Keaten and the man who played her husband are good actors and had a few fantastic scenes together. There is a scene in the movie when they are discussing her illness that you really get choked up. This is saying a lot considering I hate the movie but the scene did manage to catch me off guard.
***caution: spoilers***
The storyline of Sarah Jess Parker and the brother of Everett? WHAT? Are you kidding me? They had no chemistry. And why is that its alcohol that turns her around and opens up her heart? And its completely unbelievable they ended up in a committed relationship. He (the little brother) did a good job acting like he cared for her but she really could not act to save her life in this movie.
The scene of two years later and they show Claire Danes (the sister) and Everett totally hooked up and in a close relationship? Gag me. they did not develop their connection enough for this to believable.
