The Family Stone (DVD, 2006, Full Frame)

The first time I saw "The Family Stone" I fell in love with the movie. It is a quirky little tale of a close knit family with five adult children who all come home for Christmas. The ensemble cast is great : Diane Keaton does a magnificent job playing the mother, Sybil, who is married to Graig T. Nelson. The movie also stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Luke Wilson, Claire Danes, Dermot Mulroney, and Rachel McAdams. I've said for years that any film that can make me BOTH laugh and cry is a great movie ! It is now a must-see at the Holidays !
I had a hard time finding a full screen version at Blockbuster and other neighborhood rental stores, so went to e-bay to purchase it.

The problem with The Family Stone is that it gives us only the barest taste of each character before moving on to the next and ultimately to the end credits. Everett Stone, the golden child of a pretty golden family, brings home is presumed fiancee Meredith. Due to a preemptive lunch with mean sister, Amy, the family is already predisposed toward not liking Meredith. This quickly becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy as, with Amy in the lead, the Family Stone rides Meredith mercilessly even pushing her to apparent racism and homophobia. All 4 women, including 2 Stone sisters, find love in the end. Older (pregnant) sister has hubby show up in time for Xmas. Younger, mean Amy, finds true love with her first love (EMT jock). Meredith and sister, Julie, do some exchanging and all ends well. The pathos resides largely in performances by Craig T. Nelson and Diane Keaton as the Stone parents. Keaton's terminal cancer acts as a constant reminder of how short life is and how we must live life to the fullest. It is ironic, however, how she wields her terminal status as a weapon over her children and how, despite wishing that all her kids were gay (she openly accepts not only her younger son's homosexuality but his interracial relationship), she is so cruel to Meredith. I think that it is this inconsistency that is the greatest weakness of a movie that is trying so hard to be deep, winning and emotionally-challenging, but ends up pushing us to find meaning in and to connect to just one character. I never found one.

I found this movie very tastefully done. I read the previous reviews and I agree with most of them. The bottom line about this movie is that the mother (Diane Keaton) is the family stone. The youngest daughter(Amy) who in the movie is known as the mean one. Is just like her mother in so many ways. I can go on and on about this movie. But no matter what age you are...I believe every women can relate to this movie. Yes they all had issues and drama. Every family does. But through out the entire movie the are very open with each other about the love this family has. That to me was priceless. "We are not all rich and can leave a "legacy" behind, but nurturing a child and instilling values, morals, respect and religion. Will create a far greater legacy that will live on in them, and there children....." R.Gaddis

it's a great movie, everyone should have a copy. it's a good one for the christmas holidays. Sarah Jessica Parker makes this movie.

The Family Stone is a Christmas movie to be remembered. The cast is completely unparalleled in any other film. The script was extremely well written. The acting is so real and close that you see your own family or friends in each of the characters. The central story is moving and powerfull, but there are plenty of laughs to be had along the way. This is a great movie for any time of the year, but make sure you see it sometime around the holidays.