A marvelous ensemble cast can often turn familiar Hollywood product into a surprisingly refreshing entertainment; and such is the case with The Family Stone, which features A-listers Sarah Jessica Parker, Diane Keaton, Claire Danes, and Luke Wilson alongside such strong character actors as Craig T. Nelson and Dermot Mulroney. An oil-and-water family reunion sets the scene as uptight career woman Meredith Morton (Parker) accompanies her boyfriend, Everett Stone (Mulroney), to his family home for Christmas. Meredith feels ill at ease among his freewheeling parents (Keaton and Nelson) and eccentric siblings, and when the inevitable blow-up occurs she begs her sensible sister (Danes) to spirit her away. And in the tradition of act-one setups, that's when things really get interesting, leading to a Christmas morning the family Stone will never forget. Writer-director Thomas Bezucha may be too eager to stuff disparate elements and characters into the film, but his players save the day with their finely tuned performances and expert comic delivery. Wilson, playing Everett's laid-back brother, sidles into the leading-man slot quite effortlessly, while Rachel McAdams, as a shrewish sister, just about steals every scene she's in. A third-act revelation, intended to be startling, won't catch any viewer by surprise, but its aftermath makes for a poignant denouement. The Family Stone may not always hit the mark, but its mixture of good-hearted warmth and laughs ensure its future as a perennial in the tradition of Jodie Foster's underrated Home for the Holidays.

Details: List Price: $14.98 Package Dimensions: 0.60 x 5.30 x 7.50 inches Weight: 2.40 ounces

Highlights: ASIN: B000EMGJ7C

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