So here out of nowhere comes this really funny movie that you just didn’t see coming. I mean, it follows all the rules that make it look like it will be the run of the mill movie that will just try to cash in on the holiday season. Just like slasher movies have taken over October, and Blockbusters have taken over the summer, we will always get a movie that embodies all that is Christmas – or the Christmas experience – during the Christmas holidays. This movie is that, but at the same time really good. This movie is really about this couple who have now been forced to face one of their greatest fears, that is their families during the holidays.

Now the selling point of this movie is really its ridiculousness. Some of these characters that makes up the family of Brad [Vince Vaughn] and Kate [Reese Witherspoon] will make you have to keel over in your seat. First you have Denver [Jon Favreau] and Dallas [Tim McGraw] – who are UFC fighters – kicking the stuffing out of Brad, which never gets boring for me. Watching Brad, the only real adult in the room, trying to reason with these ‘children’ who just want to romp around with each other because they can is too much to handle. But before I forget about this first of four family visits, Howard [Robert Duvall] as Brad’s father is really amazing. Duvall has one of my favourite moments in the movie when he comments on his ex-wife’s new boyfriend while on the roof with his sons. Duvall always seems to get these small roles in movies and knock them out of the park, which goes to show that you never have to run to pure shit movies when your leading career goes south.

Next we meet Kate’s mom, Marilyn [Mary Steenburgen], and her sister, Courtney [Kristin Chenoweth]. First can I say that I was happy to see Kristin since I’ve been enjoying her playing Olive in a great show – Pushing Daisies – for the last year, which unfortunately has just been cancelled *DAMMIT*. Anyways, we move from one awkward scenario to an even more awkward situation where Brad is finding out about all of Kate’s deep dark childhood secrets, and at the same time having some real hilarious conversations with Gram-Gram and Marilyn. Let’s just hear I wouldn’t want to hear anymore New Year resolutions after that family get together. Mary Steenburgen gives in her second best comedic performance of the year after doing some awesome acting in one of my most enjoyed comedies of the year, Step Brothers.

With two more Christmases lined up this movie has already won my vote of approval. I must say that I loved the direction in this movie and Seth Gordon did it perfectly to stick with characters rather than try to wow us with some camera tricks. He does well to capture the dynamic between Vince and Reese’s characters in the movie, from the first scene we understand completely as to who these two are. And when they get thrown into this ridiculous day of Merry Christmases and all it becomes way too easy for the laughs to keep on coming.

There are a ton of stand-out scenes during this movie, but I must say my favourite has to be the Nativity scene. Here we see the insanity of Brad’s character and the fact that he does love to enjoy himself and all. I couldn’t stop laughing as he takes over one of the simplest and possibly most well-known stories ever. I mean what more can you do with that story, Jesus is born and you’re in a manger, not much else to let the world know about. However, Vince Vaughn allows himself to totally take over the show by taking making Mary’s character completely useless and inconsequential except for some laughter for being incompetent. No matter how you look at it he makes a dick move here, but it is just too hilarious.

Overall I must say that Vince Vaughn and Seth Gordon knocked this one out of the park. The movie is quite a fun diversion from the entire Oscar buzz that you might be catching up with at the theatre. It isn’t the best comedy of the year, nowhere near Pineapple Express and Tropic Thunder, but it definitely keeps you entertained throughout.

IMDB says 5.8/10

Rotten Tomatoes says 25%

I say 7.5/10