Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 8:46 pm
Watched "Four Christmases" because I.. I don't know, I just wanted to see it.
In case you haven't heard of it, Brad (Vince Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon) play a couple who routinely skip off to a tropical vacation rather than visit their chaotic families (divorced parents and kooky siblings) on Christmas. This year, though, a fog keeps all flights grounded on Christmas, and the hapless couple get caught on live TV at the airport terminal in floppy hats and hawaiian shirts.
First off, the movie was what it was and did it decently. We had fun watching it, at least.
What struck me as hilarious, however, was that Brad and Katie had arguably one of the best relationships I've seen Hollywood portray.
Spoiler example:
[spoiler]
When it came time for the cliché temporary break-up due to their sudden divergence of gameplan (Katie's ticking maternal clock goes off, Brad still wants their DINK lifestyle) Kate admits, with a serious sadness, that "I'm the one who wants to change the rules, and that isn't fair. Goodbye."
They don't scream at each other, they don't call names; they just discuss the problem and, realizing there is a fundamental schism between their life goals, walk away without tears or melodrama. Of course, this being Hollywood, Brad realizes maybe he does want children, or at least wants to have the conversation about maybe having children.
They're rational, they talk to each other, they support each other; they're a pretty good couple, really.
[/spoiler]
More spoilers for why I liked the characters:
[spoiler]
Then when they do have the final "Maybe we want kids" discussion, they start throwing out the positives "Think of all the free labor; they can do the dishes, the yard -- I'm nor saying put a lawn mower in their hands at like, age 7, but..." which was just hilariously mercenary to me.
[/spoiler]
Not really spoilers I guess:
[spoiler]
We laughed ourselves silly at the awkward situational humor -- like when Kate bangs a baby's head into a cabinet door -- or when she exclaims "I think it liked me, there for a second"
[/spoiler]
Anyway, it was a dumb-cute movie. Too bad that they had to shove in a feel-good message at the end, but it was handled decently -- it was what it was.
As someone who looks forward to her dual-income, no kid household, I related to the characters and the situation.
In case you haven't heard of it, Brad (Vince Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon) play a couple who routinely skip off to a tropical vacation rather than visit their chaotic families (divorced parents and kooky siblings) on Christmas. This year, though, a fog keeps all flights grounded on Christmas, and the hapless couple get caught on live TV at the airport terminal in floppy hats and hawaiian shirts.
First off, the movie was what it was and did it decently. We had fun watching it, at least.
What struck me as hilarious, however, was that Brad and Katie had arguably one of the best relationships I've seen Hollywood portray.
Spoiler example:
[spoiler]
When it came time for the cliché temporary break-up due to their sudden divergence of gameplan (Katie's ticking maternal clock goes off, Brad still wants their DINK lifestyle) Kate admits, with a serious sadness, that "I'm the one who wants to change the rules, and that isn't fair. Goodbye."
They don't scream at each other, they don't call names; they just discuss the problem and, realizing there is a fundamental schism between their life goals, walk away without tears or melodrama. Of course, this being Hollywood, Brad realizes maybe he does want children, or at least wants to have the conversation about maybe having children.
They're rational, they talk to each other, they support each other; they're a pretty good couple, really.
[/spoiler]
More spoilers for why I liked the characters:
[spoiler]
Then when they do have the final "Maybe we want kids" discussion, they start throwing out the positives "Think of all the free labor; they can do the dishes, the yard -- I'm nor saying put a lawn mower in their hands at like, age 7, but..." which was just hilariously mercenary to me.
[/spoiler]
Not really spoilers I guess:
[spoiler]
We laughed ourselves silly at the awkward situational humor -- like when Kate bangs a baby's head into a cabinet door -- or when she exclaims "I think it liked me, there for a second"
[/spoiler]
Anyway, it was a dumb-cute movie. Too bad that they had to shove in a feel-good message at the end, but it was handled decently -- it was what it was.
As someone who looks forward to her dual-income, no kid household, I related to the characters and the situation.