| Overall Grade: |
B |
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| Story: |
B |
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| Acting: |
B |
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| Direction: |
B |
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| Visuals: |
B |
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A Christmas Movie the Entire Family Can Enjoy
by southernbo2001 (movies profile)
May 27, 2007
311
of
379 people found this review helpful
How often does a movie come along that is enjoyable for all ages??? Usually a kids movie is an endurance test for adults, and a good movie flick for adults requires babysitter, etc.... BUT this one has something everybody!!!
I took a break this past Sunday from Christmas shopping and caught the sneak preview matinee...
Liberals may hate this one; Steve Martin's character grew up in a large family, Bonnie Hunt was an only child, they met and fell in love, they both wanted a large family, though not quite as large as they end up with... They decided that family was more important and rewarding than careers (can't you imagine a liberal critic cringing at that old fashioned and in their mind, out dated, notion)
They reside in a large country house, where chaos reigns, and why wouldn't it, with that many kids under one roof? Tom Welling, ("SMALLVILLE") who plays their oldest son, doesn't get a chance to stretch his acting muscles much, I confess, I kept waiting for a Superman joke, you know, like "who do you think you are...?"
Hillary Duff, ("Lizzie McGuire")plays the next to the oldest daughter who still lives at home, and is the family princess , but also the peace maker, her older sister who is 22, has moved in with boyfriend Ashton Krutcher, who plays a struggling rather conceited actor, which doesn't set well with their parents, they object to the young lovers sleeping together without being married (is that liberal teeth gnashing I hear???)
Is it just me, or does their 22 year old daughter portrayed by Piper Perabo, at times reminds you of Jennifer Garner from "ALIAS"?
Okay now comes the heart of the movie, you can take the family out of the country, but can you take the country out of the kids??? Of course not, and therein lies the crust of the movie.
Steve Martin is offered his dream job of coaching football at Northwestern University in Chicago, of course the kids are against it, because they don't to move away from home, they want a family vote, GUESS WHAT??? Stever Martin actually acts like a father and informs his kids, that in the end , the parents will decide what's best. (Oh, it does a conservative heart good to finally see on screen parents actually parenting instead of negotiating)
To complicate things, mom has just been informed her book based on their family will be published and she must go to New York for some book signing, and promotional tour, leaving already beleagured dad in charge of the unruly brood, who naturally miss their 'stay at home' mom ( is that liberals screaming ?)
Naturally the kids are having a hard time fitting into the big city, but this a loving family, being teased and bullied because of their hayseed roots, but they have each other's back, when one of their smaller siblings encounters one of the school bullies, they retailiate in kind. Hillary has a great line, "There are times I could kill my little sister, but there's NEVER a time I wouldn't kill for her,"
These kids even talk about wearing hand me downs, I'm curious how many kids today will know what they are referring too?
The family makes breakfast together, the kids listen to their folks and they all enjoy their big nuclear chaos (what a sad commentary, that this behavior seems far fetched and outlandish).
There are the expected hijinks, some genuinely funny moments, which never really go too far over the top, GUESS WHAT?it's a clean Family movie, it offers humor for all ages, there are times when these kids seems to be channeling the "little Rascals". while Steve Martin echoes the touching, funny fatherhood roles he has visited in the past with his "Father of the Bride" & "Parenthood" roles.
Tom Welling who was the high school quarteerback and hometown hero, doesn't adjust well to his new surroundings and is harassed by his new peers, okay I know what you're expecting, that somehow he will win them over, and make them regret ever teasing him-NOPE, doesn't happen .
When he wants to quit school and go back home, against his father wishes, guess what, Stever Martin again steps up to the plate as a father, and tells him he loves him, and in no uncertain terms he will finish high school and will not abandon the family.
Paula Marshall ("SNOOPS") is their new uptight neighbor, who isn't very pleased about her low class new neighbors, while Alan Ruck (Stuart of "SPIN CITY) is her long suffering husband, he and their son actually like the new neighbors, the son is being raised by his mother to a snob, but he welcomes the rowdy kids next door, much to his mother's chagrin.
When all the pressures of their new life becomes too much, and the family is about to experience a huge meltdown, there is a family crisis and without any second thoughts they band together, the ultimate message of the movie is about the love and bond of a strong family bond. And it harkens back to a time when people had their priorities straight regarding material possesions versus the virtue and benefits of sacrifice and love of the family. The young twin boys are a hoot, and have their best line in the bloopers when they make a amusing confession to the director.
Is this a great movie? NOPE but it is VERY entertaining, and I would certainly add the dvd to my collection, it's several notches above a good family sitcom, it balances sentiment, comedy, heart touching drama much in the same manner as "7th Heaven". but without the commercials, it's a semi-
remake of the 1950 original that was directed by Walter Lang and was based on the children's book by Frank B. Gilbreth and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey. If this film is a hit, there was a sequel to both the original movie and book, entitled "BELLES ON THEIR TOES"
It's nice to see Steve Martin staging a comeback (maybe nice guys don't always finish last) , his career seemed all but done for awhile, but he's had a string of semi-successful movie roles of late and has recently been chosen to assume the Peter Sellers role in a remake of "The Pink Panther", BUT my favorite Steve Martin movie has always been and probably always will be "Planes, Trains & Automobiles".
Oh did I mention , I like this movie???
Be sure to sit thru the bloopers during the end credits, there are some very amusing mishaps, and you even catch a glimpse of Tom Welling personality when he grabs his movie mom, bends her back and plants a big wet one on her.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! |
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