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I see the Four Christmases posters, I know it's coming soon, and the trailer tells me it has some fairly decent Vince Vaughn energy. But nobody I know has said zip about it, there isn't a hint of any kind of cultural vibration going on and the trailer tells you it's aimed at the easy-lay crowd. So in a way it doesn't exist. I may or may not read the reviews when it opens three days from now, as if reviews could have anything to do with anything.

I can't see Four Christmases until it opens because of my ridiculous Warner Bros. problem, which has now been in effect for fourteen months. But I'd probably be thinking twice about seeing it even if I'd been invited. Honestly. Reese Witherspoon in a drama? Fine. In a comedy? Not so much.

And why is Vaughn, a very hip and live-wire actor with aggressive pizazz all his own, starring in another shallow, super-glossy Warner Bros. holiday comedy (following last year's Fred Claus)? Is he actively trying to dilute the respectable after-vibe of The Wedding Crashers and The Breakup? Nothing kills fan loyalty faster than appearing in a straight-paycheck studio package or two.

Unequal Treatment<< previous | next >>Smashed BMW

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on November 23, 2008 at 6:01 AM

comment #1

actionman says ...

Fred Claus 2.

Wells - I am shocked you are giving this film the time of day. It looks painfully unfunny. You can tell from the trailer that the lighting and editing will be atrocious.

Saw Synecdoche, NY last night. A brilliant masterwork. Kaufman BETTER get a writing nomination. Boldest film of the year after The Fall.

Posted by actionman at November 23, 2008 7:21 AM

comment #2

EDouglas says ...

It's actually better than it looks... part of that comes from the fact that all four parents are played by Oscar winning actors... I think Seth Gordon really pulled this one together, but I think you'd have to like either Vaughn or Witherspoon to appreciate this.

Posted by EDouglas at November 23, 2008 7:26 AM

comment #3

moviemaniac2002 says ...

Well, on this one I beg to differ. The 'Legally Blondes' seemed to do just fine with both audiences and critics...and I seem to remember the first one was used as a kind of post 9/11
healing ointment (quickly put back into theatres after its summer run was over)
And I thought her Tracy Flick in "Election"
(with her tantrums accompanied by Ennio Morricone's "Navajo Joe" theme) was pretty damn funny.

Posted by moviemaniac2002 at November 23, 2008 7:27 AM

comment #4

jbf81 says ...

LOL, this looks SOOO BAD, Reese darling, you have an Oscar, try to remember that.

Posted by jbf81 at November 23, 2008 7:51 AM

comment #5

Chase Kahn says ...

All you have to do is watch the Jon Favreau-brother-MMA scenes in the trailer to realize this is a turd.

Nothing funnier than falling-off-the-roof humor!

Posted by Chase Kahn at November 23, 2008 8:28 AM

comment #6

BurmaShave says ...

Not even getting into a Wellsian Jabba rant , but if an actress had repeatedly gained and lost as much weight as Vaughn it would be a national obsession.

Posted by BurmaShave at November 23, 2008 8:56 AM

comment #7

Nick Rogers says ...

I've seen it. The point at which Reese Witherspoon gets drop-kicked by a child in a bounce house was the point at which I realized this movie epitomized everything that sucks about modern American society. Too bad I wasn't laughing at it. Vaughn and Witherspoon are both unpleasant - imagine watching a Christmas movie with Todd and Margot from "Christmas Vacation" only with no laughs. Seth Gordon got stars in his eyes on this one. There is one brilliant scene with Jon Favreau and his wife playing a round of "Taboo." Other than that, it's "Deck the Halls" territory.

Posted by Nick Rogers at November 23, 2008 9:25 AM

comment #8

JB Moore says ...

Reese Witherspoon comes off as too much of a shrill bitch to be likable in anything. When I saw "Walk The Line", I kept thinking about how Amy Adams would've been a better June Carter Cash, but she wasn't big enough then, even though the "Junebug" buzz was taking off around the same time. As for Vaughn, he needs to fire his agent. Nobody deserves to get stuck with bullshit Christmas films two years in a row.

Posted by JB Moore at November 23, 2008 10:36 AM

comment #9

Nick Rogers says ...

JB: Something tells me Vaughn easily could say no to stuff like this. I seem to remember reading something about him courting Seth Gordon for this movie, after admiring "The King of Kong's" three-act structure. At least Steve Wiebe gets a cameo in "Four Christmases."

Posted by Nick Rogers at November 23, 2008 11:52 AM

comment #10

K. Bowen says ...

A few weeks ago, I wrote a "Whatever happened to Reese WItherspoon?" post. Now we know. Ugh.

Posted by K. Bowen at November 23, 2008 12:26 PM

comment #11

Ryansi51 says ...

very interesting Vince Vaughn interview in this month's Esquire, basically implies he's floundering somewhat trying to gain acceptance from all corners. Makes sense from the choices he's been making.

I've heard more stories of him partying and hooking up with "regular folk" than any other star, however.

Posted by Ryansi51 at November 23, 2008 12:33 PM

comment #12

Aris P says ...

Yeah, Jeff, it has the cultural vibration of a fart.

Vaughn fired his manager Eric Gold a while ago, and that's part of it IMO; Gold was micromanaging him so much, it seems like Vaughn and his reps are continuing that triple-guessing.

Also, maybe staying off the nose candy would do him some good.

Posted by Aris P at November 23, 2008 12:38 PM

comment #13

btwnproductions says ...

Variety panned it. But if it's any consolation if you're suckered into going to it, it's only--only--88 minutes long.

There should be a moratorium on Christmas movies. Fred Claus, Deck the Halls, this thing...

Vaughn, whose thick-and-thin appearance is alarming, is close to over as a movie star. A good HBO show would do wonders.

Posted by btwnproductions at November 23, 2008 12:56 PM

comment #14

OregonEd says ...

The wife really wants to see it, so being the nice guy I am, we're going. At least I got her to see "Tropic Thunder," "Burn After Reading" and "Rachel Getting Married."

Posted by OregonEd at November 23, 2008 3:13 PM

comment #15