Sometimes directors don’t get a chance to prove they are “worthy” of Hollywood, but Thomas Buzucha hasn’t directed since Big Eden back in 2000. In this case, he hasn’t had much experience in directing, but it seems when he does, he succeeds in making a good film. The Family Stone is a tame comedy, but heavy drama, that deals with a big loud family and the welcoming of the quiet son’s new uptight girlfriend.
The film begins with meeting of the Stone family days before christmas, who annualy get together for both Christmas Eve and Chritsmas Day. The family consists of an all-star cast, Sybil (Diane Keaton), her husband, Kelly (Craig T. Nelson), daughters, Amy (Rachel McAdams) and the married Sussanhah (Elizabeth Reaser), sons, Ben (Luke Wilson) the gay and deaf Thad, and Everett who is bringing home his new girlfriend home for the holidays, the uptight and overlly stressed Merideth Morton (Sarah Jessica Parker).
Everret, the oldest of the many Stone siblings, has brought home his new girlfriend Merideth, who is overly uptight, confused, and not to mention hostile towards everyone. In a way the Merideth and the family are from completly two different worlds. She’s quiet, like the oldest son and wants to be the least bit outgoing, while the family seems overly welcoming and friendly to their new guest.
After some unwanted fighting and the exchange of rooms with Amy, who is doing all she can to torture Merideth, Everett approaches his mother for the family ring. The family ring, belonged to Sybil’s mother and Everette wishes to propose to Merideth and give her the ring. Sybil refuses, because her and everyone else can’t seem to like or even get along with Merideth, after she’s fought with and offended many of them.
The Family Stone meaning both the family and family ring, is a heartwarming film, with acting that is in par with most of the characters. It carries an interesting turn of events that we would probably never expect from a holiday film, or a romance at all for that matter, but what we get is really pleasing and enjoyable. There is a lot of drama mixed into the film at about the midway point, but this keeps the audience interested, and makes this film much more than a holiday comedy without much at all like Christmas With The Kranks. This is Buzacha’s first studio film, so I’m sure we can expect more films from him that will hopefully succeed, this is definetly a good start. Rated PG-13 for some sexual content including dialogue, and drug references. Running time 102 minutes.