Old wine in an old bottle

Old wine in an old bottle

20th Century Fox's festival offering, 'The Family Stone', is a romantic movie peopled by oh-so-lovable characters that is laced with an overdose of sentimentality. In the bargain, Thomas Bezucha, the director cum writer, comes up with a non-too-pleasing script where the only saving grace is the performance of the whole cast.

Nevertheless, this film set against an urbane backdrop holds appeal for those looking for the old-fashioned fluffiness amidst holiday ambience.

Bezucha's family tale based in New England has good-looking parents in Sybil and Kelly
Stone played by Diane Keaton and Craig T. Nelson and their five children.

The story takes a twist when the eldest Everett's (Dermot Mulroney) girl-friend with an attitude, Meredith (Sarah Jessica Parker) arrives on the scene. She thumbs up her nose at the all and sundry in the family. She even manages to annoy Everett's overbearing sister Amy (Rachel McAdams). This makes Sybil summons her possessive maternal instincts, which she does so realistically. At the same time, Keaton manages to do a balancing act by playing a witty and a sensitive woman too.

However, things take a turn when she calls her sister Julie (Claire Danes), who is a contradiction of her sister. The film then ends ironically with a sad denouement.

Bezucha also shows the Stone family managing to retain its bohemian outlook within the realms of bourgeois lifestyle authentically.

Thad Stone (Tyrone Giordano) also comes out with an endearing performance as a deaf and a gay with his partner Afro-American partner Patrick (Brian J. White) who endears himself to this 'liberal' family.

In fact, Sarah Jessica Parker plays a lovable shrew whom the audiences warm up to. She exudes magnetism in her performance. Her drunken scene takes the top honors in this whole film of kitsch, which loses it focus midway.