free counter with statistics Four Christmases Trailer | Pajiba - Scathing Reviews for Bitchy People

Four Christmases is Five Too Fucking Many
Baby, Please Go Home / Dustin Rowles

Trade News | September 15, 2008 | Comments (26)

jourchristmasses.jpgLet me say a few things before offering up the trailer for the Christmas comedy, Four Christmases. First, it’s good to see Vince Vaughn again. I’m not sure what’s going on with this guy, but he hasn’t had a film since last year’s pretty awful Fred Claus, and after Four Christmases, he only has one on tap, in 2010. I’d like to think he was holding out for good scripts, but the evidence doesn’t actually support that. Still, whether he’s in a good or a bad movie, I’m of the opinion that the world needs more Vince Vaughn.

Second, it’s also nice to see Reese Witherspoon — at least in theory — pull the corn cob out of her ass and finally do a dumb comedy (though, if reports from the set are any indication — in practice — she had the corn cob shoved up into her uvula).

Finally, I love that Seth Gordon — who directed the sublime King of Kong — is getting a chance to direct a studio film.

Unfortunately, it’s really all for naught, because if the trailer is any indication, Four Christmases is gonna blow, even with a cool Jon Favreau role and what looks like a small part for Peter Billingsley, who was little Ralphie Parker in A Christmas Story (he’s the airline agent in the trailer).


← Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell | Infinite Noose David Foster Wallace →



Comments

Aww, I was just wondering where Vince Vaughn was. Maybe between him and Jon Favreau (Looks awesome in this) they can elevate the material.

Posted by: Optimus Rhyme at September 15, 2008 9:26 AM

Fact. Christmas movies are like kids films - it's far too easy to assume the audience will just be there for the damn label so why try hard? Christmas movies I actually like - Muppet Christmas Carol, original Grinch (DAMN Jim Carrey and all who sail in him) and a few selected classics because Jimmy Stewart was one of my first loves and it's easier to swallow schmaltz if it's black and white. But only just.

Posted by: Megan at September 15, 2008 9:32 AM

Before: Oh come on, Dustin. I love Vince, Reese and Christmas! How can this possible go wrong?

After: No...hope...no...hope...

Posted by: Jeremy at September 15, 2008 9:36 AM

it's easier to swallow schmaltz if it's black and white. But only just.

Mmm hmm. Miracle on 34th Street, anyone? Love. Every year I watch it. I'll probably watch this, because I do love me some Reese and some Vince, though I'm not certain why sometimes, and some trite schmaltzy feel-good uplifting family holiday comedy.

Posted by: Anna von Beaverplatz at September 15, 2008 9:43 AM

If you mean "It's A Wonderful Life" though, that's some bitterly won schmaltz. They only ever advertise the ending, but when I finally saw it it was "damn, this shit is dark".

Posted by: Jay at September 15, 2008 9:57 AM

Well if we're going down that road, I have to cast my vote for The Bishop's Wife (original with Cary Grant, David Niven and Loretta Young). Almost makes me wish it was Christmas, but maybe without all the flooding.

Posted by: PaddyDog at September 15, 2008 9:58 AM

OOOH! The Bishop's Wife (Cary Grant version). I'd never heard of this movie and I was going through a Cary Grant marathon and a friend recommended it. It became my favorite movie for a while. Years later, a co-irker casually mentioned, "Do you know what the best movie ever made was?" And I said, "The Bishop's Wife" and her jaw hit the ground, because that's exactly the movie she was thinking of. Cary Grant literally stops traffic.

Posted by: BWeaves at September 15, 2008 10:11 AM

I know Potterville is supposed to represent hell in "IAWL," but ... damn, it looks like a good time, doesn't it? If I lived there I'd be drinking at Nick's every night, spraying seltzer in Mr. Gower's face, throwing goodies like George and Clarence out on their asses in the snow, and having a mighty laugh about it. This round's on me, boys!

Posted by: bucdaddy at September 15, 2008 10:12 AM

Miracle - yes, but ONLY the original. It's a Wonderful Life because of the darkness as well as Mr Stewart. The Bishop's Wife is actually one of those I was thinking of! Cary Grant... oooooh... Cary Grant.... just re-watched Charade the other day and the flirting sequences between Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn are amazing.

Posted by: Megan at September 15, 2008 10:12 AM

"years later a co-irker casually mentioned"

Freudian slip? That's exactly how I used to think of most of my co-workers when I worked in an office.

Posted by: PaddyDog at September 15, 2008 10:14 AM

No, I always say "co-irker" when talking about my fellow inmates.

Posted by: BWeaves at September 15, 2008 10:21 AM

Actually, even though I'm a fan, the world actually needs less vince Vaughn. As in, the dude's been hitting too many keggers and needs to pick up a copy of Men's Health.

Insensitive? Perhaps. Truthful? To a fault.

Posted by: agent bedhead at September 15, 2008 11:07 AM

They could do a rewrite and call it "A Mantooth Christmas."

Posted by: Lucas at September 15, 2008 11:46 AM

Dorothy Mantooth is a saint!

Posted by: TK at September 15, 2008 12:12 PM

It's not that I don't enjoy Vince's frat guy persona, I do, he reminds me of most(all) of my friends.

Buuuuut, whatever happened to the Vince that was in Clay Pigeons?

Who are we getting here, I wonder?

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at September 15, 2008 12:16 PM

I kind of loved Reese's delivery of "You left me in the Jump Jump to DIE."

But yeah... disposable fluff. What happened to Reese's career? I wish she'd... do more.

Posted by: whatBENwatches at September 15, 2008 2:29 PM

Dumb Christmas movies are my weakness, and since I'm also powerless against Vince, I'll be forking over my cash when this comes out.

I watched Clay Pigeons the other day, and then caught a bit of the Psycho remake on TV, and I can't help wishing that Vince would do another creepy-ass role like those. That giggle of his can be really disturbing.

Posted by: Mimi at September 15, 2008 3:13 PM

From the review:

"Second, it's also nice to see Reese Witherspoon -- at least in theory -- pull the corn cob out of her ass and finally do a dumb comedy"


Dustin, clearly you missed "Legally Blonde".

That's a paddlin'.

Posted by: greer at September 15, 2008 6:49 PM

Aw, I love schmaltzy X-mas films. And, I'm just beginning to appreciate Portly Vince.

Posted by: LB at September 15, 2008 8:42 PM

I thought I would be lurking this week since I can't get to a computer during the day, but I gotta throw in on It's A Wonderful Life. It's simple, really. Fuck you if you're one of those hipster douchebags who refuses to admit to liking this movie. And if you're one of those tainted souls that actually doesn't like it...well, my condolences to those who have to endure your company.

The scene where little George Bailey (Bobbie Anderson, who just died a couple of months ago) keeps Mr. Gower from poisoning Mrs. Blaine is, for me, one of the best scenes ever put to film. That triumph of childish innocence (right) over raging authority (wrong) is the most resounding message of hope I can think of in any movie. Life should be that wonderful.

So thanks for nothing, Frank Capra. And fuck you, too.

Posted by: Che Grovera at September 15, 2008 8:47 PM

[small voice] I've never actually... *ahem* I've never seen It's A Wonderful Life.[/small voice]

Posted by: Anna von Beaverplatz at September 15, 2008 10:26 PM

[small voice] I've never actually... *ahem* I've never seen It's A Wonderful Life.[/small voice]

Got room in that corner for one more?

Posted by: Vermillion at September 16, 2008 2:44 PM

Oh, thank godtopus, you mean I'm not the only one??

*phew* Thanks for that, Vermillion.

Posted by: Anna von Beaverplatz at September 16, 2008 2:57 PM

If Jon Favreau is in it, then I will see it.

And probably love it.

But what is with him and the x-mas films?! Jeez.

Posted by: eliza at September 16, 2008 4:12 PM

Vermillion, why am I not fucking surprised.

[/bitter disappointment]

Posted by: TK at September 16, 2008 4:31 PM

small voice] I've never actually... *ahem* I've never seen It's A Wonderful Life.[/small voice]

Got room in that corner for one more?

Posted by: Vermillion at September 16, 2008 2:44 PM

OK, you two (and all you other sympathizing lurkers). Yours is a solvable problem.

View. Think. Decide. Pronounce.

Just watch out for that last one...

Posted by: Che Grovera at September 16, 2008 11:55 PM