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# ‘Family’ a funny affair, if also a bit disappointing
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/family-a-funny-affair-if-also-a-bit-disappointing-2/
- Published: 2005-12-16T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T08:18:30.000Z
- Author: Dan Dunn
- Tags: Entertainment, Santa Monica, #archive-import

Like so many Christmases past, I found director Thomas Bezucha’s (“Big Eden”) Capra-esque holiday reunion dramedy “The Family Stone” to be alternately joyous, sad and in the end, somewhat disappointing. The movie expectedly targets bourgeois white folks, the titular clan being a tightly-knit pack of well-meaning liberal academic-types from New England. Bezucha satisfies the diversity requirement by including a deaf son who’s gay AND has a black life partner. Both, of course, are quickly relegated to being glorified extras.

The star here is Diane Keaton, who steals/saves the movie as the dynamic matriarch, Sybil Stone. At first, the outspoken Sybil comes off as a bit of a virago, especially in her dealings with eldest son Everett’s (Dermot Mulroney) tightly-wound Manhattanite girlfriend, Meredith (Sarah Jessica Parker, unfortunately, far too good at being awful in this film). But Sybil’s not really a bitch — as it turns out, she’s carrying around a terrible secret that explains and forgives her erratic behavior. Meredith fares better, though for reasons one might not expect, after her gorgeous artsy-fartsy sis (Clare Danes) shows up and steals the Stone’s hearts. “The Family Stone,” while platitudinous, is likable enough at times and benefits from strong performances by Craig T. Nelson, the lovely Rachel McAdams (proving, yet again, she is Big Star material) and Luke Wilson, as good as he’s ever been employing big bro Owen’s cuddly stoner shtick. (RATED PG-13\. RUNNING TIME: 102 MINUTES)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 16, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/121605.pdf?ref=smdp.com)