THE FAMILY STONE — ** 1/2 — Dermot Mulroney, Sarah Jessica Parker, Diane Keaton; rated PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, drugs, slapstick violence, brief sex); see Page W2 for theaters.
It would have been difficult, if not impossible, for "The Family Stone" to go completely wrong. After all, the cast does feature such immensely likable performers as Diane Keaton, Luke Wilson, Claire Danes, Craig T. Nelson and Rachel McAdams.
But this comedy-drama about a dysfunctional family's strife during the holidays does everything it can to sabotage these amiable actors, largely by having them play one-note caricatures rather than flesh-and-blood characters. Also, the film's comic elements aren't as well thought out as the dramatic aspects, and quite a bit of the humor is strained.
Still, when the movie works, it does work well.
The title refers to the Stones, who are having their Christmas gathering at the family home in Massachusetts. Oldest son Everett (Dermot Mulroney) is bringing his new girlfriend Meredith (Sarah Jessica Parker), and he's hoping the weekend will be perfect so he can propose to her.
However, the other family members appear to be doing everything they can to embarrass Meredith, especially daughter Amy (McAdams) and mother Sybil (Keaton), neither of whom thinks this tightly wound workaholic is good enough for the family's golden boy.
Meredith caves under the intense scrutiny and calls her more free-spirited sister Julie (Claire Danes) for support. And when Julie finally arrives, there are romantic sparks between her and Everett. Meanwhile, Meredith is being comforted by Everett's less-than-successful brother Ben (Wilson) — and there are a few secrets that will come to light, the biggest involving Sybil.
The film ping-pongs between wacky comedy and heavy drama, and it is so heavy on plot and character that it takes on a sitcomlike quality. The film is also full of politically correct cliches, such as the addition of a son (Tyrone Giordano) who's hearing-impaired, gay and has a black lover.
Still, "The Family Stone" does have a terrific cast. It's nice to see Keaton continuing to get meaty roles like the one she has here, and she has a very believable, natural chemistry with the always-solid Nelson, who plays her husband. Wilson also steals a few scenes and gets the film's biggest laughs as the perpetually stoned black sheep of the family.
"The Family Stone" is rated PG13 for crude sexual humor and references, some strong profanity, drug content (marijuana use and references), some slapstick violence (pratfalls and some vehicular violence), and some brief sexual contact. Running time: 102 minutes.
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com