Four Christmases (2008)

Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon, two actors I've never cared much for, take a break from putting out their individual mediocre romantic comedies and team up to do a duo one that's just as mediocre! This also happens to be Vaughn's second attempt at breaking into the Christmas spirit, an attempt that gets him no further than his earlier role as Santa's kid brother Fred, in Fred Claus.

The Good

• Consistency - While the plot is thin, the acting mediocre and the jokes combined with physical comedy is a little played out Four Christmases never manages to get worse, it finds it's spot somewhere in between mediocre and average and doesn't move, so if you can accept the film for what it is and find some enjoyment then I assume there's some solace to be found in that.

• Physical Comedy - Reese Witherspoon getting spit up on by a baby... twice.  Reese knocking a baby's head against a cabinet (on accident), I don't know I found it funny.  And Reese Witherspoon locking down the bouncy castle and taking down a group of eight year olds in an attempt to get back her pregnancy test... quite amusing.

• Peter Billingsley -  It's a brief cameo, but every-time I see the actor who portrayed Ralphie in one of the most classic Christmas films ever made I have to smile, plus the scene is probably one of the better ones in the film. 

The Bad

• Big Names, Crappy Roles - Another occasion where a lot of talented actors are completely wasted in a film that hardly uses them, and when they are used it's usually not worth the screen time due to the fact the material they're given simply isn't good.  This is the case with those that play Vince and Reese's parents, all well known actors that were simply cast for notoriety, they could have cast some unknowns and it wouldn't have made a difference, I just hate seeing talented actors wasted.

The Ugly

• Vince Vaughn - He gets a couple chuckles out of me but it's mostly due to funny situations that are setup by other characters or just handed to him, but I always find myself completely worn out by him at the end of the film.  I simply don't understand the appeal of an actor that seemingly never takes a breath.  He's Woody Allen on crack, and if you know how I feel about Woody Allen you'll know that's not a complement.

6/10