The Family Stone is supposed to be about this warm, cuddly, close-knit family. They're all supposed to be quirky and likeable. This is the family we're supposed to envy because they are so loveable and so open and so accepting. In actuality, they came across as a bunch of pretentious, smug hypocritical wolves. Though Sarah Jessica Parker's uptight, overworked, conservative was supposed to be the bitch, I ended up routing for her and hoping she'd find a way out of this hellish group of a family.

Diane Keaton and Craig T. Nelson are the proud parents of five adult children. Everyone is coming home for Christmas including oldest brother Everett (Dermot Mulroney) who's bringing his workaholic, stilleto-wearing, perfectionist girlfriend Meredith (Sarah Jessica Parker). Everett's sister Amy (Rachel McAdams) already hates her, having met her briefly a few months earlier. Deaf and gay brother Thaddeus (Ty Giordano) and his long-time companion Patrick (Brian White) are willing to give her a chance. Brother Ben (Luke Wilson) is the good-hearted, laid-back, pot-smoking brother who doesn't mind anything. And the final daughter Susannah (Elizabeth Reaser) is basically a pregnant window dressing as she doesn't really figure much into the plot. But they love each other, they really love each other and they are full of love and acceptance unless of course you aren't exactly like them and don't think exactly the way they think. Therein lies the problem for poor conservative Meredith who calls in her sister Julie (Claire Danes) as reinforcement. Unfortunately for Meredith, little sis is the nice artsy liberal type that fits in perfectly.

Diane Keaton gave a great performance as the mother. The movie's only truly authentic and touching moment involves her and husband Craig T. Nelson. Outside of that, I could not figure out why Meredith or anyone would want to be a part of this so-called family. They can openly embrace their deaf and gay son and his black partner but they can't even begin to open up to Meredith because she doesn't subscribe to their exact same world view and dares to have a better sense of style.

The story, of course, ends happily because, in the end, Meredith becomes more like them. For all it's attempt to seem genuine and sincere, it ends up feeling contrived and false. If you are in the mood for this kind of film around the holidays, rent Home for the Holidays with Holly Hunter, it's a much better movie.