Four Christmases (2008)

A couple struggles to visit all four of their divorced parents on Christmas.

Director:

Seth Gordon

Writers:

Matt Allen (screenplay) (as Matt R. Allen), Caleb Wilson (screenplay)

Stars:

Reese Witherspoon, Vince Vaughn, Mary Steenburgen

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Vince Vaughn	...	Brad
Reese Witherspoon	...	Kate
Robert Duvall	...	Howard
Sissy Spacek	...	Paula
Jon Voight	...	Creighton
Jon Favreau	...	Denver
Mary Steenburgen	...	Marilyn
Dwight Yoakam	...	Pastor Phil
Tim McGraw	...	Dallas
Kristin Chenoweth	...	Courtney
Katy Mixon	...	Susan
Colleen Camp	...	Aunt Donna
Jeanette Miller	...	Gram-Gram
Jack Donner	...	Grandpa
Steve Wiebe	...	Jim

Storyline

Brad and Kate have been together three years, in love, having fun, doing all sorts of things together with no intention of marriage or children. Christmas morning, they're on their way to Fiji, having told their two sets of divorced parents that they're off to do charity work. Through a fluke, they have no choice but to visit each of their four idiosyncratic parents. As the day progresses, Brad and Kate remember growing up, each learns more about the other, and Kate realizes that her life may not be as good as it could be. Do they know each other well enough to weather the storms families bring?

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | airport | playing a board game | blonde woman | one year later | 

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Taglines:

His father, her mother, his mother and her father all in one day.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sexual humor and language

Details

Official Sites:

Bofilm's - Soundtrack (various formats) Official Facebook

Country:

Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 November 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Anywhere But Home

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$80,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$31,069,826, 30 November 2008, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$120,146,040, 12 February 2009

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$163,733,697

Company Credits

Production Co:

New Line Cinema,Spyglass Entertainment,Wild West Picture Show Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film started production during the 2007-2008 Writers Guild of America strike, which meant that there could be no changes made to the script during filming.

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Goofs

Pastor Phil calls Brad out by name to participate in the nativity play without ever being introduced. (A deleted scene shows the introduction, but in the final cut of the film they are not introduced)

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Quotes

Howard: Boys, I don't want to speak ill of your mother on Christmas, but she's nothing but a common street whore.

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Alternate Versions

The French release, distributed by Metropolitan Filmexport replaces the opening title card with one featuring the French title "Tout...Sauf En Famille" (which translates to Anywhere...Except Amongst Family) instead of having the original English title and subtitling it with the French one as is more common. Also, while an English title is displayed during the end credits, that one is not "Four Christmases" but "Anywhere But Home", the international English title for the film.

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Connections

References Dora the Explorer (2000)

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Soundtracks

(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays
Written by Robert Allen and Al Stillman (as Al Stillman)
Performed by Perry Como
Courtesy of The RCA Records Label
By Arrangement with Sony BMG Music Entertainment

User Reviews

Horrible Movie.

Just watched this movie few hours ago. It was like a shocking therapy. This has been one of the most bad movies I have ever seen. No plot, no idea, no "healthy humor". Only sick sex jokes and pregnancy subjects. The movie is not about Christmas: it has nothing to do with Christmas. The movie is about a girl (Witherspoon) and a guy (Vaughn): the girl finally decides that she wants to get pregnant. No use to describe movie here: those who want to watch it, don't fall asleep. I watched the movie and now regretting that I wasted two hours on that. It is not surprising: Witherspoon can't play anybody else but pregnant girls or silly lawyers; Vaughn - it is still a mystery why he agreed to do this movie. Awful. 1/10.