Connecticut: The Family Stone
Release Year: 2005
Directed By: Thomas Bezucha
Starring: Diane Keaton, Craig T. Nelson, Dermot Mulroney, Luke Wilson, Elizabeth Reaser, Tyrone Giordano, Rachel McAdams, Sarah Jessica Parker, Claire Danes, Brian J. White, Jamie Kaler, Paul Schneider
Who doesn’t love spending the holidays with the whole family? Well, The Family Stone’s Meredith Morton (Sarah Jessica Parker) doesn’t when she travels from Manhattan to Connecticut with Everett Stone (Dermot Mulroney) to meet his parents and siblings. Meredith dreads to trip and feels like an outsider among the boisterous and liberal Stone family. She calls in the assistance of her sister, Julie (Claire Danes), but she can’t help but make a clumsy first impression, resulting in a revelatory holiday for one and all. Secrets and changes emerge as Meredith navigates one big complication with two Stones.
The Family Stone, which takes place in the fictional town of Thayer, Connecticut, received middling reception from critics but still managed to make a decent showing at the box office. The holiday family dramedy brought in $93 million against a budget of $18 million, staking its claim as a fan-favorite modern Christmas classic. Sarah Jessica Parker, who was coming off her Emmy-winning run on Sex and the City, landed a Golden Globe nomination for her performance in the film. Don’t miss this undervalued Christmas pick that celebrates the true chaos of the holiday.