Awful, Awful, awful ... beyond the terrible language and role models ... violence and belittling between Characters ... "outing" Santa repeatedly (so make sure any wee ones are loooong out of ear shot) ... This was just plain a waste of time and left "a bad taste" afterwards. I can't believe that we paid money to rent it. The worst I have seen in a long long time.
Four Christmases
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Holiday romcom is amiable but centers on family dysfunction.
Themes in this movie include: dating/crushes, family relationships, materialism
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 13–15
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Four Christmases was written by S. Jhoanna Robledo
Parents need to know that this romantic comedy is riddled with gags centering on major family dysfunction. And there's real bite underneath the laughs: The central couple (played by teen favorites Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn) finds out soon enough that they don't really know enough about each other, and their families beat them up -- both physically and emotionally. It's all played for laughs, of course, which takes some of the edge off, but younger kids may still wind up perturbed by the scenes of familial mayhem. There's also some swearing (including "s--t") and social drinking, as well as some innuendo and implied sex.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about why so many holiday movies focus on dysfunctional family relationships.
- Are real families really as out there as the ones in movies like this? Does watching their antics make you feel better (or worse) about your own? Do you think that's the point?
- In this movie, why do you think Brad and Kate are estranged from their families? Is it justified, or are they being selfish?
- What are your own family celebrations like? Why are holiday get-togethers often fraught with tension (both in the media and in reality)?
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More on Four Christmases
What’s the Story?
After three years together, Brad (Vince Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon) have the holidays down pat: Every December, they tell their dysfunctional families that they're performing charity work in some far-flung location -- when they're really vacationing at a swanky resort. But this year, heavy fog shuts down the San Francisco airport, and Brad and Kate are forced to spend Christmas Day in the city. After a local TV crew captures their dilemma for everyone -- relatives included -- to see, they're stuck seeing every one of them, from Brad's disgruntled dad (Robert Duvall), wannabe wrestler brothers (Jon Favreau and Tim McGraw), and cougar therapist mother (Sissy Spacek) to Kate's born-again sexpot mom (Mary Steenburgen), passive-aggressive sister (Kristin Chenoweth), and newly enlightened father (Jon Voight). But as they slog through the four separate celebrations, they begin to discover how little they actually know each other -- and that they might want something different from their relationship.
Is It Any Good?
Though FOUR CHRISTMASES is predictable and sort of comes off like a hybrid episode of Family Feud and Girls Gone Wild -- call it Families Gone Wild -- it's hard to resist Vaughn and Witherspoon's appeal. They tap into the humor of one outlandish situation after another (perhaps one too many, actually) without losing their zeal or charisma. And the supporting cast reads like the Hollywood Walk of Fame (who knew Spacek was good for laughs?).
But the high-wattage cameos end up feeling a bit overdone, given that some of them -- especially Voight -- aren't given very much to do. Plus, comic timing aside, for a couple supposedly madly in love, Vaughn and Witherspoon don't have a whole lot of chemistry. We don't so much hope that they find their way back to each other because we believe in them, but rather because it's what we expect of romantic comedies. Overall, Four Christmases isn't a particularly memorable holiday gift, but they can't all be. At least it's not a fruitcake.
Movie Details
Studio: New Line Cinema, Director: Seth Gordon
Run time: 89 minutes
Theatrical release: 11/26/2008, DVD release: 11/23/2009
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some sexual humor and language
Run time: 89 minutes
Theatrical release: 11/26/2008, DVD release: 11/23/2009
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for some sexual humor and language
Our Members Say
See all 21 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title off for age 14 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
Adult or Older Teen Only audience...
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- My highlights are:
love it!
i loved this movie and i really want to see it agian! the acting was great and i thought the story of it was very, very funny!
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I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Negative role models
Your time is valuable. Why bother?
Hate it. Little redeeming value. Im a father with four GROWN children. it glorifies all that is not worthwhile in our society.
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I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
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Lives in South CarolinaI rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
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I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
A not so wholesome Christmas movie
I enjoy a good holiday film. They are funny, wholesome, moral, and most of all good clean family fun. Unfortunately, Four Christmases is not like that. It is very low brow, and almost feels as if it could have pulled a R rating. Most of the humor is dirty and cheap. There is a lot of swearing, within two minutes of the films starting “Bitch” and “Damn” are said. Moreover (within two minutes), the two main characters get involved in some sort of weird sexual roll playing, which leads to implied sex. The movie also is full of bad messages. Like unmarried sex, not needing to ever get married, its okay to lie about doing good deeds just to get away from your families to take a vacation. This movie shouldn't even be on your rental list. Just avoid at all costs. 2 out of 5
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
pretty good flick
My family loved it, I didnt have that same reaction, though. I liked it alot, provided good laughs, 1,000 times better than Yes Man.
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I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
We walked out a third of the way through
Went to see this on impulse on date night with just my husband. From the opening scene we knew it was a bad decision. Crude, distressingly dysunctional families, (rather than funny) - I kept wondering about what kind of parents would permit their children to be paid to be in this mess! We finally walked out during the scene with the women all pseudo-spiritually talking about their (crude) intentions for the new year. Honestly, I was mystified over the idea that by the end of this movie the couple supposedly decide they want to get married and have a family. We have told NO ONE we saw this movie because we're just too ashamed.
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I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
a no-no for kids like me!!!!!(im 10)
wow.i practiccaly puked! it was the worst and the sexiest movie i have ever watched i the sexiest ill probably ever watch(that means for my entire life!!!)! there was violence,bullying,teasing,un-normal ways,bad teachings for kids,and ughhh,SEX!!!!!! soooooooooooooooooooo bad,like totally bad.
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I rate this title pause for age 16 and give it
I laughed and felt a little uncomfortable
This movie definately deserves the pg-13 rating, I wouldn't let my young teen see it. The movie is pro-breastfeeding though! It has a more than a few scenes that I wouldn't want to explain and that made me feel uncomfortable.
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I rate this title pause for age 15 and give it
BAD
A funny movie... but not when you take your santa believeing 8 year old.a lot of references flew overhead, but it was still HORRIBLE. I thought it would be a cute FAMILY movie... don't take ANYONE under 15. and make sure this 15 year old is mature. So not ok for 13 year olds.
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I rate this title pause for age 15 and give it
Funny, but SO not for kids!
Usually I check this website before taking my kids to the movies. On the spur of the moment I decided the whole family would go see Four Christmases and I didn't check the reviews ahead of time. Man was I sorry! The movie itself is funny, but is pretty much full of rude sexual humor. I was extremely embarrased that I had taken my kids, of course, thinking it was going to be kid-friendly. I am not uptight, but my kids (ages 12 & 8) are still innocent when it come to knowing about sex (thank God) and the scenes where there WASN'T a sexual reference or joke were few and far between. My husband and I were sorry we took them within the first 5 minutes of the movie. That's about how long it took for them to start throwing around the bad language and then going to a scene of Vince and Reese getting ready to have sex in a club bathroom.
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I rate this title pause for age 16 and give it
Embarrassing. Very.
The story idea made me think this would be a good family film, so I went to see this with my 14-yr old son. The sexual humor was excessively crude, constant, and overwhelming. It was embarassing. I would never have gone. Thank God I didn't take my 9 year old daughter.
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I rate this title pause for age 15 and give it
Not up to par
I would reccommend thinking hard about letting your young teen see this. The sexual humor was overwhelming for the most part. I went to see this soley because I am a fan of Reese Witherspoon, and even her character was unbelievable. Vince Vaughn got really annoying.
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
Amazing!
I loved this movie.It is a laugh a minute comedy!I wanna see it again again again.You honestly have to have a lack in sense of humor or be a rock to not find anything funny in this.
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I rate this title off for age 2 and give it
Funny but sends wrong message
I thought the movie was funny several times but have to say that I was disappointed in the portrayal of Mary and Joseph in the church scene. Also the thought promotion that good sex is the primary ingredient for healthy relationships. We need to teach our younger kids the better ways to meet and engage in a relationship with someone, other than one night stands. Just my opinion.
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I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
Pretty Good
Ya it waz pretty good! I laghed alot and ya. ;)
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I rate this title pause for age 15 and give it
Hilarious Movie...don't take young children
I thought this movie was soooo funny. The whole theater was cracking up the whole time. However, this is NOT a movie for young kids. I would reccomend taking kids 15 and up, however be prepared for some awkward scenes if you do choose to take younger children. Best for mature teens and adults.
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I rate this title pause for age 12 and give it
Parents of Santa Believers Beware!
Our 16 year old niece was visiting and we took her to see this along with our 10 year old daughter. I checked Common Sense Media prior and while it was PG 13 nothing seemed overly objectionable while looking for a movie that would amuse a kid, a teen and 2 adults. Please beware that the movie is of the type that claims parents are Santa and Santa is not real. Fair warning to all. Otherwise it's a pretty funny movie.
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Ratings at a Glance
| 67% | of parents say the sexual behavior isn't age appropriate |
| 50% | of parents say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking |
| 50% | of parents say it has language their kids can't use |
| 50% | of parents don't think the messages are positive |
| 33% | of parents don't feel there are good role models |
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