Review of Family Stone

STORY: Fiance goes home with future husband for Christmas and his folks disapprove of her marrying him.

MESSAGE: Only an appropriate fit in a relationship brings harmony.

WIN: A lot of honesty; people stood their ground. Most characters consistent within their emotional make-up. The comedic set-ups and pay-offs were very funny. Positive, loving family ending. Accepted idiosyncrasies as just that.

LOSE: Promoted drinking and pot as a solution to relaxing and getting over being uptight. Attempted to promote being gay as a positive thing, but did so by robbing the gays of negative traits which made them one dimensional. In other words, grouped black, deaf and gay together, a focal point on "the usual prejudices" but devoid of character. (Example - one gay guy's only trait was that he liked to cook.)

EFFECT ON ME: Made me value my family as a source of pride. Made me laugh. Made my husband think of how much he'd miss his mother if she were gone -- therefore raised his current appreciation of her.