Grade: B | Genre: Comedy/Drama/Holiday
Summary: The Family Stone is a funny, poignant tale that never forgets that family is what make the season so very stressful and utterly priceless, all in the same breath.

It just wouldn't be Christmas if we didn't have a couple movies barreling into theatres hoping to spur on that holiday spirit. Goodness knows with the sparring over the hot toy of the season and waiting in three-hour lines for a moment on Santa's lap, our daily preparations can sour those extra helping of joy this time of year. This year's film, striving to be the companion to the Yule log and the carved turkey, is The Family Stone. With a big name cast and a sharp wit, Stone stands out as one of the better holiday fare we've seen in recent years. It almost makes up for having to suffer through Ben Affleck in Surviving Christmas. On second thought, there's not much that will be able to wash away the foul taste of that stinker.