The Family Stone

Sarah Jessica Parker's best efforts find little favour.

Herald rating: ***

The Family Stone is this summer's Love Actually, an easy going comedy focusing on relationships, family and love, and is filled with a stunning cast of quirky characters.

Sarah Jessica Parker makes her big screen comeback as Meredith, an uptight, socially inept, and successful New York businesswoman whose only similarity to Sex in the City's Carrie is her love of high heeled shoes.

When boyfriend Everett (Mulroney) takes her to New England to meet his bohemian family, she tries her best to make a good impression. Although the Stone Family are a friendly bunch they are also a tough liberal crowd, and Meredith is way of out her comfort zone.

As Meredith struggles to relate to Everett's nasty younger sister Amy (McAdams), his gay deaf brother Thad, his pregnant sister Susannah and his laidback documentary film-maker brother Ben (Wilson), it's his mother Sybil, played superbly by Keaton, she fails to impress. When it becomes clear Everett is serious aboutMeredith, his mother makes her feelings clear.

When Meredith insists her sister Julie (Danes) joins her for support, relationships are re-examined, and a much more tragic secret is revealed.

The Family Stone is like a coming of age story for the Stone siblings. It turns out to be a Christmas that changes their lives, encouraging them to be more accepting of themselves and each other.

What starts out as a comedy surprisingly turns into a sweet story with a deeper message about the importance of family, love and acceptance. While there are funny moments, it's the nostalgic, poignant ending which will leave a lasting impression.

CAST: Dermot Mulroney, Claire Danes, Diane Keaton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Luke Wilson, Rachel McAdams

DIRECTOR: Thomas Bezucha

RUNNING TIME: 117 minutes

RATING: M - adult themes

SCREENING: Village, Hoyts and Berkeley Cinemas