Vashirdfel Simply A Masterpiece

Prolabas Deeper than the descriptions

MoPoshy Absolutely brilliant

Griff Lees Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

rsj624 --WARNING: There may be some spoilers ahead for those who haven't seen the film, so just a heads up. In order to accurately review this film, it may be necessary to talk about some key moments.--For anyone familiar with any of Edward Burns previous films, The Fitzgerald Family Christmas should be a welcome addition to his quirky & modest-budget collection of films centered around individuals living out complicated and dramatic lives in New York. Nothing new stands out, and most of the cast from his previous film 'Newlyweds' reside in this ensemble tale of eight siblings coming together to celebrate Christmas Day with their mother who has just received word through Gerry, her go to son (played by Burns) that their father, who has remained estranged from most of the family for 20 years, wants to reconnect for one last holiday with his whole family. It's been told before, but never with such a melancholy chaos and whimsically dark, almost satirical tone that only Burns can conjure up.It is much less of a holiday family film, and much more of a portrait of a family during the holidays. Though it cannot be recommended to many primarily due to it's emphasis on these darker elements with little genuine character progression or satisfying resolve, it's not the events in the film that keep it interesting, but the desire to see this family pull through and arrive at a Merry Christmas, even if this future occurrence rarely feels truly threatened throughout the film. If you're looking for a surprise here and there, that's not the point of this film. It's about a family that most can relate to in some way and how Burns anchors down all his siblings through their desires to find happiness in a complicated and confusing family. Burns love interest feels forced, but his character is deserving enough of her kind heart that it's easy to forgive. The sappy ending is less bittersweet than expected, and in spite of it's shortcomings through a lack of genuine action and character development, it's still an enjoyable film to pass the time with.

Ayal Oren A big family is a catalog of problems, a big family at the holidays is a catalog of problems reaching its boiling point. If you've lived in a big family you know it, if you've seen one or two films about big families, you probably know it too. Here lies the failure of this nice little film. Don't get me wrong, it's fairly well acted, the director choosing a low key approach that suits the genre well, so it's not a catastrophe, in fact it might be a good pastime if you can relate. Thing is the plot is not only loaded with cliché, it's devoid of any refreshing surprise or plot twist. And it tends to solve most of the problems it's looking into in a superficial almost casual manner. An abusive husband, falling for a creepy old man, falling for a girl who's too young for you, everything solved nice and easy, like it was no more than a ploy to cover a few more minutes on screen. It's not a good feeling to end with after a film with which we're suppose to relate.

poliveri54 Tired subject. Too many holes. 1.Why did dad leave? Maybe 7 kids were too much for him. 2.Maybe mom was nuts. 3.And what's Nora's story? Shes from Boston and......? 4.And the pregnant sister? The scene where the brother goes to save her is weak. 5.Why does Ed still live with mom? Each sibling has issues. 6.What's the relationship between the old sick lady and the mother? This isn't new. I grew up almost next door to Mr. Burns, and large Irish families aren't all dysfunctional. I was sorry that the mother gave in in the end. He did manage to leave room for seven sequels.I don't think Ed needed to have seven siblings. If he reduced the number of siblings and their issues, he would have been able to add more substance to the main subject...mom and dad's relationship.

levineshelly What a wonderful film. The characters, the relationships, the situations are all so real. Seven adult siblings are negotiating coming together for Christmas, after having bailed on their mother's 70th birthday party the night before. The oldest brother, played by Ed Burns, tries to bring the family together but must deal with all the various conflicts and alliances that naturally occur in a large family. The plot revolves around the absent father, who abandoned the family 20 years earlier and who now wants to reunite with the family for Christmas. All very authentic and moving, without ever becoming melodramatic. Anita Gillette, the actress playing the family matriarch, is absolutely amazing. And Ed Burns is fabulous, as usual. This should be an annual Christmas movie!