MovieChat Forums > The Family Stone (2005) Discussion > Did anybody else cringe when...

Did anybody else cringe when...

posted 9 years ago by MoobieLubber
16 replies | jump to latest

I was recalling the feelings i had when i first saw this movie when it first came out and after everything that went on in the movie, i still remember the feeling i had when Meredith first pulled out those presents. I was cringing so bad cause i was like "oh my gawd, what kind of gift could this woman possibly think she cpuld give these people, ohmygawd"...and then i just waited...oh my gawd lol

Then they opened them :-)

And it was like "oh gawd...im just as bad as these people....Meredith had a heart"

What a scene
What a movie

New classic for sure :-)

[–] movieliker1 9 years ago

I cringed during the whole movie because this movie was so bad.

[–] MoobieLubber 9 years ago

Yeah...people either really hate it or really love it. But though we both cringed throught, we ended up at different ends of the spectrum.
I respect your feelings towards it though cause i can totally see how people could hate it. Lol

[–] movieliker1 9 years ago

I respect your feelings as well. But, I don't understand how you could like a movie where the host family was so awful to their guest. The Stones decided before they even met Meredith that they didn't like her. And then they terrorized her for the rest of the movie. When is it acceptable to treat your guest that way?

And on top of that, it was their son's/their brother's girlfriend. When is it acceptable to treat your son, or your brother that way. This was the lady he was planning to marry. When is it acceptable to not support their relationship?

Only awful people act that way. They were the family from Hell. Could you imagine being treated that way by your boyfriend's family?

It wasn't loving or warm or a good holiday family movie. It was like watching cruelty or torture that only a sadist would enjoy. Good people don't act that way.

[–] MoobieLubber 9 years ago

Well, i enjoyed it because i've dated guys with very tightnit families and although this was a higly exaggerated and almost too unrealistic of a take on the first holiday with that type of family, it actually touches on it pretty acurately. I know we don't want to believe it but there are families like this out there. And because ive encountered some, i could see the humor in this and enjoyed seeing it on film (it was somewhat validating).

Plus, i used to be a Meridith (before i became more of a julie). So, i found that character hilarious and was so thankful i didnt run into any families like this when i was like that. Plus, I feel SJP played her very well.

I also liked the casting. I think they were all just right for the parts.

And as for the most "unbelievable" part of the plot...the switching of lovers between the sibling. I seen my own share of scandal in just my family alone and hear strange things from others families. So to me this wasnt as farfetched as others saw it. I liked the new pairings more anyway cause i thought meredith and everett or emmet (i cant even remember his name right now[frank? Lol] were totally wrong for each other.

I just felt like i could understand where each character might be coming from too and i liked that; so it was just a more interesting watch for me.

I also actually liked that it was so different and wasn't perfect....i found the chaos and unconventional ending refreshing.

I just really enjoyed it. But i can totally see how people could hate it too.

[–] movieliker1 9 years ago

Well, I am glad you enjoyed it.

I think you are saying you saw it as a satire --- a highly exaggerated, somewhat unrealistic portrayal of what some families may experience on a smaller scale. That is interesting because I didn't see it that way at all.

I must say, I have been on both sides of that experience and I have never seen a family like that. Especially at Christmas. Maybe after the new boyfriend/girlfriend has been around a while. But usually, the first time, everyone is exceedingly accepting and accommodating.

I still can't see the logic or humor in Amy hating Meredith because she took her out to a fancy restaurant. What is so hateful about that? And then she and her mother decide to terrorize Meredith as their son's/brother's girlfriend, and as a guest in their home at Christmas?

And I don't know what you mean by calling the ending unconventional. It was so conventional that it was cliché that everyone was happy and together in the end --- in spite of the torturous cruelty the family had inflicted upon Meredith. Unbelievable - yes. But not unconventional.

[–] MoobieLubber 9 years ago

And they really weren't a bad family. They kind of explained why they acted the way they did after meredith spilled the Stratta on herself after her big "F-U" moment. Theyre just tightnit and theyre all they've got. And theyre just super protective of each other and their circle of trust. Merdith was already showing signs of not fitting in in the beginning (she was too worried about being perfect...and they already know theyre family is not perfect and she didnt seem to be accepting of theyre imperfections. Julie was more openminded thats why she fit in) so they tried to scare her off. But then she finally became on of them when she showed her own flaws and owned them. And she only reached that point after hanging out with the other brother who actually complemented her more than everett did, as her sister did for everett; Because merideth and everett were too much alike and so were julie and ben. So by them switching...meredith and everett actually ended up being with people who made more sense for them. So i didnt hate on that. That happens in real life sometimes too.

They werent a bad family. They were a great family. They were just scared an outsider might ruin that bond they had and so they went into defense mode. Luckily, the dad kept them all at bay accept when he lost at the dinner table, but he later tried to apologize for that. As well as the older sister.

They werent bad people...they just handled the situation badly because they were scared...and with the mom dying, im sure that only heightened the wmotions and clouded the judgements.

[–] movieliker1 9 years ago

I can't agree here. They were a terrible family. No, they weren't serial killers, child abusers or terrorists. But to brutalize Meredith like that. That is unacceptable. Families don't act that way.

I think you are making excuses for them. There is no acceptable reason for them to act that way. They were a horrible family.

[–] blindvias-071407 9 years ago

Meredith felt like The Stones were horrible but she wasn't a saint herself.

They had their strong points. The parents loved all their children unconditionally and the whole family attempted to use ASL so Thad was always included. Mr. Stone was especially close to Thad, and the whole family was very protective of him.

Meredith was clearly not use to being around gay or black people and came off badly. Overall the family had a pretty bad first impression of her and was not shy about it. So yeah, it was horrible for her. But that was a key part of the plot.

[–] jayhn1111 9 years ago

I think you pretty much summed up my feelings about what I thought was a god awful movie with a family that was beneath contempt.

[–] movieliker1 9 years ago

Thank you for agreeing jayhn. I feel better knowing at least one person knows the difference between good behavior and awful, unacceptable behavior.

[–] KatrinaW 8 years ago

I wouldn't say they were a great family. They were just a regular family (if not a bit quirky).

However, Sybil, Amy and Thad were quite rude and horrible to Meredith from the get-go, simply because she was a bit tense, awkward, and uptight. She was not a warm, casual person, and her uptightness was only made worse because she was nervous about meeting Everett's family for the first time. Amy sort of poisoned the family against Meredith before they even met her, so it was all downhill from there. We got an insight into her real character when Ben brought her to the bar and she had a few drinks in her! I really think Everett brought out the worst in her, and they had absolutely no chemistry. He's the worst character, imo (except for maybe Thad; I hate that guy! How did he ever get such a nice guy as Patrick?). Everett is such a dull drip!

I do love this movie, though. I've always liked SJP, and Luke Wilson is great in everything.

It also has some very funny and sweet moments: when Ben and Everett are fighting, and Ben doesn't want his new jacket to get ruined; when Meredith cuts loose at the bar; when Brad nicely introduces himself to Julie while everyone is brawling around them. I love when Ben tells Meredith his snow shoveling dream.

[–] cananny 9 years ago

Classic?? How old are you???

[–] MoobieLubber 9 years ago

Old enough to know better, young enough not to care

And I'm pretty sure i said "New" classic...as in not so much a classic yet (because its still pretty fresh) but headed in the direction of being one. Especially it being classified as a Christmas movie.

Perhaps you're too old to see?
(Sorry...but one condescending remark deserves another. I won't add on to it though, if you decide to continue on. Just having a little fun)

Cheers

[–] blindvias-071407 9 years ago

She wanted to do the right thing, but didn't always show tact.

Meredith was responsible for Brad and Amy getting together, so she was capable of doing good.

[–] movieliker1 9 years ago

She wanted to do the right thing, but didn't always show tact.

Meredith was responsible for Brad and Amy getting together, so she was capable of doing good.

Meredith was an idiot. But that is no excuse for the way that family treated her. You don't treat your guests that way, unless you are terrible. And that family was terrible.

And, they were not funny. So, it wasn't a comedy. It was a tragedy. A tragic attempt at producing a comedy.

[–] theocanada 9 years ago

Try to not post comments with clickbait subjects.