MovieChat Forums > The Family Stone (2005) Discussion > The Message?

The Message?

posted 11 years ago by tjtmd
8 replies | jump to latest

This movie IMO sends a very NEGATIVE message:

Meredith had not done anything wrong.
Amy hated her b/c she took her to a restaurant and talked and cleared her throat.
Amy should have been happy to have been fed since in <almost?> every scene she is eating.

If Meredith's rant had preceded the family's animosity, it would have made some sense to me but just being mean for no reason is cruel.
I guess the eons it took her to tell how she and Everett met or the apparent pointing (or her demanding to sleep in separate rooms) may have been a reason to dislike Meredith but this all came after Amy and the family decided to hate her.

I have never liked Diane Keaton after seeing this film.

QUESTIONS:
* Didn’t Meredith have a cell phone and couldn’t SHE have left the room for “privacy” when Julie called?
* Did anyone notice Keaton’s inconsistency re: bringing up her SONS as gay so they would not leave home? What about her DAUGHTERS? Thad left home and he was gay.

[–] larpine 11 years ago

It doesn't any negative message. You just didn't get it.

[–] tjtmd 11 years ago

Nor did I get what you wrote?

[–] larpine 11 years ago

Yea, I admit, that was pretty bad. Just saying, in the light of day, that rather than the film carrying a negative message, perhaps you simply didn't like it, which is fine.

If anything, to me the movie carried an overwhelming positive message as to the power of the family, which the dramatic conflict of an outsider taking on that power.

[–] tjtmd 11 years ago

Hi and thanks for reply...

[...] rather than the film carrying a negative message, perhaps you simply didn't like it, which is fine.

I did like the movie... (especially the end)

If anything, to me the movie carried an overwhelming positive message as to the power of the family, which the dramatic conflict of an outsider taking on that power.

I never looked at it that way. I guess accepting Julie right away was because Julie was not a threat?
Apparently Amy hadn't accepted Patrick for a long time too.

My comment about it being negative relates to FOR EXAMPLE kids and bullying: Where they hate someone for a minor or no reason. This movie seems to promote and justify that kind of attitude. (I.E. seems to say it is okay to hate someone for no reason)(IMO)

The family tightness is commendable but if I were writing this (which I am not - which speaks for itself) I would have had Meredith CLEARLY point to Patrick and the dinner rant occur BEFORE Amy's hatred (and not have the family attitude based on Meredith talking too much and clearing her throat.) (Despite the family's loyalty to one another...)

JMO

[–] tjtmd 11 years ago

Hi and thanks for reply...

[...] rather than the film carrying a negative message, perhaps you simply didn't like it, which is fine.

I did like the movie... (especially the end)

If anything, to me the movie carried an overwhelming positive message as to the power of the family, which the dramatic conflict of an outsider taking on that power.

[–] dannyboy87898 11 years ago

honestly i feel like Amy was insecure as was Diane Keaton... haven't you ever heard of a dysfunctional family? it simply just happens. at the end of the movie, though, i think there is a beautiful message about the things that matter. families are just a little crazy sometimes, it's okay.

[–] larpine 11 years ago

Really? I don't think insecurity was ever an issue with anyone in the family, especially Sybil and Amy, nor was it a dysfunctional family, however they manner in which they were handling the situation was just that.

I think the film is ultimately about a very close nit family who know they're celebrating the last holiday with they're mother and each family member is handling , (or refuses to handle), the pending loss differently.

[–] jingizu_z 9 years ago

Hmm, I did feel sorry for Meredith at times. BUT, the whole point was that the Stone family didn't think she was the right woman for Everett, nor that she would fit into their very closely-knit and liberal family.

She was extremely uptight, she came across as very bigoted and even after she saw the way her comments were received, she continued in the same vein with her "argument". She was just so completely opposite to the family.

Amy obviously didn't have a good impression of her during their first meeting, which is why the family didn't expect to like Meredith. That was wrong of them of course, they should have waited to make up their own minds.

However, I think the overall message is positive, how love and loss both can reach across the superficial differences to the hearts beneath.