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Let's be honest—many of us approach Christmas with some sense of worry, or even dread, because family gatherings can be stressful and difficult events. That's the dynamic that makes a movie like The Family Stone so popular at Christmastime. We laugh knowingly as we watch the clash of family personalities, the tense moments when someone brings their significant other to the table for the first time, the contrary traditions of celebration.

Unfortunately, The Family Stone is apparently too unpleasant for Christian film critics.

Camerin Courtney (Christianity Today Movies) says, "There seem to be two types of holiday family dramas: the kind that move you with an inspiring poignancy … and the kind that make you think, Well, at least my family isn't that bad … The Family Stone is definitely one of the latter category." She adds, "In the end, the movie feels a lot like slacker brother Ben: a little sloppy, mostly predictable, some flashes of surprising poignancy and wisdom, but ultimately doesn't live up to its potential."

Tom Neven (Plugged In) says, "This story had potential, but it fails many times on the most basic level. … Various people say and do things, not because they logically grow out of their character, but because they're needed merely to advance the story." He also protests the film's "casual attitude toward illicit sex," "the not-so-subtle glorification of homosexuality," and "the drug abuse and the profanity."

Harry Forbes (Catholic News Service) disagrees: "Writer-director Thomas Bezucha's low-keyed film takes its sweet time getting started, and the easy pace doesn't at first yield much in the way of dramatic dividends, but about midway through the story grabs you, and tugs at the heart, building to a moving life- and family-affirming fade-out. The performances are all excellent." He concludes, "Flaws and all, this is a worthy and ultimately touching addition to that ever-popular genre, the Christmas movie."

Mainstream critics are bickering over the movie like a family during the holidays.

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