Vince Vaughn and Walk the Line Oscar winner Reese Witherspoon star in a lame-brained but blessedly short comedy about a happily unmarried couple who re-evaluate their relationship when forced to split their Christmas Day between all four of their divorced parents. Sissy Spacek and Robert Duvall play Vaughn's mum and dad, while Mary Steenburgen and Jon Voight are Witherspoon's. The strength of this supporting cast should guarantee some laughs, yet all four actors are criminally underused by director Seth Gordon. His emphasis on slapstick crowd-pleasing rather than quality comic interaction earns a few cheap ho-ho-hos - and (just about) a second star. But, generally, these Four Christmases are not so merry, in what is very nearly a Christmas turkey.

Brad and Kate have made something of an art form out of avoiding their families during the holidays, but this year their foolproof plan is about go bust -- big time. Stuck at the city airport after all departing flights are canceled, the couple is embarrassed to see their ruse exposed to the world by an overzealous television reporter. Now, Brad and Kate are left with precious little choice other than to swallow their pride and suffer the rounds.