The Family Stone

“Finding your path” is the message behind this movie. Well, that, and “letting your freak flag fly.” In the end, it’s a love story, but not the kind you would expect. Or maybe it is since it deals with just about every kind of love imaginable — familial love, homosexual love, fraternal love, and, most importantly, love of convenience and how destructive it can be. An endless string of hilarious and awkward moments center around Sarah Jessica Parker’s character, as she visits her boyfriend’s family for Christmas. She undergoes a vital transformation as a result of the culture clash, and leaves her mark on the family as well. While the ending is somewhat sad, it is an endearing story and well-written and superbly acted by the ensemble cast.