The greatest strength of this picture was the writer's ability to create intensity within a family drama. Sometimes a lot of family dramas can be intense, but in an identifiable way, not directly. This one is more direct, and the script makes the viewer feel like they're a part of the family and very much a part of their problems.

Parker was great, showing a slow and steady change from the uptight woman who begins to fall apart emotionally and rebuild into someone a little less wound up.

The best supporting performances came from Academy Award® winner Diane Keaton (Father of the Bride) at the mother of the clan and Craig T Nelson (TV's Coach) as the father. The two of them were perfect cast together, and their chemistry makes the rest of the family's performance make sense.

My problem with the picture is with the new romances that develop over the holiday. They were predictable. In fact, they were predictable from just seeing the trailer; however, my I really didn't like that both new romances develops WAY TOO FAST. With the drop of a hat, the blink of an eye and the passing of a holiday, two couples break up and two more emerge from the rubble. THOSE subplots felt contrived.

Writer/director Thomas Bezucha's best decision on this film was NOT bogging down the script with a lot of heavy subplots, which many holiday dysfunctional family pictures will do. It sets up the handful of storylines it has and sticks too them.

Overall, I thought this picture was very, very good and makes a great addition to the shallow genre of Christmas time movies to rent in the future.