Dear Reader: Update, Movie Review Intelligence will
continue publishing this website through June (more...)
Search a Movie:
THE FITZGERALD FAMILY CHRISTMASMovie Reviews
Drama about adult siblings dealing with their estranged father's wish to spend Christmas with the family he walked out on 20 years earlier. Cast:Kerry Bishé, Connie Britton, Edward Burns, Heather Burns, Dara Coleman, Brian d'Arcy James, Marsha Dietlein, Noah Emmerich, Caitlin Fitzgerald, Anita Gillette, Tom Guiry, Ed Lauter, Malachy McCourt, Michael McGlone, Daniella PinedaDirector:Edward BurnsRelease Date:December 7, 2012DVD Release: TBD From:Tribeca FilmsLength:1 hr 39 min
The Fitzgerald Family Christmas, Good (Not Great) Reviews Limited
The Fitzgerald Family Christmas played in limited release to good not great reviews. • Rafer Guzman wrote in New York Newsday, "...a genuine charmer with appealingly natural performances and the kind of holiday warmth that can't be manufactured.... hits more true notes than false ones." More Reviews Below...
The Fitzgerald Family Christmas Positive Reviews (15 Reviews, reviews below)
Mary Pols, Time: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "There is a somewhat pleasant sameness to Ed Burns' films... But he could get off the proverbial couch, travel, meet some new people..."(See all of Mary Pols's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 904 words, 12/06/12
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: VERY GOOD(cg) "Burns and a bracingly fine cast play it for real. Lots of grit and comic grace notes.... Because he takes his films personally, so do we. This is one of his best."(See all of Peter Travers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 365 words, 12/07/12
we have an app for when you're out and about
get our iPhone app... or get our mobile web app...
movie review intelligence
NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (7 Reviews)
Stephen Holden, New York Times: VERY GOOD "...a comfortably lived-in movie... a textbook example of screenwriting concision... Mr. Burns shuffles this dense material with the dexterity of a card shark..."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 638 words, 12/07/12
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...when he works at it, Burns can mine the quirks of his subjects -- family, friendship, marriage -- for unexpected insights.... Best of all is Connie Britton..."(See all of Elizabeth Weitzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 259 words, 12/07/12
Sara Stewart, New York Post: MODERATE(cg) "...too much of the film is taken up by creaky plot devices and one sibling vowing to track down and talk to another one to resolve a problem."(See all of Sara Stewart's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 376 words, 12/07/12
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: MODERATE(cg) "...feels extremely familiar... Resentments, pregnancies, cancer, spousal abuse and the struggle of a recovering alcoholic all come and go on cue."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 269 words, 12/28/12
Rafer Guzman, New York Newsday: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a genuine charmer with appealingly natural performances and the kind of holiday warmth that can't be manufactured.... hits more true notes than false ones."(See all of Rafer Guzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 278 words, 12/07/12
Chris Packham, Village Voice/LA Weekly: VERY GOOD "The film recalls Ed Burn's 1995 debut, 'The Brothers McMullen,' grounded in Irish family traditions and comedic chemistry among performers."(See all of Chris Packham's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 255 words, 12/05/12
KEY CITIES (1 Review)
Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: VERY GOOD(cg) "These Fitzgeralds are loud, selfish and often maddening, but they're a loving group, and you wouldn't mind spending more time with them."(See all of Connie Ogle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 349 words, 12/14/12
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (4 Reviews)
Chris Packham, Village Voice/LA Weekly: VERY GOOD "The film recalls Ed Burn's 1995 debut, 'The Brothers McMullen,' grounded in Irish family traditions and comedic chemistry among performers."(See all of Chris Packham's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 255 words, 12/05/12
Tomas Hachard, Slant: WEAK(cg) "...for the most part gets stretched too thin trying to attend to all its characters.... Burns only manages a schematic portrayal of this clan's family ties."(See all of Tomas Hachard's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 434 words, 12/02/12
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...so achingly lovely, so full of bittersweet melancholy and yet so fixedly hopeful without ever having to touch on the sentimental.... See this movie."(See all of MaryAnn Johanson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 815 words, 12/20/12
HIGHBROW PRESS (2 Reviews)
Stephen Holden, New York Times: VERY GOOD "...a comfortably lived-in movie... a textbook example of screenwriting concision... Mr. Burns shuffles this dense material with the dexterity of a card shark..."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 638 words, 12/07/12
Stephanie Zacharek, NPR: GOOD "...extremely perceptive about certain angles on life in a big family... Burns may have overstuffed the Christmas goose, but his casting at least is spot-on."(See all of Stephanie Zacharek's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 654 words, 12/06/12
MOVIE INDUSTRY (3 Reviews)
Joe Leydon, Daily Variety: GOOD "...unpretentiously ingratiating... takes a sympathetic but not entirely uncritical view of the hastily sketched but vividly detailed characters... predictable but satisfying..."(See all of Joe Leydon's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 622 words, 09/17/12
Frank Scheck, Hollywood Reporter: GOOD "...a virtual compendium of clichés, but the star's sheer likeability makes it go down as easily as a cup of eggnog.... The estimable supporting cast does equally fine work..."(See all of Frank Scheck's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 420 words, 12/06/12
Stephen Holden, New York Times: VERY GOOD "...a comfortably lived-in movie... a textbook example of screenwriting concision... Mr. Burns shuffles this dense material with the dexterity of a card shark..."(See all of Stephen Holden's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 638 words, 12/07/12
16.2 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
The Fitzgerald Family Christmas's reviews are separated by an average 16.2 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
The Fitzgerald Family Christmas (15 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:The Fitzgerald Family Christmas's reviews cover 31.4% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 6,893 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 460 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
The Fitzgerald Family Christmas Coverage, Volume & Length (15 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 18.4 Hours Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
The Fitzgerald Family Christmas's reviews on average broke 18.4 hours before opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is The Fitzgerald Family Christmas's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
The Fitzgerald Family Christmas (15 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
Mobile Web App version 1.2 shows a list of all current movies and review information. You can click through to the cast, director, synopsis, release date and rating on page two, plus individual reviews on page three. The information is updated on a live/real-time basis. You can also search our database of films. Designed for when you're on the move and want the latest info, this app will work on any mobile web browser. From your mobile device -- only from a mobile device -- open our Mobile Web App here...
