Christmas is a hard time. It's often filled with kids on sugar highs, drunk grandmas and over-friendly uncles and must be even worse for those who must endure the hardships of spending the holiday with divorced parents.

Four Christmases follows Brad (Vince Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon) who, for the past three years, have been avoiding their family at all costs by travelling to somewhere tropical, but telling their family they are doing charity work in third-world countries. After getting caught in their lie on TV, they are forced to visit their four divorced parents and celebrate Christmas.

They first head to visit Brad's father (Robert Duvall) at his house in the country, where Kate meets his brothers, Dallas and Denver. This is a fun-filled hick adventure including wrestling, spray cheese and an attempt to self install a satellite dish. Then it's off to Kate's mother's house where the laughs continue until church where they meet the mother's new boyfriend. Before heading to Kate's father's (Jon Voight) they stop at Brad's mother's (Sissy Spacek) house for a game of Taboo. The whole horrendous experience brings them closer together and of course, a happy ending.

This all-star cast was perfect, except for Witherspoon. She was somewhat funny, but the role just didn't fit. She does the job adequately, but they could have found someone better, as she's perfect for more romantic movies and this movie calls for more comedy than romance.

Witherspoon's performance does not tarnish the viewing experience because Vaughn steals the show. Gone are the days when his characters got a tad annoying, of the sometimes immature jokes and the loser-turned-hero story.

The appearances and cameos from great actors made this movie all the more enjoyable. Brad's redneck brothers, played by country singing star Tim McGraw and Jon Favreau, from Daredevil and Iron Man, also were great assets in their bone crushing scenes.

This movie is not going to be the Christmas movie of the century by any means, but it is a feel-good comedy that many should enjoy.

It comes at a perfect time to get us prepared for our own holiday debauchery and, after watching Brad and Kate survive through every possible challenge thrown at them, you are sure to feel invincible as you sit around your family dinner and wait for shit to hit the fan.