Alone at the house of in-laws: 'The family jewel', the alternative of Christmas cinema

Since its release in 2005,

Christmas movie recommendations

as an antidote to the usual noise of old-fashioned rom-coms in ugly reindeer sweaters.

And that, beyond the fact that it contains an explicit tribute to Judy Garland in

the classic by Vincente Minnelli for Christmas Eve, there are only two gay characters in this twist on the myth of the mother-in-law.

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The story is starred by the Stones, a tight-knit progressive clan that smokes marijuana as a family and who decides to pay off the stresses of a difficult Christmas with their older brother's girlfriend, an uptight and uptight executive, who arrives home from Connecticut sheltered in a suit. and some stiletto heels.

She is played by Sarah Jessica Parker in one of the best jobs of her career.

Parker wanted to take a break, she had just become a mother and finished the sixth and final season of

when the opportunity presented itself to get into the shoes of a bride in a panic at the thought of not being accepted by her future in-laws, and especially her mother-in-law, Diane Keaton, a tension they all contribute to that ends up making her the worst possible Christmas guest.

Thomas Bezucha wrote and directed the film inspired by his family's animosity towards his sister's boyfriend.

The original title was:

and the idea was to make an

film for a Sundance-type festival.

The project was already launched when

(2000) was brought forward and the producers decided to abort it.

Four years later, Bezucha was able to resume his idea with some modifications and a much more commercial direction.

With a cast of first-rate Hollywood actors, the new title was

or, in its Spanish premiere,

an eccentric mother

The plot revolves around the relationship between the three sons and two daughters of a family that gathers to celebrate Christmas in a comfortable house led by an all-powerful and somewhat eccentric mother, played by Keaton, and an affable father with the air of a professor in Craig T. Nelson's skin.

The open matriarchy is challenged by him when the eldest son, played by Dermot Mulroney, an icon of early 21st century romantic comedies, decides to introduce himself to his insufferable girlfriend, Meredith.

The Christmas table is also made up of the eldest daughter, a pregnant pasota played by Elisabeth Reaser;

cheeky little teacher brought to life by Rachel McAdams;

the middle son, an attractive documentary film editor who lives in San Francisco (Luke Wilson) and the youngest, a gay architect in the skin of deaf actor Tyrone Giordano who comes with his partner (Brian White).

The last and unexpected place is occupied by Meredith's friendly and easygoing sister (Claire Danes).

Sarah Jessica Parker in 'The Family Jewel'.

The film is organized around the idea of ​​the intruder capable of breaking Christmas harmony.

The perfect target to provoke a series of misunderstandings that only cover up the state of melancholy that underlies the characters in the film and that materializes in a long sequence with

Judy Garland's

is a romantic sitcom with some

memorable, but above all it is a family drama whose sadness ends up emerging.

It all begins and ends with the image of a mother looking at the Christmas tree alone, a matriarch inspired by Diane Keaton's own mother who, with her gray hair, her cup of coffee and her computer in the kitchen, clings tightly to everything. which means a simple ring.