'The Family Stone' (2005)

PG-13 | December 16, 2005 | 103 mins

There's been a grave misunderstanding.

In a 19th-century European village, a young man about to be married is whisked away to the underworld and wed to a mysterious corpse bride, while his real bride waits bereft in the land of the living.

Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Luke Wilson [+]
Director: Thomas Bezucha
Writers: Thomas Bezucha
Producers: Michael London
Cinematographer: Jonathan Brown
Editors: Jeffrey Ford
Music: Michael Giacchino
Distribution: 20th Century Fox

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Name

Character

Meredith

Sybil

Amy

Ben

Everett

Kelly

Thad

Julie

Susannah

Patrick

Brad

Release Date

December 16, 2005

Runtime

104 minutes

Production Companies

Red Carpet Productions

MPAA Rating

PG-13

Language

English

Country

United States

Filming Dates

February 28, 2005 – March 2005

Filming Locations

Private Residence

144 Riverside Ave, Riverside, Connecticut

The Stone family home.

Rose City Jewelers (Closed)

1 Waverly Place, Madison, New Jersey

Where Thad and Everett shop for Meredith’s engagement ring.

Culver Studios

9336 Washington Blvd, Culver City, California

A few interior scenes were shot here.

Drew University

36 Madison Ave, Madison, New Jersey

Fairleigh Dickinson University

285 Madison Avenue, Madison, New Jersey

The Wrong Girl/Guy First

Meredith: I don’t care whether you like me or not!
Amy: Of course you do.

Ben: You have a freak flag. You just don’t fly it.

Ben: So, uh, where’s dad?
Sybil: He ran away. Joined the circus
Everett: Better circus.
Patrick: Yeah. Less clowns.

Meredith: Isn’t there anybody that loves me?

Sybil: Christmas is not “clothing optional” this year – we have a guest.

Meredith: I hope I’m not putting anyone out.
Amy: Me. You’re putting, me out.

Ben: [to Meredith] Don’t dilly-dally there, pretty lady. We’re all gonna be down here talking about you.

Meredith: I slept with your brother.
Everett: You slept with who?
Thad: Do not look at me!

When Luke Wilson is telling Meredith about Everett’s allergy, Sarah Jessica Parker shouted “I didn’t know!” in one take as a joke.
Writer-director Thomas Bezucha nods to Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) twice in the film. The opening title sequence transitions from a postcard image into a live-action version of the same setting—a visual device first used by Vincente Minnelli to begin his MGM musical. Later, Bezucha includes a scene where Susanna watches the St. Louis Christmas Eve ball on television with Amy asleep in her lap. Judy Garland’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” plays in full over the next three minutes, accompanying a montage of each character’s Christmas Eve routines and quiet moments.

Awards

Year

Recipient