A sequel to the notoriously chaotic Christmas film,The Family Stone, is in development, a project born partly from grief and a desire to honor the late Diane Keaton.
Director Thomas Bezucha has been quietly working on a follow-up, haunted by Keaton’s recent passing and finding himself repeatedly drawn back to the world of the Stone family. He describes a lingering sense of loss, as if already missing her presence within that iconic home.
Returning to that house might sound…unappealing, given the original film’s reputation. But for those who’ve survived the first installment, a sequel steeped in grief, longing, and sheer bewilderment feels strangely fitting.
The Family Stoneboasts a stellar cast – Diane Keaton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Rachel McAdams, and more – yet it’s a film that defies easy categorization. It presents a deceptively simple premise: a woman attempting to navigate a new family during the holidays.
What unfolds, however, is anything but simple. Parker’s character is met with instant, inexplicable hostility, seemingly for the crime of wearing heels. Her attempts to connect are met with unsettling awkwardness, bordering on outright antagonism.
Keaton delivers a performance as an easily offended matriarch, while McAdams portrays a bafflingly immature sister, creating a dynamic where Parker is treated as an unwelcome intruder. The family’s disdain feels disproportionate, fueled by reasons never fully explained.
The film’s bizarre choices extend beyond character interactions. The characters’ fashion choices span decades, creating a visually jarring experience. And then there’s the infamous dinner scene, a masterclass in uncomfortable silences and shocking pronouncements.
During that scene, Keaton casually expresses a wish for all her children to be gay, sparking a disproportionately hostile reaction, particularly from the family’s token gay brother. The moment is a jarring collision of social commentary and familial dysfunction.
The plot culminates in a truly baffling resolution: a partner swap between Parker and her sister-in-law. The boyfriend ends up with the sister, and everyone pretends it’s a happy ending. It’s a conclusion that leaves viewers questioning everything they’ve witnessed.
Online, viewers have dissected the film’s illogicality, noting the characters’ irrational behavior and the overall tonal dissonance. One Reddit user aptly described the ending as “a cherry on top” of a thoroughly bizarre experience.
Yet, despite its flaws, or perhaps because of them,The Family Stonehas become a cult classic. It’s a film families watch together, united in their shared bewilderment and laughter at its sheer absurdity.
The prospect of a sequel, intended as a tribute to Keaton, is both poignant and unsettling. Will the Stones finally exhibit rational behavior? Will someone offer Parker an apology? It’s unlikely.
But the original film taught us that holiday togetherness can be forged through shared trauma. And so, many will be tuning in, bracing themselves for another dose of beautifully chaotic, utterly unforgettable family dysfunction.
