Sorry, this movie sucks

A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

If you hate Christmas and think that love and family are as fleeting as the wind, then I sure have a recommendation for you--"La Bûche". It's thoroughly unpleasant and a cynic's idea of comedy. I noticed other reviewers generally loved this film, though I really have no idea why. I'd rather shove my head into a gas oven than see this one again!! The film begins at a funeral. Yvette's husband has died and her three daughters from a previous marriage have arrived at the graveside to be with her. Over the course of the film, you learn that EVERYONE in the film--not just Yvette and her family but EVERYONE is selfish, cheats on their spouses and are emotional messes. All are self-involved and foolish and for some reason with this death and Christmas just a few days away, folks start to reminisce--though for the most part, what they look back on was only temporary and a charade. Now here's the weird part--no one takes relationships seriously in this film and everyone is self-absorbed, yet it is somehow supposed to be funny and uplifting! What's funny and uplifting about a woman who has been having an affair with a married man for 12 years and is now pregnant (while the man's wife is ALSO pregnant)? What's funny and uplifting about a divorced couple who finally sit down together after decades of animosity and discuss all the affairs they had while they were married? And, what's funny and uplifting about a couple who appear happy, successful and have a young child--yet are splitting up at Christmas? The only positive thing I can say about this film is that the acting was very good. The story, on the other hand, is only enjoyable if you hate family, hate Christmas and assume everyone is a cheat. God bless us, everyone!

unfortunate that Beart lends her name to this made for television soap opera a l'americaine. weak writing, a cliche script, provokes competent but always facile acting. one thinks of face-lifts.

I saw this film and The Royal Tenenbaums in the course of the same week. The themes were very similar (a coincidence?), but La Buche was more interesting, more believable and more enjoyable. I cared about the characters. Gene Hackman's brood were cardboard cutouts. And La Buche didn't need the Hollywood formulaic 500 milliseconds of exposed breast to earn its adult status.

Anyone expecting a bright clever and fresh comedy here will be seriously disappointed. This is french cinema at its worst : boring (and soooo predictable) plot, unimaginative direction, overwritten dialogue and a bunch of brilliant actors unable to make us believe in their characters (with the notable exceptions of Claude Risch and Charlotte Gainsbourg). Some entertaining moments won't disguise the fact that this is a huge disappointment... Too bad really.