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Meredith, against her better judgement, warms to Everetts weed-smoking, sweatpants-wearing brother Ben (Luke Wilson).
After I had to quote one ‘Family Stone’ line to Sarah Jessica Parker I felt too nerdy to quote another ‘Family Stone’ line to Sarah Jessica Parker. But this “hold the phone” line reading is one of the most important of my entire life!
The whole family is reeling from the news that Sybils breast cancer has returned.
Stunningly, the only set piece missing here is a beloved family dog.
And yet I love this movie unironically.
I watch it every Christmas.
I watch it even when its not Christmas.
I love Rachel McAdamss scowl.
I love Diane Keatons pristine white button-up, and the way she wears it under a frumpy robe.
I love Luke Wilsons oversize North Face parka, which he definitely could not afford.
I love that Mulroneys character is named Everett, because thats my cousins name.
Also,The Family Stoneis fun!
Every year I basicallydiebecause no one wants to listen to me talk about this movie at length.
(The militia ofFamily Stonewarriors is small, and its mostly just meand Bobby Finger.)
So I decided to talk to Sarah Jessica Parker about it.
Can you give me a sense of what your life was like when you signed on toThe Family Stone?
When I first met [director] Tom Bezucha and the offer came, I had recently finished.
I was feeling good.
I knew my son was going to come with me, which was really important.
Thats kind of the beauty of movies: Theyre a finite period.
While they are intense and all-consuming, its kind of like a window.
As a parent who wanted to spend time with my child, it was ideal.
What was your meeting with Tom like?I was excited that he wanted me to play the part.
He had very specific ideas about this character.
He offered a really nice challenge.
He wanted her to be skilled in ways that I had not been onscreen.
She was wound so tight.
The way she moves and behaves, its all very restrained.There was also that stillness.
Carrie Bradshaw was very physical.
She moved around a lot; she gesticulated a lot.
We really did talk a lot about that.
Last night I read someold reviewsabout the movie, and Ive become so defensive of Meredith.
People call her unlikable or shrill, which are obviously very loaded labels.
I think shes just really nervous who cant relate to that?
Did it bother you, how she was received?I dont read reviews, luckily.
Im always curious when there is a general opinion about a woman not being likable.
I take personal offense to it, as well.
Ive had that even recently withDivorce.
Its not without frustration on my part.
I didnt think she was unlikable at all.
Especially in romantic comedies, theres this idea about likable, relatable gals.
I think it does a huge disservice to the billions of woman who are all wonderfully different.
Somebody is nervous, or lacks confidence?
I found none of it unlikable.
In fact, I found her compelling.
I was drawn to her because of her exhibited neuroses.
I think it made her actually quite touching.
I found those qualities very human.
On the other side of this dynamic is Diane Keaton.
Was it hard to not take her attitude with your character personally?I was nervous about it.
She and I actually had worked together before; we didFirst Wives Club.
I was nervous, but at least I had some exchanges with her previous to that.
She was very nervous-making.
She was tough on me.
It was a huge joy to play those scenes with her, and wonderfully terrifying.
I loved working with her because I learned a lot about … She worked extremely hard.
She asks a lot of questions.
Shes serious about the work.
Theres a lightness to her.
Theres a sort of souffle thing about Diane Keaton.
She has this really buoyant do you know what I mean?
Yeah.Shes witty and shes clever and shes seemingly scattered in a way.
But that does not actually speak to the enormous intelligence and seriousness that she brings to her work.
Its not an accident, her work.
Its thoughtful and considered.
I hope Im not saying something I shouldnt, but she wears headphones on the set.
To stay focused, shell wear headphones basically until they call action.
I think its a very interesting way to stay focused.
A set is wonderfully chaotic.
My guess is that the mother remains the most important person, the person whose approval you most need.
just tell me everything about it.I know we had a bunch of costumes ready.
We did it a lot because it was covered from a bunch of different angles.
But it has to feel completely out of control and reckless and spontaneous.
I was absolutely completely covered with it.
I recall going in for coverage, and having tostaycovered in it.
Like, I couldnt clean up.
I spent many, many hours staying in that outfit.
I love that stuff.
I love all the physical stuff.
I dont care if Im covered in some Swedish egg casserole or whatever that was.
I definitely know that I was the last of the day.
I know that they covered me last.
I spent many hours in some version of that, but it didnt really bother me.
I didnt want anything about that to be easy, and I didnt want it to feel familiar.
So, yes, it was, because theres nobody to help you.
You really are alone in it.
Shes trying so hard to defend an argument to course correct really quickly but its a long-held belief.
She isnt arriving at this as a conversation piece.
And, yes, all the actors were looking at me.
I wanted to feel isolated, so it was excruciating, but it felt appropriately so.
Was Merediths tic always the throat-clearing?Yes.
From the beginning, I think it was written into the script.
Diane can do it and does it beautifully.
I tend not to because I think its hard to do it really, really well.
Im sure youve seen many cases when peoplethinktheyre good at it.
Its sort of awful when someone isnt great at it and doesnt add something meaningful.
!I mean, I dont know.
I guess that would be pretty hurtful.
Yes.And you are engaged?
Just like in the movie.Well, yes.
It would be very upsetting.
That would be awful.
Also, its very hard to imagine that my sister I have many sisters.
I cant imagine any of them doing that.
Our tastes are very different, lets just start with that.
Yeah, I think that would be probably really problematic for everybody, for the entire family.
You have to remind me, Im so sorry.
No, youre fine!
I literally watch this movie every year, so Im very familiar with it.Maybe I should watch it again.
Maybe my daughters would love it.
Are they too young, or are they the right age?
I think thats the perfect age.
I think its totally appropriate.
You have to show it to them.
But anyway, its when the strata has just dropped in the kitchen.
Diane says, Well, you know, were all weve got.Right, yeah.
Im truly recounting this movie to you, Im so sorry.Oh my God, no, thank you.
It would be a thrill.
I dont know what you do if you dont care for a childs romantic selection.
I dont know how youre supposed to get through that.
I love that.But they were very generous [with the guests, at the time].
Okay, but theres definitely a wrong answer here.Do you want to tell me what my answer should be?
Do you want me to pick Luke?
Only because Everett was consistently the worst.
That dinner scene he abandons Meredith in that dinner scene!
He doesnt eventryto help her.
I could not respect him after that.Well, you know more than I do.
Of course she should end up with Luke.
Of course she should!
Youre not allowing yourself to be flawed or wrong or silly or ridiculous or vulnerable.
Youre not allowing yourself to be your true person.
I guess thats certainly what I would mean if I said that.
What do you think changed in Meredith?
I think its what you said, that shes just relaxed and herself.
Do you have a favorite holiday movie?We dont watch a lot of movies at Christmas.
I didnt grow up watching movies at Christmas.
At Christmas, we always went to whatever the big movie was, as a family.
Well, thank you so much for talking to me and letting me indulge Thank you.
I feel like you know so much more.
But mostly thank you for loving Meredith.
Its so touching and so nice to hear.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
