There's nothing worse than a house full of people out to get you. Capitalizing on a long-standing fear felt by those in romantic relationships, the box office lit up this past holiday season with the heartwarming and delightful film, "The Family Stone."

On the surface, it's a meet-the-parents story. But "The Family Stone" delves much deeper into the close-knit lives of the Stone family, complete with sibling rivalry, familial arguments and inside jokes. Boasting an extremely talented and well-known cast, the latest from Twentieth Century Fox is a smart, witty endeavor about family, love and personal growth.

Taking place during the bustling and often hectic holiday season, the film starts as Meredith Morton (Sarah Jessica Parker, HBO's "Sex and the City") accompanies her boyfriend Everett (Dermot Mulroney, "The Wedding Date") to his family's tradition-ridden annual Christmas gathering. Madness ensues as Meredith's extremely uptight nature clashes unmercifully with the laid-back, colorful personalities of the Stone family.

It is the relationships that make "The Family Stone" a hit, supplemented by the incredibly individual personalities of each family member. There's Sybil Stone (Diane Keaton, "Something's Gotta Give"), the strong-willed and protective matriarchal leader of the family who serves as the glue that holds the Stone clan together. Keaton is, as always, a powerful component and driving force in the film. And then there's Ben Stone (Luke Wilson, "The Royal Tenenbaums"), the chill, laid-back son who is ultimately the one to successfully loosen up Meredith. Wilson brings a quiet wisdom to his role, making him one of the more lovable characters.

The individualism of each family member blends together with the others, resulting in an incredibly deep and colorful picture of an American family struggling to live with, support and love each other.

As a film that has it all, "The Family Stone" presents a lightheartedness that's hard to find in today's film world of video-game remakes and cheap-shot comedies. Poignant scenes include a sense of genuine hilarity, providing the perfect amalgam of laughter and tears. The movie's smart sense of comedy is exhibited throughout the film, with one of the funniest scenes taking place around the family's tense dinner table. As Meredith struggles to connect with her boyfriend's immediate family, her words are twisted in such a way that she manages to offend the entire group. The audience pities her, but the tough situation is lined with such an aura of comedy that the end result is a group of specially crafted scenes that support the overall feel of the film.

The breakout performance of the film is undoubtedly that of Rachel McAdams ("The Notebook"). As Amy Stone, the artsy daughter of the family who possesses quite a mean streak, McAdams brings a certain level of lovability to her character's meanness. Her growth throughout the film, honing in on her relationship with Meredith, is a heartfelt one. "The Family Stone" showcases McAdams' talent in a whole new light, continuing to support her rise to the top of the entertainment industry.

Although it is one of the better movies of the season, "The Family Stone" is not without certain less-than-desirable characteristics. Sarah Jessica Parker, although a commendable actress, doesn't nail the role of Meredith in the way audiences might want her to. This can be arguably blamed on Parker's brilliance as Carrie Bradshaw on "Sex and the City." Despite being a different role entirely, viewers may have a hard time shaking Carrie from their minds and opening up to Meredith. Also, though the relationships featured at the core of the movie help make the film what it is, there are moments throughout "The Family Stone" when more exploration and depth would be helpful in the comprehensive understanding of the family's dynamics. Everett's relationship and interactions with Meredith's sister Julie (Claire Danes, "Shopgirl"), who comes to support Meredith after a particularly difficult day, is one such interlude that would benefit from more explanation.

These are small complaints in the larger scheme of a great film. Exemplary acting, a smart, witty script and a strong central heart push "The Family Stone" to the top of the heap in terms of current box-office features. A heartwarming and delightful film, "The Family Stone" is a movie to be seen and enjoyed.

Rating: 4 out of 5