La Buche

In a sort of French version of Home for the Holidays, a dysfunctional family gets together for Christmas, with members bringing along their respective pieces of emotional baggage. One has just lost her second husband, another is pregnant by her married boyfriend, a third has long-kept secrets from her spouse, plus there is the usual sibling friction over dealing with ailing parents. While there are funny bits about cell phones going off at the wrong time and a case of mistaken identity, this fluffy piece of soap opera is only made passable by interesting actors--including Emmanuelle Beart, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Francoise Fabian--who somewhat salvage the material. Quite optional. (T. Rich)