I just got home after watching the new Reese Witherspoon/Vince Vaughn movie, “Four Christmases” and I feel like I just watched a commentary on my life. The premise: Kate’s (Witherspoon) and Brad’s (Vaughn) Christmas travel plans are delayed due to bad weather, so they are forced to spend Christmas day with their families. Did I mention that both their parents are divorced? So not only do they have to endure the awkwardness that plagues dysfunctional family holidays, but they must do it four times! This uncomfortable situation creates a plot that is humorous on the big screen, but not so funny in real life.

The first few minutes of the movie reveal the hurdle that Kate and Brad must overcome: their fear of repeating their parents’ mistakes . . . of divorcing . . . of hurting their own children. The next hour and a half exposes the challenges that adult children of divorce face as well as the long-term affects of divorce.

First, both Kate and Brad avoid marriage and children. This fear of repeating the past is common among children of divorce. Second, they try to escape their pasts and disassociate themselves from their families by spending Christmas in an exotic location with only each other, far away from their complicated family trees.

Despite the geographical and emotional distance they create, however, there is a small part of them that wants to feel close their families. But when they try to bridge the gap, they are quickly reminded of why it’s there in the first place. This internal conflict is also common among children of divorce.

Kate and Brad also have trouble drawing boundaries with their parents. Children of divorce are often afraid of confrontation because they know that confrontation often leads to fighting, which leads to divorce. They fear making waves, disappointing people, and making enemies. So they keep the peace. Some have been great peacekeepers since childhood and they don’t know how to break the cycle. Others developed this skill later in life. Either way, it affects Kate and Brad in a negative way, as it affects millions of children of divorce.

Finally, we see the generational affect of divorce. Brad’s parents and his brother are divorced, which shows how adult children of divorce sometimes carry on the family legacy. Yet, Brad’s other brother and Kate’s sister are both married, which gives the audience a sense of hope.

Without spoiling the end of the movie, I will say the characters do reach a resolution. While there are some morally objectionable scenes in the movie, the statement it makes about divorce and the long reaching affects makes for great conversation. If you can look past the language and crude references, I think you’ll find the social commentary spot on.