La Bûche

Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington

A fine French comedy-drama.

The New York Times Dana Stevens

It unfolds with the verve and clarity of a piece of music, carefully composed and passionately played.

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

With its lovely images of wintertime Paris and its lyrical Michel Legrand music, La Bu^che does take the cake.

Village Voice Amy Taubin

By turns hilarious and wounding.

Washington Post Michael O'Sullivan

A confection that is ultimately better because of its bitterness.

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

The fine cast helps an old-fashioned screenplay seem reasonably fresh most of the time.

Philadelphia Inquirer Desmond Ryan

Suave, witty and wonderfully acted ensemble piece.

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

The plot turns on the complicated lives of the daughters, who are played by Sabine Azema, Emmanuelle Beart, and Charlotte Gainsbourg; they, Fabian, and Rich are the main reasons for seeing this picture.

Boston Globe Leighton Klein

The film's invented Paris -- endless restaurants, boutiques, and impossibly large apartments, with a little artificial ''grit'' thrown in -- is pretty, and the neatly wrapped plot provides the comforting illusion that one's own family dramas can be as easily and amusingly resolved.

New York Daily News Jack Mathews

Enjoy Christmas in Paris, if you don't have enough problems of your own, with this slice of family life from French director Daniele Thompson.

LA Weekly Ella Taylor

Sweet but slight pièce de fluff.

Austin Chronicle Marc Savlov

Not likely to win any hearts or minds this holiday season, La Bûche finally scores points by virtue of its inoffensiveness: Relax, pour a cuppa nog, and watch somebody else muck up the holidays for once.

New York Post Jonathan Foreman

Engaging in a soap operatic, rather glib way.

San Francisco Chronicle Edward Guthmann

Sweet and insubstantial -- just like the French Christmas cake for which it's named.

TV Guide Ken Fox

A good opportunity to catch some marvelous acting.