Interview with Alex Wurman; Composer of the Score for Four Christmases

Written By E. Corrado

When did you find out you were going to be working on Four Christmases? Just before the summer break. I was actually starting to listen to Christmas music in July because of it. It was a little challenging t0 get into the holiday spirit in the summertime.

What was it like working on Four Christmases? It was fun. And I really enjoyed working with Vince Vaughn. I remember him talking to me about this white gospel music from the 60’s and that was one way he wanted the score to sound but we ended up using more traditional Christmas music as references.

How does Four Christmases compare with another project you worked on - March Of The Penguins? Well they are both movies they take place in the winter and they both have a lot of heart but the similarity ends there. March Of The Penguins was a documentary and the music not only had to play the emotions of the story but also the penguins. For Four Christmases, the music needed to convey the difficulty the characters had to portray both comedically and somewhat dramatically.

When did you know that you wanted to be a composer? I came from a musical family. As a result I started writing music at seven years old. It was not until my mid 20's that I decided that I wanted to focus on composing. I had always thought that I would be more of a composer/performer, writing my own pieces and then performing them on stage but I am thrilled that my career as evolved that I can use all my musical influences into being a film composer.

What inspired you musically? I grew up studying the piano and listening to classical music like The Beatles and Bill Evans. When I was nine years old, Star Wars came out, and I fell in love with composer John Williams' score to that film. His music in that movie is amazing, as well as in Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, Catch Me If you Can, Munich, etc. He has such a tremendous range as a musician and I want to emulate that.

What instruments do you play? As a composer I need to know the sound of many instruments. I play many instruments but the ones I feel I play best are the piano, and the flügelhorn. I also really love the sound of either a violin played in the low register, or a viola. I just like something that is slightly lower than the highest in it’s group. I also love the cello, and the flute - it doesn’t matter how high the flute is played, I’ll always love a flute.

I recently played a solo flügelhorn on a movie called “Bernard and Doris”. I'm proud to say I received an Emmy nomination for that film.

Where did you study music? I attended the High School for the Performing Arts in Chicago, and the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago as well as The University of Miami for their jazz program.

Are there any scores that you’ve done that you aren’t happy with, or think that you could have done better? No, only because I could never say if I could do one better now, because the inspiration is in the moment. That moment will never be there again, but could I technically do it better now? Maybe. For example, recording is better, but the same inspiration wouldn’t be there because what is written is like a moment captured in time that can’t be repeated. i.e. I always loved the music in West Side Story, because that is like a moment in time with these people. What it comes down to, is that it’s not so much talent, as inspiration at the time.

What kind of music is your favorite to do? I enjoy classical scoring with an orchestra but I also love the challenge of scoring an indie movie with smaller groups of musicians where I have to depend on multiple layers of the sound to create a mood.

When composing music, what computer programs do you use? Logic Pro, and Logic Audio, which are kind of like more complex versions of Garageband. As well as ProTools.

What was your favorite movie to write music for, and why? March Of The Penguins because of the fact that these creatures make their journey and yearly cycle is amazing and inspiring. I actually got feedback after the movie came out from someone who’s father was dying, and one of the last things that they did together was see March Of The Penguins. This person sent me an e-mail saying that he bought the soundtrack, and now whenever he listens to it, it reminds him of that time together. I don’t think that there can be anything more rewarding then that.

What was your favorite part of doing the music for ‘Four Christmases’? I think it was hearing the orchestra performing White Christmas for the opening titles on this one. I was conducting the orchestra, and being a part of executing that moment with that classic piece of music was an amazing feeling.

What have you learned through conducting? I have learned that standing in front of an orchestra, I can communicate physically in addition to the notes they read on paper. I develop this relationship with the musicians and we experience the music simultaneously.

Can you tell us about any other upcoming projects that you are working on? I recently completed the score to What Doesn’t Kill You, that I’m very proud of. It was interesting to do, because the story is autobiographical so I’m not only writing the music about the film, I'm writing music about the director's life. Another one that I am working on is called Overnight.

One Movie, Five Views thanks Alex Wurman for taking the time to talk about his score for Four Christmases.

Four Christmases opened in theatres November 26th, 2008.

Four Christmases

November 26th, 2008

Rated PG-13 for some sexual humour and language.

Seth Gordon (dir.)

Alex Wurman (music)

Vince Vaughn as Brad

Reese Witherspoon as Kate

Robert Duvall as Howard

Sissy Spacek as Paula

Jon Voight as Creighton

Jon Favreau as Denver

Mary Steenburgen as Marilyn

Our reviews below:

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Four Christmases Review By John C.

**1/2 (out of four)

“You can’t spell families without lies” says Vince Vaughn’s character, Brad, in the new holiday movie Four Christmases. And it’s true, you can’t. Despite it’s title, Four Christmases feels like it should be taking place at American Thanksgiving instead of Christmas, but I guess “Four Christmases” sounds better then “Four Thanksgivings”. While it is funny and has it’s share of laugh-out-loud moments, it lacks the real heart that has been evident in many other holiday comedies, like Planes, Trains and Automobiles, and is not as funny as National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

This doesn’t mean it’s not still mildly worth seeing, the actors, leading and supporting, all get in their share of laughs, and the story is pretty good. It’s about a shallow couple who always ditch Christmas for the beaches of some hot country, and tell their families that they’re going off to do missionary work. But when all flights are canceled, they are forced to visit each of their parents, and both sets just happen to be divorced, hence the title Four Christmases. If you are excepting a sweet story of redemption, this is not it, even by the end they are still pretty shallow.

I liked watching Robert Duvall, Jon Voight, and Jon Favreau. Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon worked well as the two leads, and the whole supporting cast is made up of well known actors. But, is not really something that needs to be seen in theatres, as it would play just as well (if not better) on DVD, in time for next Christmas.

While it is by no means a classic, it is still fairly entertaining, and at a brisk speed of only 88 minutes, it doesn’t feel like your wasting too much time, either.

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Four Christmases Review By Erin V.

**1/2 (out of four)

Four Christmases is about Brad, (Vince Vaughn), and Kate, (Reese Witherspoon), a couple who always try to avoid the holidays with their families by pretending that they are doing missionary work in foreign countries. In reality they always go for a nice vacation on the beach, but this year, due to bad weather, all flights are canceled, and they are seen on the news at the airport by their parents. Now, with no excuse, they are forced to go see his father, and his mother, and her father, and her mother. (Both of their parents are divorced, hence the four Christmases.) Of course, being the kind of comedy that it is, things don’t really work out all that well. (If you’ve seen the trailer, you have a fairly accurate depiction of what this movie will be like.)

This was by no means a brilliant comedy, or movie for that matter. I have seen Christmas comedies that I have enjoyed a whole lot more than this one. For what it is, it is all right, and there were some laughs in certain scenes - but it doesn’t feel very Christmassy. This could have been any holiday, and I would have believed it just as much. Most Christmas movies that I have seen have more heart than this, and the characters are at least trying to like each other and get along by the end.

In short, I wouldn’t recommend going out to the theater to see this one, especially considering what else there is out right now, (like Bolt). But still, if you’re curious, it’s only 82 minutes long, and could be worth a rental on DVD.

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Four Christmases Review By Nicole

**1/2 (out of four)

Four Christmases is a funny and satirical physical comedy, about our dysfunctional society. It revolves around Kate and Brad, an unmarried couple who have a dilemma in common. Both of them are embarrassed by their families, and neither of them want to introduce the other to their respective parents, (both of whom are divorced couples). So they lie to their parents, saying that they are going on missionary work, when in reality, they are going on vacation to Fiji. But the flight gets canceled, and when Kate and Brad are interviewed on the news at the airport, the truth gets out. Both Kate and Brad have to visit all four of their parents’ houses for Christmas. From Brad’s redneck father’s house, with his two amateur wrestler brothers, to Kate’s wild little nieces and nephews, neither of them enjoy being with their dysfunctional families.

Some of the best laughs come from the dialogue between Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon. This film, as well as having some good laughs, also points out, (albeit in a very cynical way), the problems with today’s world of divorce, lying, lack of communication between family members, and the very damaging effect that the disintegration of a solid family unit has on people, especially children. It is apparent why Brad is afraid to marry Kate, because of a fear of commitment to love. One of the funniest, and most offensive scenes in the movie is when Brad butchers a nativity play, because he does not understand what Christmas means.

Although this movie is called “Four Christmases,” this film never gets into the Christmas spirit. The best scene in the movie is at Kate’s father’s house. In this scene, the family says grace, and a sense of love and forgiveness is present. This is the only scene in which love, and the true meaning of Christmas is portrayed. Sadly, this doesn’t last long, and even in the end, the families are not forgiven. (But there is some hope in the final scene that this may have to change.)

This movie is funny, but also sad in it’s reality of our antisocial society. While not suitable to bring the family to, due to it’s content, this movie is worth renting at any time of year. Sometimes it is good to laugh at what is wrong in our world.

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Four Christmases Review By Maureen

**1/2 (out of four)

Tis the season for holiday movies. Four Christmases is a new addition to the list of holiday themed comedy films that will be rented around Christmas time for years to come.

Four Christmases is about a young, shallow couple, Brad, (Vince Vaughn), and Kate, (Reese Witherspoon), who find themselves forced by circumstances to visit their respective divorced parents. The pair had avoided spending previous Christmases with their families for reasons that become obvious as the movie unfolds. Each visit is a disaster. The family members are obnoxious and the humour crude and played for cheap laughs. Fortunately Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon are solid actors with a good sense of comedic timing and help this movie rise above the somewhat cynical view of families and holiday celebrations.

There are many funny scenes in Four Christmases particularly the irreverent and somewhat offensive nativity play. While I laughed along with the rest of the audience, I found it hard to feel any sense of Christmas spirit at any point in this movie. Maybe it’s just me, but I prefer not to be cynical when it comes to Christmas. I enjoyed watching this movie while I was in the theater, but it won’t be on my list of must watch movies for Christmases to come.

I would say that if you find yourself at a mall with a movie theater and want to end your Christmas shopping excursion with some light holiday entertainment and have a few laughs, by all means go see Four Christmases. Otherwise wait till next Christmas when it’s a rental. Keep in mind this isn’t really a family Christmas movie. This one’s for 14 and up due to language and more adult humour.

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Four Christmases Review By Tony

**1/2 (out of four)

Determined to avoid the stress of their divorced parents, Brad (Vince Vaughn) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon) enjoy their shallow unmarried life together. Caught stranded at the airport on local television, they realize they won’t get away this Christmas without painful visits to each of their parents’ homes. In the first visit Brad is humiliated by his redneck father (Robert Duvall) and wrestling tag team brothers (Jon Favreau & Tim McGraw). Next Kate is forced to relive her past with her mother (Mary Steenburgen), her charismatic preacher lover (Dwight Yoakam) and her sister (Kristin Chenoweth). Then Brad must deal with his mother (Sissy Spacek) who has taken up with his childhood friend. Finally, they end up at the home of Kate’s father (Jon Voight). As the day goes on Brad and Kate both discover things they would never had revealed about each other. Seeing her sister and sister-in-law with their kids Kate wonders whether she and Brad should take their relationship that much further, but Brad balks at first. You can guess the epilogue. There are a lot of gags along the way, and the strong cast all live up to their stereotypical roles.

Four Christmases won’t be a Christmas classic, but it is an entertaining comedy, at least worth renting. _____________________________________________

Consensus: Four Christmases has a few good laughs, and a strong cast. While not one to make sure to catch in theaters, it is worth a rental. **1/2 (out of four)