80
By turns hilarious and wounding.
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What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
80
The New York Times by Dana Stevens
It unfolds with the verve and clarity of a piece of music, carefully composed and passionately played.
75
Christian Science Monitor by David Sterritt
The fine cast helps an old-fashioned screenplay seem reasonably fresh most of the time.
50
San Francisco Chronicle by Edward Guthmann
Sweet and insubstantial -- just like the French Christmas cake for which it's named.
60
Sweet but slight pièce de fluff.
50
New York Post by Jonathan Foreman
Engaging in a soap operatic, rather glib way.
70
Chicago Reader by 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.
80
Los Angeles Times by Kevin Thomas
With its lovely images of wintertime Paris and its lyrical Michel Legrand music, La Bu^che does take the cake.
50
Austin Chronicle by 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.
80
Washington Post by Michael O'Sullivan
A confection that is ultimately better because of its bitterness.