Family Reunion: A Relative Nightmare (1995) Melissa Joan Hart, Jason Marsden, David L. Lander, Romy Windsor Movie Review

Family Reunion: A Relative Nightmare (1995)   2/52/52/52/52/5


Family Reunion: A Relative Nightmare (1995)

Meemaw's 100th

Much to Billy Dooley's (Jason Marsden) ire it is the time of year when the entire Dooley family come together for a weekend long reunion, he really can't think of anything worse especially when it comes to spending time with his cousin, Mark Jr. (Peter Billingsley - A Christmas Story). But with this being Meemaw's 100th birthday everyone is playing ball when it comes to getting on and playing the usual family games at the Jamesons' family running holiday park. But things get interesting when Billy meets Samantha (Melissa Joan Hart - Christmas Snow), a runaway, lurking around the holiday park who is being chased by a couple of girls.

I have only just come across "Family Reunion: A Relative Nightmare" but I am wondering whether those involved in the making of this movie were told to try and come up with something along the lines of a National Lampoon's vacation movie but make it peachy clean and something more suitable to be shown on a family TV channel. Unfortunately whilst the intention might have been there to deliver a comedy about a teenager having to deal with his annoying relatives it ends up exceptionally groan worthy with so many moments of bad humour which fail to raise even a smile let alone a laugh. In fact this almost reminds me more of the later "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" movies with Billy Dooley being a little like Greg Heffley, especially as we are privy to his inner thoughts, not that those thoughts are that entertaining.

Now maybe "Family Reunion: A Relative Nightmare" did entertain audiences back in 1995 especially those who would have watched because they liked Melissa Joan Hart. But for me even the appearance of Melissa Joan Hart, as well as other familiar faces such as Peter Billingsley and Sara Rue, is unable to make this any more watchable.

What this all boils down to is that "Family Reunion: A Relative Nightmare" is a poor movie which I even wonder whether it worked on its original release. Maybe back in 1995 young children would have found this funny but watched now it has incredibly little to offer other than the sort of humour which makes you groan.


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