The reviews lean positive on The Four Seasons, with praise clustering around its ensemble and its observations about middle-aged friendship and marriage. The warmer responses find the holiday gatherings funny, moving and welcoming despite the characters’ flaws. Colman Domingo draws particular praise, while The Guardian also singles out Steve Carell. For several critics, the appeal lies in the recognisable strains of long relationships and the cast’s ability to make small emotional moments count.
The spread is wide, however, and critics disagree over how well the comedy and drama fit together. Some find the gentler pace companionable; others find too few laughs and too little character development. Variety identifies an unsettled tone and a weakness for prolonged character study. The Telegraph goes further, finding the friendships bitter and the exchanges short on wit or insight. The central divide is over whether this company feels worth spending time with.