User reviews

This movie is one of those that should and will resonate with everyone. A heart filled, crazy, emotional, and tender look at family. How and why we can drive each other crazy, drive each other away, yet just as easily lift each other up, pull each other through, and make each other strong – when not trying to kill one another.

Danny Glover back on the big screen heads up the strong cast as the patriarch of the Meyer family as they deal with the loss of the beloved matriarch whom held them altogether. Mo'Nique brings her A game as the over the top, flamboyant, hard drinking, shoot from the hip, no bull@$#& aunt. J.B. Smoove is Uncle Lonnie, his typical fast talking shuckin' and jivin' self as only he can be.

The soundtrack is great. From the opening credit sequence it sets the perfect tone and pulls you into the story and is as impactful as a soundtrack should be.

For all the positives of this film, however, I found the pacing (especially the first half) extremely uneven. I found myself repeated pulled in and engaged in the fun/drama only to have punctuated drawn out moments of "meh" wash over me and my interest wane. Fortunately, the second half of the film hits its stride and the movie finishes strong, including some nice outtakes at the beginning of the end credits.

I did get some good laughs and even teared up a couple of times, but, I'm going to give this one a 5.5 and suggest it as a rental/stream.

We're only a week away from Thanksgiving, and yet most people seem to be planning their holiday season before they even think about turkey. While I wish that the November holiday got a little more attention, who can blame people from wanting to bring in the magic of the Christmas season? Our world is now dazzled in bright lights, red and green colors all over, and a chance to better relationships. Something about life seems warmer whether were selecting a tree or the living room, lighting a new candle for Chanukah, or simply wishing someone a better new year.

For a lot of people, the holidays mean having to visit family. I think it's safe to say that no matter who we love, there is at least one person in your family that you'd rather not speak to on a daily basis. So why do we put a lot of focus on our family gatherings if we know that things won't change? I think it's a matter of both keeping tradition, but of also gratefulness. The odd feeling with family is at least some feeling as we could be in a position without any loved ones (like how some people are unfortunately in that position). One family in Almost Christmas deals with a father trying to bring his kids together without drama.

In Atlanta, Georgia, the Meyers family seems to be a nice crew of people to be with around the holidays. The patriarch, Walter (played by Danny Glover) is a retried mechanic who has let his wife Grace handle the majority of the meal planning while letting their four children run amok. Tragically, Grace dies from an unspecified heart condition, making Walter question just how he can handle his old home and keeping his adult children together.

First to arrive is his eldest daughter Charyl (played by Kimberly Elise) who is a dentist and has brought her husband former basketball star Lonnie (played by J.B. Smoove) and their daughter. Next is eldest son Malachi (played by Romany Malco) who is trying to spend time with his family while running for congress. Then we have youngest daughter Cheryl (played by Kimberly Elise), whose seems to be in between jobs while raining her daughter. Finally we have youngest son Evan (played by Jessie Usher) who is a football star at his college. Oh, and Grace's sister aunt May (played by Mo'Nique) Can Walter manage to keep the family at peace in his first Christmas without his wife?

The trouble with trying to get out a good Christmas movie (and I LOVE Christmas films) is all about creating realistic conflict that we can relate to and why the holidays are a good time to resolve them. Almost Christmas plays off like a lot of those television movies on Hallmark, which usually means that their never great. This is defiantly no Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, or Elf, but this is far from even the worst. The movie has its moments where it's drama seems genuine, especially whenever it focuses on Danny Glover and his children.

While I'd like to follow Glover, the rest of the family doesn't have much interesting. I don't blame it on the actors, but the script gives them cliché moments like the cheating husband, the father that works too hard, or the grief of loosing a mother. I don't have a problem with any of this, but Almost Christmas doesn't find any new ways to tell that story. As I said, actors like Danny Glover, Mo'Nique, and J.B. Smoove did get a laugh out of me and are enough to keep the movie going when it needs to.

I'll give this five sweet potato pies out of ten. At it's worst, its boring. But at it's best, it's inoffensive. As far as Christmas movies goes, I could easily see this playing on a Sunday afternoon on Hallmark or TNT. Those that aren't bothered by tired story elements will probably find this one passable. I doubt I'll spend more time with the Meyers family, but don't see any reason for other people to join them.

The movie wasn't a cliche, feel good, cheesy christmas movie. The family drama was intense and it was nicely put, but it got boring at times. The performances were pretty decent too.

Review Date 4/30/2019

I Have Reviewed OVER 500 "Christmas Films and Specials". Please BEWARE Of films and specials with just one review! For instance When "It's a POSITIVE" chances are that the reviewer was involved with the production. "If its Negative" then they may have a grudge against the film for whatever reason. I am fare about these films.

Huge ensemble movies about family are hard to pull off but this film made it look easy. The chemistry was great with all of them. I love the fact that this film could be about any family. Its very funny. I love the scene where they bring out "grandma".

Walter Meyer (Danny Glover) is a retired mechanic who lost the love of his life one year earlier. Now that the holiday season is here, he invites daughters Rachel (Gabrielle Union) and Cheryl (Kimberly Elise) and sons Christian (Romany Malco) and Evan (Jessie T. Usher) to his house for a traditional celebration. Poor Walter soon realizes that if his bickering children and the rest of the family can spend five days together under the same roof, it will truly be a Christmas miracle.

It is sad that many people will pass on watching this and that is a shame.

Add this to your must see watch list of Christmas films.

I thought the movie was put together well for the most fun effect.

Really like the opening montage that explained the family origins and the plot of the movie. Done very well.

Love the very well known black cast that fills the film. The only people who I never seen before were the actors playing the children. Although I cannot recall if these actors have worked together before (With the exception of Romany Malco, Nicole Ari Parker and J B Smooth all being cast members of Kevin Hart's show Real House Husbands of Atlanta), I did see some good chemistry among the cast.

Yes, a lot of it was cliché with typical family archetypes like Kimberly Elise as Cheryl, the older sister who has got her life together (on the surface anyway) and judges her little sister Rachel, played by Gabrielle Union for not having hers together, and Jesse T. Usher as Evan, the young bratty baby brother whose the most emotional and it sends him down a dark path.

But the cast is amazing, made up of seasoned players who are experts in the roles they play. I really liked Danny Glover as the center of the household force to keep it together as the family celebrate their 1st Christmas without his wife, the real backbone of the family. JB Smooth was real funny, but Mon'Niqe was really killing it as Aunt May. Every laugh out loud joke in it, she was a part of.

It's a well played hand. The clichés are just that, but the cast is good at bringing life to them enough to take you off your guard with laughter and get you all choked up about celebrating the holiday season with your family.

We just got finished stuffing our faces with turkey, pie, yams, macaroni and cheese and stuffing. Before we can even go back for seconds, and pack away some leftovers, we get flooded with holiday themed entertainment. Almost Christmas, is the first holiday themed movie to hit the big screen. It is the latest Christmas film that represents the entire dysfunctional family getting together for Christmas. I know what you are thinking, and the answer is yes. This type of film has been done so many times before. The dysfunctional family ripping at each other's throats, using profanity at each other and by the end of the movie, they are all smiling, drinking eggnog (elf cum just kidding) and singing Kumbaya while looking at a glaring Christmas tree. On the other hand, this film truly does have an all-star cast, the director has improved from his last film, it is entertaining, and this film is a nice way to start the holiday season.

Written and directed by David E. Talbert (Baggage Claim), the film depicts a family coming together for the holidays soon after their beloved matriarch has died. Widower Walter Meyers, played by Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon, The Color Purple), a well-off, retired automotive engineer, hosts the gathering at his comfortable home in Birmingham, Alabama (Even though the movie was filmed in Georgia).

The attendees include Cheryl, played by Kimberly Elise (For Colored Girls, Diary of a Mad Black Woman), Walter's oldest daughter; her sister Rachel, played by Gabrielle Union (Meet Dave, The Birth of a Nation), with whom she has a contentious relationship; oldest son Christian, played by Romany Malco (The 40 Year Old Virgin, The Love Guru), an ambitious politician running for Congress; and much younger son Evan (Jessie T. Usher), who's becoming hooked on painkillers while recuperating from a recent sports injury. Along with other cast members J.B. Smoove, Mo'Nique, Omar Epps, Gladys Knight, John Michael Higgins, and Nicole Ari Parker.

So, the first thing I would like to talk about is the cast. Oh my God, this is a good cast, and it is the cast that makes this movie so much better than what it should be. I know I mentioned how this films plot is something a majority of people have seen, especially in the Christmas genre. But, the cast really lights things up this holiday season (that pun wasn't intended, and if it was it was pretty lame). The real stand out cast members are J.B. Smoove (Hall Pass, The Sitter) and Mo'Nique (Precious, Phat Girlz). Mo'Nique is hilarious as the wig-wearing, ready to fight, drunk, name-dropping Aunt May, who has "performed" for Mick Jagger and Chaka Khan and enjoys imparting all of her wisdom to Walter and her nieces and nephews. I never thought I would say this, but Danny Glover has literally been out performed by everyone! Really, the cast is the redeeming quality for this film. One thing I have to get off my chest is the character Jasmine, played by Keri Hilson. God Lord was that lady fine!

Also, this film is a comedy and a drama. The movie does have some decent laughs, but nothing really very new. The best comedy bits really do come from Mo'Nique and J.B. Smoove, and it is usually through dialogue. The director did improve from his last film, so I feel like he is getting more efficient with filmmaking. Where this movie falls flat is the script. The script is so generic and been there done that type of story, even for a holiday themed movie. Similarly, I would consider this more of a comedy than a drama. The drama is a little bland. Its most dramatic plot elements revolve around Walter's ability to replicate his late wife's sweet potato pie recipe and his decision to possibly sell the family house without informing his children. Danny Glover's youngest son Evan is addicted to painkillers in the movie, and that should have been a little more dramatic. When a pie is more in depth with development and more dramatic than his son being an addict, I think, that is when the script should have some re-writes. Maybe, the son could have overdosed, become more violent towards family members, clutch his chest while singing deck the halls, fall backwards into the Christmas tree and suddenly stopped breathing, anything really. I just feel like that character was underwritten.

So these are my final B*tchin' Buddha thoughts on the film Almost Christmas. The films plot is a little weak, but has a cast that keeps it strong. We get all our usual Christmas movie moments. Putting a giant Santa Claus statue on the roof that doesn't go according to plan, kids giving words of wisdom to adults in need, a character putting his family first and work second, joyful dancing in the living room, and the big surprise at Christmas dinner. I hope I didn't spoil the movie for anyone, because none of these elements in a Christmas movie are new. On the other hand, families will enjoy it, it will get you in the holiday spirit, and I personally had a good time. I am going to give Almost Christmas a…

7 out of 10!

Thank you all so much for reading and or viewing. The holidays are around the corner, so I hope you all enjoy yourselves. Don't worry, after the holidays it is back to work, school, and hittin' the gym to shred off all that turkey weight. I hope you all enjoyed this quick review, and remember don't just get down but get Boogie. :)

Danny Glover plays an aging widower in this holidays movie. It's been a year since his wife died and now all of his children are gathering back home for Christmas. All the children have problems of their own.

And that's about it. This is about as by the numbers Christmas family drama as you can make it. It's almost comical how every single character has their own little drama moment, their own little life crisis to be solved through the magic of Christmas. And they're such clichéd problems as well. One of the has forgotten to make time for their family. One of them is using a bit too many pills. One of the them doesn't know what direction to take in their life. One of them has problems with their spouse. They're so inoffensive that it's almost offensive in and on itself.

And it's not like the movie isn't well-acted. These are good actors, all of them, with Glover being a legend in his own right. Rather it's the script that doesn't have any backbone to it, nothing to say or to convey.

Then again, even though I was more than a bit exasperated with it, the film is, in the end, harmless. I know that's a faint praise to give, but then, it's a pretty faint movie experience.

See it, don't see it it. It probably won't make much of a difference either way.

So fun! I laughed, I cried - the two hallmarks for a great movie in my book! I loved the cast, the set design, the music and the story! There were no awkward scenes in my opinion. I thought the directing and photography were close to perfect. But the story which had multiple characters going through personal growth is the essence of a great movie and we have that here. This will be added to my top five favorite Christmas movies.

This movie showed a beautiful family, with flaws, coming together again. I cried several times. All the actors had great chemistry with each other. Not sure how anyone disliked this movie when it was as heart warming as it was.

Almost Christmas is enjoyable. The cast is great and definitely does a wonderful job at acting as a family. The jokes were funny and the story was interesting. I loved getting to see all the different families go through difficult situations but come together as a family. It's not the best Christmas movie, but I'd say it's worth the watch.

After 10-months when his wife Grace passed, Walter (Danny Glover) wants to bring the family together for a Christmas dinner and that may be the last one since he is thinking of selling the house, but has told no one. He knows it won't be easy since many of his children have issues with each other. He just asks them for 5- days to be civil to each other until Christmas.

This is touted as comedy but I found nothing funny in here, no clever lines or good sight-gags. Well, they tried a funny sight-gag when Lonnie (J.B. Smoove) tries to set up the Santa and sleigh on a roof that was not funny, over-acted and actually, quite annoying. Okay, they tried another one when Rachel gets stuck in a window ledge trying to get inside. Could have been funny. Wasn't.

I would call this a slice of life that many will recognize as something that may have happened in their lives during a Christmas or some- such holiday when all are not so civil to each other. Hey, it happens. For a Christmas movie there is very little Christmas music in here.

In time we learn all the issues each sibling has with each other and we really don't care about them, but you know the script, by the end of all this, will resolve everything. And then all are happy. Nice, eh?

Danny Glover is always good in any role he takes. As Walter he has a lot on his mind: selling the house, making sure his kids don't kill each other and looking constantly for the recipe his wife Grace used to make her masterpiece: Sweet Potato Pie.

Notables: the siblings: Gabrielle Union as Rachel a single mother trying to finish law school; Kimberly Elise as Cheryl who is married to Lonnie a one-time basketball star; Romany Malco as Christian the politician who is married to Sonya (Nicole Are Parker); Jessie T. Usher as Evan the High School basketball star who hopes to make it to the pros.

Other notables: John Michael Higgins as Brooks the manager of Christian running for Congress; Omar Epps as Malachi who is constantly after Rachel as his love interest; and Mo'Nique as Aunt May and Walter's sister-in-law. And let's not forget Keri Hilson as Jasmine who Rachel invites to the Christmas dinner knowing this will upset Cheryl because she, Rachel, knows Lonnie had sex with Jasmine. You will learn that Rachel and Cheryl can't stand each other.

The story moves along at a good pace, the dialogues come quick, but again nothing funny as I saw it. There should be a category that lists some movies as: COULD HAVE BEEN FUNNY. Okay then, that is my category. This is pleasant, not funny, but more of a kind of slice of life story. Kinda. (5/10)

Violence: Not really. Sex: No. Nudity: No .Language: Small stuff and not much of it.

Mo'Nique and many of the cast rock the roles! Good for a couple laughs over the holidays

Monique and many of the cast rock their roles. Good for a laugh over the holidays

Not perfect but a good one of it's kind. Story about struggles in the family. It is personal - a mother is indeed the great foundation of the family. Once she's gone, it causes great shaking in the relationship. It is funny since the actors are naturally are. Note: I didn't cry but I laughed.

I love IMDb and find the user reviews to be very informative reading. I wouldn't consider myself a "power user" however so have never written one....until now.

I do so to tell you how god damn awful this film is. The acting is lame and the plot is highly unoriginal. My girlfriend and I successfully predicted some of the lines just as they were about to be delivered. It's a cross between all the worst parts of The Cosby Show and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation while containing none of their virtues. Stick to the latter if you're looking for some xmas feel-good light entertainment. It's shocking how a director like this could demand such a large budget (17 million was it?).

Avoid this at all costs!

There must be something wrong with me because I really enjoyed this movie. I'm so happy that there wasn't a "big" tree lighting to go to and they weren't trying to save the town. Quite the opposite - just a good old family Christmas with Monique who steals the show. Great, great casting all around.

Almost Christmas is not even almost original. It is larded with clichés and stereotypes about a black dysfunctional family celebrating the 5 days until Christmas. Along the way is the usual squabbling, infighting, and romance with a very heavy dose of sentiment about patriarch Walter's (Danny Glover) loss of his wife, and their mother, a year ago.

The intermittent episodes of grief for her are too many and sap the comedy from the film. Yes, some amusing moments creep in and out, especially the dinner scene where an errant husband played by a writer, actor, J.B. Smoove receives his comeuppance. The timing is as good as that of the best comedies of the Three Stooges or Martin and Lewis.

Mo'Nique as Aunt May steals the show with black mamma stereotyping but a real flare for comedy that makes the cliché feel fresh. Although her language is frequently peppered with variations of "your ass," she has a twinkle that brings out the house's laughter.

All dad wants as a present is for them to get along. Most of the time they don't, but, hey, if they did, there'd be no action worth chronicling.

Little bit a surprise film. Most probably the best Christmas comedy of the season, yet I watched it very late. It's a family get together theme, but for the Christmas celebration. So after their mother recently passed away, all the children come to celebrate the festival with their father for not let him be alone for the occasion. But it is not a perfect family. They all seeing each other after a long time and they bring their works, issues and everything along. With differences, debate, fight and all hell set loose.

I have seen plenty of similar themed films, this was no different, yet somewhat enjoyable. Because this kind of film is thematically same, but usually screenplay and the comedy parts are derived. If they make those parts right, then it'll meet somewhat viewer's expectation and do better at the box office. A decent cast, though Danny Glover presence was the film's highlight. Well created characters and the executions were not bad either. Surely you would laugh aloud in a few scenes. Bit a long film, but engaging plot. Overall an average film, yet the comedy parts was the best.

5/10

Ever since I've found about this movie i watch it every year during the holidays to get a good laugh

This movie is unfortunate giving all of the acting talent present. It's another film centered around a typical dysfunctional family that is dealing with the recent passing of its matriarch at the first family Christmas since her passing. Of course all of the trivial and not well thought out issues are resolved by the end. There are those heart string tugging moments and excellent music choices that will bring back some good memories, but don't let that fool you into thinking this is a quality film. Bottom line, watch it once and then go get your favorite Christmas films that you love to watch every year. For something similar and far superior watch "This Christmas" because that is more real if you know what I mean.

David E. Talbert is well versed in fusing comedy and drama with family and relationships; with a growing list of movies like First Sunday and Baggage Claim, proving to be a talented writer as well as being at the helm. 

This time round it's Christmas themed relating to many dysfunctional families at this festive, yet sometimes troublesome time of year. It's the first Christmas since the Matriarch of the Meyer's family passed away, and following tradition, the large family gather at the family home to celebrate and be festive. 

As expected, no family gathering, especially of this magnitude goes without drama, as the family try to be civil to another while respecting the family home and head of the family, Walter Meyer. All trying to survive the five day run up to Christmas Day. 

It's great to see Danny Glover who doesn't seem to have aged at all and maybe he isn't actually getting too old for this s$%t. Though I kept seeing the Murtaugh household, half expecting a car bursting into the lounge or even Riggs to turn up eating dog biscuits. Alas, not. 

Mo'Nique is incredible as the flamboyant, fast-quipping, verbal bashing Aunt May who does her best to keep the family in check but it's an impossibility with the clashes of egos and different personalities. One narcissistic ex-basketball player, a control freak, the young up and coming pro football player and one running for congress are just a few. 

It's well paced, and nicely shot with a lovely ambiance to it. It's comical, with some laugh out loud moments but it's far from being the funniest film of the year and it could be comparable to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation but actually loses its festive feeling rather quickly, even the ending, though touching in parts loses any feeling of Christmas all together. 

It's enjoyable, light hearted, entertaining and better than expected. Not quite worth the big screen ticket but great for an easy-going comedy. 

Running Time: 8 The Cast: 8 Performance: 8 Direction: 8 Story: 7 Script: 8 Creativity: 6 Soundtrack: 6 Job Description: 6 The Extra Bonus Point: 0 Would I buy the Blu-ray?: Most likely stream. 

65% 7/10