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This Christmas (2007)

Director: Preston A. Whitmore II

Time Out rating

Average user rating

4 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Everyone brings something to the party as Loretta Devine’s LA matriarch Ma’Dere welcomes her clan for the holidays. Eldest daughter Lisa (Regina King) is concealing a faltering marriage, sibling Kelli (Sharon Leal) is lonely in her high-powered advertising job, while soldier son Claude (Columbus Short) has gone AWOL to make a surprise announcement, and errant older brother Quentin (Idris Elba) arrives with two bookies’ henchmen in tow. Since the hostess herself is trying to hide that she’s been living with church worker Joe (Delroy Lindo), the plot’s got no shortage of personal crises to get through, and the next couple of hours is spent ticking them off in strict adherence to soap opera predictability. That said, the actors are terrific, notably ever-solid Lindo, irrepressible King, and a star-making turn from Chris Brown as the conflicted teen with a secret vocal talent, while a top soundtrack selection of seasonal soul and funk classics proves a major asset. This is good-natured, determinedly aspirational African-American entertainment, but did it have to be quite so heavy on the clichés?

Author: Trevor Johnston

Time Out London Issue 1945: November 27-December 4 2007

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User reviews of this film

Marsha said...

Posted on Nov 22 2009 14:03 Edit: I meant nice warm *family* movie

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Marsha said...

Posted on Nov 22 2009 14:01 Yes it's cliched, but aren't most family/ Christmas movies. This was a nice warm daily move, reminded me of the movie Soul Food.

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Shamila said...

Posted on Dec 08 2007 13:24 Omg i reccommend everyone to go watch this movie, its really really good!!!!!

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zakiya said...

Posted on Nov 27 2007 18:25 This movie is amazing!! Everyone should go to see it!!!!!

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