Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
This Christmas (2007)
Director: Preston A. Whitmore II
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
User reviews of this film
-
- Marsha said...
- Posted on Nov 22 2009 14:03 Edit: I meant nice warm *family* movie
- Report as inappropriate
-
- 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.
- Report as inappropriate
-
- Shamila said...
- Posted on Dec 08 2007 13:24 Omg i reccommend everyone to go watch this movie, its really really good!!!!!
- Report as inappropriate
-
- zakiya said...
- Posted on Nov 27 2007 18:25 This movie is amazing!! Everyone should go to see it!!!!!
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Preston A. Whitmore II
Cast: Loretta Devine, Idris Elba, Regina King, Chris Brown, Delroy Lindo, Sharon Leal, Lauren London, Columbus Short, Laz Alonzo, Keith Robinson, Mekhi Phifer, David Banner full cast
Rated: 12A
Duration: 118 mins
UK Release: Nov 30 2007
US Release: Nov 21 2007
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Our verdict on Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones
Peter Jackson ends a triumphant decade with a sentimental misfire with this lush Alice Sebold adaptation
On the set of Ken Loach's 'Route Irish'
Dave Calhoun meets Ken Loach on the set of his forthcoming Iraq war movie
Stephen Poliakoff discusses 'Glorious 39'
Stephen Poliakoff’s ‘Glorious 39’ is his first film for cinema since ‘Food of Love’ in 1997. Dave Calhoun met him
Is 'Paranormal Activity' the new 'Blair Witch'?
How does a film go from DIY experiment to box-office smash? 'Paranormal Activity' director Oren Peli explains
Steven Soderbergh on 'The Informant!' and 'The Girlfriend Experience'
We talk to Steven Soderbergh about his two forthcoming films: one featuring a porn star, the other a chubby Matt Damon
A gateway to all things 'New Moon'
In anticipation of 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon', Time Out is offering the chance to pick up a limited edition pack with three exclusive magazines and a free poster.
London Children's Film Festival
Read our exclusive reviews of films playing at the 2009 London Children’s Film Festival
The films that deserve a TV spin-off
With Roland Emmerich suggesting he'd like to make a '2012' TV spin-off, we propose some more movie-to-TV serialisations
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations












What do you think?
Post your review now