Almost Christmas – Film Review by Emily Elphinstone

Director: David E. Talbert
Writer: David E. Talbert
Stars: Kimberly Elise, Omar Epps, Danny Glover

In recent years the inevitable cinematic tragi-comedy about a dysfunctional family returning home for Christmas, has become as sure a sign of the impending festivities as switching on the Christmas lights. Much of the time it seems these films are as disposable for their creators as they may be for the audience, ensuring that they’ll only be seen in future by comatose audiences dozing in front of the television.

It’s nice to see a festive film then, that not only has an awareness of its genre, but also brings its own humour to the party; and Almost Christmas does just that. Of course the classic elements are still there: The returning siblings have a long standing feud, secret personal struggles, and a deep love for their (recently departed) mother. They also have highly specific and contrasting careers, from the aspiring congressman to the sports star (Jessie T. Usher, best known for Independence Day: Resurgence); the pre-law single mother, to the diva backing singer. But refreshingly, these character stereotypes manage to have genuine personality and depth, led by a brilliant performance from Danny Glover as father Walter.

Getting the rosy images of Christmases past out of the way quickly in an opening montage, we land finally on a lonely Walter preparing the family home in Alabama for the first Christmas without his wife. His many attempts to create her legendary Sweet Potato Pie show just how lost he is without her; and this doesn’t get any easier with the onslaught of squabbling relatives, starting with his diva sister in law Aunt May (Mo’Nique). What makes the predictable story so enjoyable, is the chemistry between the characters. This makes their relationships wholly believable, with the sense that the cast and crew had a great time making the film. Writer/Director David E Talbert (First Sunday, Baggage Claim) also makes the most of the younger characters, who look on in bemusement at the growing chaos, camera phones at the ready to record every moment of the family’s increasingly farcical meltdown.

Almost Christmas may stay firmly within the over-familiar Christmas movie format which has become so popular in the last few years, but at least it has a lot of fun doing it.