HBOWatch Editors were not able to line-up a writer to review ALMOST CHRISTMAS. We guess no one is ready for anything to do with the Holidays or is just not into that Christmas in July thing. That doesn’t mean we don’t want to draw your attention to this PG-13 comedy, all 1 hour and 51 minutes worth.
It breaks down like this: The film opens in the 1970’s with a montage of Walter and Grace Meyers throughout their relationship. They fell in love and got married, raising four children together. In present day 2016, Grace passes away, leaving Walter all by himself now that his adult children have left the house.
It’s now ten months later and five days before Christmas. We catch up with the Meyers children – oldest daughter Cheryl (Kimberly Elise) is married to egocentric basketball player Lonnie (JB Smoove). Oldest son Christian (Romany Malco) is running for a congressman position and is married to Sonya (Nicole Ari Parker), and they have two kids, Cameron (Alkoya Brunson) and Dee (Marley Taylor). Rachel (Gabrielle Union) is a single mother to Niya (Nadej Bailey) and tries to maintain an independent image while trying to finish law school. Youngest child Evan (Jessie Usher) is a star college football player, and his mother’s death has affected him the hardest out of all the siblings. Walter is visited by Grace’s sister May (Mo’Nique), who is ready to help her brother-in-law get the family together. As the tagline says, “Five days together? Oh, joy!” And there is sure to be some before the final credits. Walter just wants one wish for one gift this holiday season: to get along. If they can honor that wish and spend five days under the same roof without killing one another, it will be a Christmas miracle.
What happens in that Holiday household could only happen to a loving family. Whether or not this movie warms your heart or puts you into a Christmas frame of mind to up to you. The movie from Universal Pictures, under the direction and screenplay of David E. Talbert (Baggage Claim) debuts on HBO on SATURDAY, JULY 29 at 8:00pm. Check out the trailer.
Yeah, we noticed Mo’Nique too. But is she enough to keep this movie going? Below Rotten Tomatoes weighs in:
So, not worth it at Yule time, but how about now? Let us know below.
