This Christmas

views updated

This Christmas ★★ 2007 (PG-13)

After several years apart, the Whitfields are reunited for the holidays at the solidly upper-middle-class family home in L.A. Ma'Dere (Devine) is the matriarch of this African American family whose members include the military son Claude (Short), the musician son Quentin (Elba), oldest daughter Lisa (King), workaholic Kelli (Leal), college student Mel (London), and Baby (Brown), who announces his plan to follow their long-absent father into the jazz world. His is not the only bombshell to fall as everyone has a turn having his or her buttons pushed. Ma'Dere's long-time boyfriend Joe (Lindo) does a great job of holding everyone together long enough for them to realize what a treasure they have in each other. A tad overdone and over the top but still a fun holiday romp. 117m/C DVD . US Delroy Lindo, Idris Elba, Loretta Devine, Sharon Leal, Lauren London, Reina King, Christopher Brown, Keith D. Robinson, Laz Alonso, Columbus Short, Mekhi Phifer; D: Preston A. Whitmore II; W: Preston A. Whitmore II; C: Alexander Grusynski.

More From encyclopedia.com