This Christmas attempts to look at a day (or two) in the life of the Whitfields, a middle-class black family in Los Angeles that has grown apart but now is trying to come together for the sake of the season. In reality, the film is a compilation of unbelievable and at times absurd coincidences thrown haphazardly together for the sake of creating a black family holiday movie.
Preston Whitmore’s predictable and sloppy storyline and choppy direction, coupled with uneven scene transitions, will prevent the film from being ranked among Soul Food and The Color Purple as a “black family classic” movie. But even with all of the film’s flaws, there is something about the Whitfield family that creates an enjoyable experience and allows the audience to walk away from the theatre smiling.
The undeniable chemistry among the cast members and their concerted effort to pull the story together made the film worthwhile even during its most implausible of moments.
Veteran actors Loretta Devine and Delroy Lindo are the glue that holds the family together in the film. The same can be said with respect to their performances and relationship with the cast. The strength of Devine as Ma Dere and Lindo as her live-in companion Joe anchor the cast. They refuse to allow co-stars to give up on the story, as if subliminally coercing them to reach and make the most of the film.
Most members of the family, from the youngest to the oldest, are in the midst of a crisis. A far cry from the strong and sassy roles in which she seems to be typecast, Regina King plays a docile and easily influenced housewife willing to jeopardize the family business to save her marriage. She is convincing in her portrayal of the weak, defeated woman who lives in a constant state of delusion regarding her marriage and overall happiness. King’s latest work illustrates her depth as a performer and lends a new perspective to her talent.
Although most eyes will probably be on Chris Brown as he makes his first attempt to transfer his heartthrob status from music to film, most of the cast – including Idris Elba, Lauren London (ATL), Sharon Leal (Dreamgirls, Why Did I Get Married) and Keith Robinson (Dreamgirls) – give noteworthy performances in This Christmas.
It appears that casting was given the most attention to detail, as each actor and actress made sense performing in his or her role. There was a connection among the ensemble that had a feeling of premeditation. The misfortune of the movie is that the same planning and precision was apparently absent from the screenwriting and direction.
While audiences will relish in the laughter, love and unbreakable family bond portrayed in the movie, the ghost of this film’s possibilities will haunt many. More meetings in the conception process, a couple of rewrites and key adjustments behind the lens could have catapulted This Christmas from a feel good dramady with better intentions than execution to an outstanding cinematic effort that portrays a slice of African-American life for the archives.
This Christmas opened in Theatres Wednesday, November 21. The film is rated PG with a running time of 117 minutes.
