This Christmas (2007)

This Christmas feels special because it captures the messy, loud, loving truth of a family reunion—the kind where the food is hot, the laughter is real, and old wounds sit down at the table too. Preston A. Whitmore II keeps the tone warm and bustling, letting comedy and drama trade places the way they do in real living rooms, while a terrific ensemble (with Delroy Lindo’s steady presence and Idris Elba’s crackling edge) makes every glance and outburst feel earned. It’s a holiday movie with genuine heart, not because everything is perfect, but because it believes people can still show up for each other when it counts. Fair warning: it’s more grown-up and rowdy than cozy, with some strong language and heated confrontations, but if you want a Christmas film that feels alive, this one delivers.

This Christmas wants to be a warm, big-family holiday reunion where old wounds surface, secrets spill, and everyone finds their way back to love by Christmas morning. The problem is it often plays like a checklist of familiar sitcom-drama conflicts—cheating spouse, money arguments, hidden marriage, gambling trouble—so the “twists” land more predictable than poignant, and the pacing can feel busy without building much surprise. Still, the cast (especially Loretta Devine and Delroy Lindo) brings enough charm and emotional steadiness to make the family moments watchable, and the music gives it a cozy seasonal lift. If you’re craving a fresh, sharply written holiday film, this may feel formulaic, but if you just want comforting Christmas messiness with a likable ensemble, it does the job.