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brighten your spirits
This Christmas
by rick grant    rickgrant01@comcast.net
C+ Rated PG-13 117min

      An African-American family Christmas reunion inspired this blatantly feel-good holiday film. The premise pushes the black culture’s strong ties to a large extended family that has been harboring secrets, which come out during the gathering. The cast is packed with African-American stars and the setting is upperclass black society.
      Writer /director, Preston A. Whitmore’s script tries to avoid the overused black stereotypes but ends up going the other direction, in that the characters speak and behave in an unrealistic manner. However, blacks and whites will recognize the complex family dynamics as secrets gradually come out over the Christmas weekend. Since the holiday is an ad hoc reunion, family matriarch Ma’Dere Whitfield (Loretta Devin) eagerly awaits her brood’s homecoming. Ma’Dere’s live-in boyfriend Joe (Delroy Lindo) is liked by most of the family. Ma’Dere’s husband took off and hasn’t been seen in years.
      Youngest son, Baby (Chris Brown), and daughter Lisa (Regina King) are on hand to support Mom. Also, businesswoman Kelli (Sharon Leal) and conflicted college student Mel (Lauren London) add spice to the genetic gumbo. Returning Marine, Claude Whitfield (Columbus Short), is hiding the fact that he’s married to a pregnant white girl and has not told his family. Traveling musician, Quentin (Idris Elba), has a problem with Joe and shows up to create some friction. Lisa’s strikingly handsome husband Malcolm (Laz Alonso) is cheating on her, and her sister Mel tells her that she is wrong to put up with his serial philandering.
      The scenario is bent on showing that whatever happens between the family members, they are unified by the family and Ma’Dere forgives them and, in one scene, reminds them that family ties trump all other relationship matters. For casual viewers, this film is fun holiday fare as the family’s dirty little secrets are revealed. Claude is AWOL from his unit and is caught by the cops. He never gets the chance to tell the family about his new white wife. She shows up and causes quite a stir, but is accepted into the family.
      Director Whitmore has a natural sense of rhythm orchestrating the musical numbers and dialogue with much attention to detail. This joyous black family reminds us of how close the African-American community is to their large family structures. Those of us who didn’t have that type of upbringing envy the fictional Whitfields. To them, home is a shelter from the storm of real life, and Mom will always be there with her lavish meals and rousing good times. The audience with which I viewed the film was laughing and having a great time identifying with the various characters. This bodes well for the film having a successful run at the box office.
      The focus on family values makes this holiday movie special and entertaining. Sure, we get a lot of schlock this time of year, but Preston Whitmore’s script and direction have created a classic Christmastime film that will brighten the spirits of holiday viewers–both black and white. The point is–strong family bonds are important to any ethnic group.

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