Like many holiday films, THIS CHRISTMAS mines the ample humor and drama of a family Christmas. Ma'Dere (Loretta Devine) is the matriarch to the large and loving Whitfield family, which consists of her three daughters--Kelli (Sharon Leal), Lisa (Regina King), and Mel (Lauren London)--and her sons--Michael (Chris Brown), Claude (Columbus Short), and Quentin (Idris Elba). They are an extremely attractive and successful bunch, but no sooner have they shared their first meal together than the hidden tensions begin to boil to the surface. Long-kept secrets come tumbling out, and the Whitfields soon engender enough drama to support several spin-off soap operas. There's interracial marriage, infidelity, gambling debts, an AWOL soldier, and repressed dreams of musical stardom, to name just a few of the issues they are forced to tackle in between stuffing the turkey and decorating the tree. Will their many problems and misunderstandings be resolved by Christmas day? Since this is a family holiday flick, the odds are, of course, quite good.
Despite the often heavy subject matter, the film has the glow and sheen of a lighthearted romantic comedy. The characters may be awash in drama, but they contend with their troubles in impeccable wardrobes and settings, so that even the barroom brawls have an almost cozy look to them. While some might feel the packed storyline was in more need of trimming than the tree, the tidy ending makes for perfect feel-good holiday fare. If only all family discord could end with a dance-off to Kool & the Gang!
Blu-ray Disc Features:
Region A
Anamorphice Widescreen 2.40
Keep Case
Audio:
Dolby Digital TrueHD 5.1 - English, French, Portuguese
Dolby Digital 5.1 - Spanish, Thai
Subtitles - Chinese, English, French, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai - Optional
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary - Cast Commentary With Regina King, Sharon Leal And
Lauren London
Deleted/Extended Scenes
Introduction - Preston A. Whitmore Introduces Cast/Crew
Music Video - This Christmas Music Video - Chris Brown, Performer
Distributor Notes: This year Christmas with the Whitfields promises to be one they will never forget. All the siblings have come home for the first time in years and they've brought plenty of baggage with them. As the Christmas tree is trimmed and the lights are hung, secrets are revealed and family bonds are tested. As their lives converge, they join together and help each other discover the true meaning of family.
Source: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
Director of Photography
Alexander Gruszynski: Director, BLACK DAWN (2005)
Review 1:
"[The cast is] a powerhouse group, beginning with a blazing Loretta Devine...and the great Regina King..." -- Grade: B
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.117 11/30/2007
Review 2:
"[W]ith a festive jazz soundtrack and shot in widescreen compositions that invitingly capture the fast-changing groupings of a large family gathering."
Source: Sight and Sound
p.83-84 02/01/2008
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