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Almost Christmas

Almost Christmas

Comedy · Drama · 2016

A dysfunctional family gathers together for their first Christmas since the death of their matriarch.

Movie details

Almost Christmas

“Five days together? Oh joy.”

2016 Comedy · Drama 1h 51m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.0 / 10

Community rating

A dysfunctional family gathers together for their first Christmas since the death of their matriarch.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Almost Christmas?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

It Runs in the Family

It Runs in the Family

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This is the story of a dysfunctional New York family, and their attempts to reconcile

The Good Half

The Good Half

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Renn Wheeland returns home to Cleveland for his mother's funeral. Once there, he forges new relationships while healing old ones, before confronting his problems and trying to face his grief.

Jack Frost

Jack Frost

Comedy · 1998

A father who can't keep his promises dies in a car accident. One year later, he returns as a snowman, who has one final chance to put things right with his son before he is gone forever.

Free Rein: The Twelve Neighs of Christmas

Free Rein: The Twelve Neighs of Christmas

Comedy · 2018

As Bright Fields preps for its Mistletoe Ball, a broken ornament leads Zoe to a family secret, while Gaby finds herself at the mercy of new boss Mia.

A Veteran's Christmas

A Veteran's Christmas

TV Movie · 2018

Captain Grace Garland, a decorated U.S. veteran, returns home after two tours of Search and Rescue in Afghanistan. After being separated from her beloved K9 partner, Grace must rediscover the magic of Christmas. When she finds herself stranded in the town of River’s Crossing a couple weeks before Christmas, the local judge, Joe Peterson, offers her a place to stay on his property and takes it upon himself to show Grace everything she has been missing; Christmas, family, community, and love.

Pieces of April

Pieces of April

Comedy · 2003

Quirky and rebellious April Burns lives with her boyfriend in a low-rent New York City apartment miles away from her emotionally distant family. But when she discovers that her mother has a fatal form of breast cancer, she invites the clan to her place for Thanksgiving. While her father struggles to drive her family into the city, April -- an inexperienced cook -- runs into kitchen trouble and must ask a neighbor for help.

Best Man Down

Best Man Down

Comedy · 2012

A newlywed couple cancels their honeymoon and returns to the snowy Midwest to make the funeral arrangements for their best man, who died unexpectedly after their ceremony.

Noelle

Noelle

Family · 2019

Kris Kringle's daughter, Noelle, sets off on a mission to find and bring back her brother, after he gets cold feet when it's his turn to take over as Santa.

Noel

Noel

Drama · 2004

With Christmas Eve just around the corner in bustling New York, five lonely and sad strangers find their lives inadvertently intersected.

Miracle on 34th Street

Miracle on 34th Street

Comedy · 1947

Kris Kringle, seemingly the embodiment of Santa Claus, is asked to portray the jolly old fellow at Macy's following his performance in the Thanksgiving Day parade. His portrayal is so complete that many begin to question if he truly is Santa Claus, while others question his sanity.

Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

David E. Talbert

Written by

David E. Talbert

Kimberly Elise

Kimberly Elise

Cheryl

Omar Epps

Omar Epps

Malachi

Danny Glover

Danny Glover

Walter

John Michael Higgins

John Michael Higgins

Brooks

Romany Malco

Romany Malco

Christian

Mo'Nique

Mo'Nique

Aunt May

Nicole Ari Parker

Nicole Ari Parker

Sonya

Court is in session

Put Almost Christmas on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Sentimental Softie

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Cool Ironist

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.