Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Almost Christmas is the kind of movie that sounds better on paper than it plays on screen. A talented cast (Danny Glover, Gabrielle Union, Kimberly Elise) tackles grief, family secrets, and reconciliation—all worthy themes—but the execution is uneven. The film can't decide if it wants to be a heartfelt drama or a raunchy comedy, so it splits the difference and ends up being neither particularly well.

The 49% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes tells the story: it's formulaic, predictable, and tonally inconsistent. The audience score is higher (64%), which suggests it has some crowd-pleasing moments, but this isn't a hidden gem. It's fine background viewing if your family is looking for representation in holiday films, but it's not going to become a new tradition.

For teens 13+ who can handle the language and adult themes, it's a decent conversation starter about grief and family dynamics. For everyone else, there are better holiday movies that don't undercut their emotional moments with crude jokes.

Age Fit

This is squarely for teens 13+ and adults. The PG-13 rating is appropriate—younger kids won't appreciate the adult family dynamics, and the language and suggestive humor will be off-putting or inappropriate. Older teens who can handle messy family drama will find it relatable, if predictable.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

68

A family dramedy that tackles grief and reconciliation with heart, but undercuts its emotional core with crass humor, profanity, and suggestive material. The film models the messy reality of family conflict and eventual forgiveness, which is valuable, but the tone whiplash between heartfelt moments and crude jokes makes it less emotionally cohesive. The opening montage of Walter and Grace's 45-year marriage is genuinely touching, and the theme of coming together despite differences is solid, but the execution is uneven.

Imaginative

42

This is a straightforward, predictable holiday family reunion movie that hits every expected beat. There's no creative risk-taking, no visual flair, no narrative surprises. The story follows a well-worn template: dysfunctional family gathers, secrets spill, arguments erupt, everyone reconciles by Christmas dinner. It's competent but entirely formulaic, offering nothing fresh to the holiday movie genre.

Safe

65

PG-13 rating is earned through language (profanity gets a C- grade), suggestive material, and drug references. No graphic violence or explicit content, but the adult-oriented humor and occasional coarse language make this inappropriate for younger kids. The emotional weight of grief and family dysfunction could be heavy for sensitive viewers. It's safe in the sense that there are no shocking surprises or traumatic content, but parents of pre-teens should preview first.

Enriching

58

The film tackles meaningful themes—processing grief, family forgiveness, letting go of grudges—but does so in a surface-level way. There's potential for conversations about loss, sibling dynamics, and how families navigate hard times, but the movie prioritizes comedy over depth. The reconciliation feels rushed and somewhat unearned. It's mildly enriching in that it shows imperfect people trying to honor a loved one's memory, but it won't leave viewers with profound insights.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Danny Glover brings warmth and gravitas as a widower trying to hold his family together
Tackles real family messiness—sibling rivalries, secrets, grief—without making it all tidy
The opening montage of Walter and Grace's 45-year marriage is genuinely touching
Could spark conversations about how families navigate loss and forgiveness
Representation matters: an ensemble Black family holiday film with a solid cast

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What to Watch For

Language is frequent enough to earn a C- grade—not appropriate for younger kids
Suggestive material and drug references (a character drinks from a goblet, adult-oriented jokes)
Tonal whiplash: heartfelt grief scenes followed by crude humor can feel jarring
The reconciliation feels rushed and somewhat unearned after all the conflict

Conversation Starters

"How do you think different people in a family grieve differently? Did you notice how each sibling was handling their mom's death?"
"What do you think makes it hard for families to be honest with each other, even when they love each other?"
"If you were Walter, how would you want your kids to honor your memory after you're gone?"
"Do you think the family really resolved their issues, or just put them aside for the holiday?"

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