Almost Christmas

Danny Glover is the charming centre of this merry but chaotic comedy, playing a widower preparing for his first family Christmas without his wife, while hoping his children can put aside their various differences for one day. Perhaps best viewed by those who can't live without yuletide schmaltz, the film follows a familiar Christmas-from-hell blueprint that borrows from countless comedies of yore. However fractured things seem to get, you know there will be resolution, and that's part of the fun. There are chuckles and cringes galore as the slapstick and family feuds come thick and fast. Highlighting very modern societal problems (a struggling marriage, career changes) keeps the various subplots convincing, with the caustic wit diluting a lot of the sentiment. Coming to a reliably feel-good conclusion, Almost Christmas manages to stay the right side of sweet thanks to a cast that seems to mesh, well, almost like they are family. Maybe not a Christmas cracker, but it's warming festive fun, nonetheless.