With each passing day, the approach of the holiday season brings not only a sense of reflection but also a renewed appreciation for films that capture the warmth of love, growth, and togetherness. My second selection in this pre-holiday viewing lineup was the 2016 ensemble comedy “Almost Christmas.”
The Familiar Ingredients
The film perfectly encapsulates the familiar mix of tension and excitement that so often accompanies the holidays. As the season draws near, so do the expectations—some focused on preparing our homes, others on preparing our hearts and minds. The desire for connection and unity becomes as significant as any gift wrapped under the tree. That longing for togetherness—sometimes messy, sometimes magical—is at the very heart of “Almost Christmas,” a story about one family’s struggle to reconnect and rediscover what truly binds them: love, forgiveness, and the enduring spirit of family.
Almost Christmas: What’s in the Mix
In this heartwarming holiday film, a recently widowed husband and father, played by Danny Glover, prepares for the return of his family during a season his late wife cherished most. Determined to honor her memory, he sets out to recreate her signature holiday pie—a simple yet powerful symbol of love, healing, and the effort to hold his family together. The pie becomes more than just a recipe; it represents his attempt to step into a role his wife once filled so effortlessly—the glue that kept their family united. As WNYC notes,
“ That pie is the Proustian madeleine that unlocks Walter’s memories of her, but the recipe proves elusive for him, as does the prospect of holding his fractious family together. His one modest request is for his now-adult children, their spouses, and their kids to peacefully coexist for five days under one roof in Birmingham, Alabama.”
The Crust (Crux) and Filling
As with many families, beneath the surface lies a current of dysfunction, and without its matriarch, the divide between loved ones only deepens. We follow the patriarch’s heartfelt struggle to keep his family intact while his children wrestle with their own unresolved issues and emotional baggage. The story weaves through sibling rivalries, marital strain, and long-buried secrets, all balanced by bursts of humor and warmth. Comic relief from Mo’Nique and J.B. Smoove injects levity into the mix, ensuring that amid the tension and tears, there’s plenty of laughter to remind us what the holidays are truly about—love, forgiveness, and family.
Why Almost Christmas Hits Home
We laugh, we smile, and at times, we tear up. The film’s emotionally charged opening and closing moments are beautifully crafted in their tenderness. By the end, there isn’t a picture-perfect “happily ever after,” but rather a quiet, heartfelt sense of hope—a feeling that the family bond, though tested, remains unbroken and perhaps stronger than before. The journey toward healing has only just begun, and that in itself is something to be grateful for. “Almost Christmas” gently reminds us that one of the truest meanings of the holiday season lies in coming together, taking stock of what truly matters, and remembering that no matter how imperfect life gets, home will always be our safest place.
Uncut Diamonds 