Almost Christmas | |
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Theatrical release poster
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Directed by | David E. Talbert |
Produced by |
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Written by | David E. Talbert |
Starring | |
Music by | John Paesano |
Cinematography | Larry Blanford |
Edited by | Troy Takaki |
Production
companies |
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Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date
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Running time
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111 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $17 million |
Box office | $42.5 million |
Almost Christmas is a 2016 American Christmas comedy-drama film written and directed by David E. Talbert and starring Kimberly Elise, Mo'Nique, Nicole Ari Parker, Gabrielle Union, Keri Hilson, Jessie Usher, Danny Glover, Omar Epps, John Michael Higgins, D.C. Young Fly and Romany Malco. The film follows a dysfunctional family that comes together for the holidays for the first time since their mother's death.
Principal photography began on November 2, 2015 in Atlanta, Georgia. The film premiered in Los Angeles on November 3, 2016 and was released in the United States on November 11, 2016 by Universal Pictures. It received mixed reviews and has grossed $42 million.
Walter (Danny Glover) is a retired automotive engineer who lost his wife (Rachel Kylian) one year earlier. Now that the holiday season is here, he invites his four grown children and the rest of the family to his house for a traditional celebration. Poor Walter knows that if his daughters Cheryl (Kimberly Elise) and Rachel (Gabrielle Union) and sons Christian (Romany Malco) and Evan (Jessie Usher) can spend five days together under the same roof, it will truly be a Christmas miracle. As his children arrive, Walter realizes a perfect Christmas without his wife is easier said than done. Cheryl, a doctor and the eldest daughter and oldest child, arrives for the holidays with her husband Lonnie, a previously famous basketball player who played overseas in Croatia. His eldest son and second born, Christian struggles with balancing his campaign to become a congressman and his want to spend time with his family. Christian goes as far to invite his campaign manager along, so they can get more work done. Meanwhile, Rachel, his youngest daughter and third born struggles to financially support herself and her daughter due to her recent divorce and studying to become a lawyer. Lastly, Evan, is a successful football player recovering from a shoulder injury, however when his coach tells him his arm is completely healed, Evan struggles to give up the pain medication.