Almost Christmas is funny but sad. You might be cheered up on one hand but if you’ve ever lost a loved one, especially during the holidays, memories will come flooding back. After loosing his wife, Walter Meyers (Danny Glover) still living in the house where he and his wife raised their children, decides to have the traditional Christmas dinner with all the family, as usual. However, Walter knows if his daughters Rachel (Gabrielle Union) and Cheryl (Kimberly Elise) 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 the family begins to gather, Walter realizes this reunion, without his wife, is easier said than done. The first family member to arrive is Aunt May, (Mo’Nique) who is a no nonsense tell-it-like-it-is kind of gal with lots of spunk. Cheryl, a doctor and the eldest daughter, arrives for the holidays with her husband Lonnie (J. B. Smoove), a former basketball player who was famous when he played overseas in Croatia. Rachel struggles to financially support herself and her daughter due to her recent divorce and is studying to become a lawyer. Walter’s eldest son, Christian, struggles with balancing his campaign to become a congressman and his desire to spend time with his family. Christian even invites his campaign manager, Brooks (John Michael Higgins) along, to get more work done. 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 his pain medication.
The dysfunction and laughs started the moment Aunt May arrived. Walter remained melancholy throughout the movie. It was uplifting to see the family come together at the end and Walter come to gripes with his loss. Almost Christmas was heart warming and gave a profound message to all at a time when we really need some comfort. I think this movie is a refreshing change from the normal hustle and bustle of everyday life.
The Boss is not a particularly great movie but Melissa McCarthy made it the best it could possibly be. Her character, Michelle Darnell grew up in an orphanage with children awaiting adoption, if they were lucky. Michell was adopted twice but twice returned because she was not considered to be a good fit. This reputation apparently followed her to adulthood. Never having a family molded Michelle into a tough, no nonsense, sarcastic but successful business woman who struck it rich and who also became a motivational speaker. Full of herself, popular and the 47th richest woman in the world, Michelle and her assistant Claire Rawlins (Kristen Bell) boards a helicopter after being confronted by her rival, Renault (Peter Dinklage) who tricks her into confessing that she was involved with insider trading. Renault rats her out to the FBI and she goes to prison for 4 months, loosing everything she owned. Ben Falcone (Melissa’s true life husband) directed The Boss and also makes a cameo appearance as her lawyer (Marty). Kathy Bates plays an old friend and mentor (Ida Marquette) who Michelle screwed out of a deal. After being released from prison, Michelle ends up living with Claire and her daughter Rachel (Ella Anderson). Their journey begins when Michelle and Claire start a business while reinventing Michelle as America’s sweetheart. Despite the spoilers, there’s many twist to The Boss. You can’t imagine how much more there is to this story. What The Boss is lacking is the smoothness and confidence I usually see in Melissa’s movies. It seems as if they’re all trying much too hard. There are many funny moments but the movie is a little too contrived. All in all The Boss is funny enough to entertain you when you need that pick-me-up. Peter Dinklage and Melissa are hilarious together.
CAROL's WORLDS 