So This Is Christmas (2013) User Reviews

Plodding, confused, weirdly violent mess of a movie

[banjo-peppers · 3/10 · 6 January 2017]

First of all, it's absurd this movie is rated PG. The language and the bloody, violent scene towards the end should push this up to a PG-13 rating.

As for an actual review: This is one of those "family torn apart by tragedy and they come together thanks to the power of Christ" movies, except in this movie, the message doesn't work at all. One character, who's a drug user, gets his girlfriend pregnant, is in a gang, and uses the foul language that should keep this movie from a PG rating, just all of a sudden changes for the better after cursing out God after his girlfriend gets stabbed in the stomach. Really, his change comes pretty much out of nowhere.

The main character's change for the better is more gradual and makes a bit more sense - she's convinced to help with a church's nativity play, and that mostly combined with the friendly carpenter changes her from being a clubbing, drunken mess to a more put-together young lady.

But that's not enough to save this movie. The plot overall is slow, and there's somehow too many plot threads and yet not enough. The characters are almost entirely unlikable, and nobody ever calls out the step-mom for her obvious preference for her biological son and her blindness to his drug use and stealing her money and how absurdly critical she is of her step-daughter; at one point the step-daughter shows up in short shorts and a sparkly shirt, and the step-mother says "Did you get that at a thrift store?" with contempt. Which is absurd - she's more concerned that her step-daughter may have bought clothes secondhand than that her step-daughter is dressed like a hooker and keeps coming home drunk.

But then in the end we find out the step-mother is responsible for the death of her step-daughter's biological mother, but her new husband (the step-daughter biological father) is fine with that, and the drug-using son says "Hey God, please let my girlfriend live" and then there's a mediocre duet of "Mary Did You Know?" that then repeats during the credits immediately after the duet first ends.

There's plenty of other Christmas movies that have a "redeeming power of Christ" message that have much more solid plots and likable characters than this one.

UNBELIEVABLE

[valica-33849 · 5/10 · 16 July 2023]

Ok, the black son calls the white man dad, but the white girl calls the wife by name.

How does mom say only have $150 & writes the son a check, yet they go shopping & buy a whole bunch of brand name stuff?

Sex scene, I know tv, but REALLY. Both dressed but supposedly just had sex?

I do remember watching years ago but was worth another look. I do believe back in the day Vivica was a great actress, well, actually, she still is. Just has to find that right script. Is the son Jett Jackson? He was such a great actor, I believe played I Scandal & committed suicide.

I need 208 characters, I also like Stacy Dash, what ever happened to her? Was she the girl in Clueless.

unfortunately very disappointing

[helga-stock · 2/10 · 15 October 2013]

I have been watching a great deal of films and was really hoping to just relax & enjoy this, but truth be told, I had a very hard time watching it all the way through. A whole lot of things just did not work at all for me. Some of the acting itself I think was good, but I wondered while watching, if perhaps this was done by someone with little directing & writing experience.

The rough storyline was quite predictable, but could still have made for enjoyable viewing. Some things are a question of taste, of course. I have liked quite a few films with strong moral messages in the past, but the Christian message in this film really was very in-your- face. I wonder if there wouldn't have been a more subtle way to get the message across, that may have had a much stronger effect. Granted, it is a holiday film, but still...

On the slightly more formal side of things, I quite liked the lighting in some of the scenes, but can't say the same for the cinematography or editing.Overall okay-ish, with a number of "oh- what-a-weird-shot...Why would-they-do-this?" moments scattered throughout. All in all, a real shame. I appreciate the work that must've been put into it and there were some good elements, but for me they just didn't come together at all. This could have been a much better film.

F Bombs with the kids!

[chokluva · 2/10 · 29 October 2014]

DO NOT WATCH THIS MOVIE with kids under age 16. That is unless you want to explain, sex, drugs, and every curse word (almost) to your 8 year old. "Mommy whats that thing in his mouth..." Um, that's a crack pipe sweetie. Of course I had NO IDEA that this movie would be filled with bar scenes and a crotch shot of a slightly erect penis (yep!) because it was in the FAMILY section. This movie was right next to "Miracle Dog" and it had a nice wholesome cover and every thing. But we were soooo wrong. Outside of that, the production, editing and many other aspects of the film were poooor quality. In one particular masterful editing sequence,a young lady went from being at a bar, to smiling at an empty school at night, to ending up at a friends house beaten. This took place literally in a matter of 18 seconds. There were no other scenes or dialogue! It was literally-bar...school smiling with nobody around...bruised and abused at friends house.

I did appreciate the message and all. And I appreciate a depiction of a modern day interracial family. Other than that, this movie was a complete waste.

The worst "Christmas" movie I've ever seen.

[gypsytwilight · 1/10 · 17 December 2020]

Christmas is in quotations because while there are some heavy handed religious overtones and a nativity themed play happening in the background nothing important about the movie was really Christmas related.

I didn't expect much from this movie but it still managed to disappoint. I don't know if there was anything stand out terrible about it as that there just wasn't anything redeeming about it. Like not even enjoyable to watch as a bad movie, it was completely joyless. It felt like a Christian production company was trying to make a movie to appeal to secular audiences based only on the propaganda of how debaucherous secular film is. The acting ranged from bad to worse, the plot didn't really make any sense, the character development was unrealistic. It was pretty much just garbage through and through.

So this is a giant mess

[amandamdorn · 1/10 · 29 November 2020]

It's like the writers took every tragedy trope and threw them all against the wall to see what would stick. Totally unrealistic, unbelievable and absolutely nothing to do with the holidays.

Just terrible.

[Lucifer-28 · 1/10 · 12 December 2021]

Wow. This movie is so bad, I'm shocked it stuck to the film. The story is trite and preachy, and the acting and writing are just awful. Easily the worst movie I've seen in years. Stay far away from this garbage.

Note the contrasts in reviews

[gsellars-1 · 6/10 · 11 February 2014]

Quite the unique film because even though (towards the end) it clearly brings a character to a life-changing decision of repentance and faith in Jesus (even exercising faith for a miracle), doing so in a clearly better fashion than most Christian films, the movie isn't "preachy," as was claimed by several reviewers who can't resist their obsessive compulsion to show their contempt for Christianity and that contempt provoked their unjustified panning of the film.

Part of the evidence for that is that I approached the movie convinced it was a Christian movie but about 4/5ths of the way through, I found myself wondering if I had drawn the wrong conclusion that it was a "Christian movie" because of the repeated use of foul language (including the "F" word) and the somewhat risqué dressing of Lexi Ainsworth, while there had as yet been *no form* of gospel message presented. (Note the contrast between my claim and those who mocked it and judge for yourself.)

That reveals the less_than_honest denigration of the movie as being "preachy."

To viciously lambaste an entire movie because one hates Christianity so much one can't stand to hear a character humble himself for the hurt and harm he's done and cry to God for forgiveness is a bit over the top.

The acting is frankly better than most Christian movies, though, of course not on par with a $30,000,000 budget and the experienced professionalism that brings. Lexi Ainsworth's acting was excellent and her performance gave a quality to the film that it would not otherwise have had, though Cassidee Vandalia also did a very fine job.

It seems this movie is geared to the unchurched/non-Christian and labeling it a "family film" was an error. Many parents would not want their young children watching this film.

Unless you despise any mention of the Lord Jesus *at all*, I don't you'll find the movie offensive at all regarding its Christian agenda. It's not overdone, regardless of the claims of the rabid atheists.

A film about choices and consequences,

[dehliaalopez · 1/10 · 9 December 2013]

I was disappointed, this is not the level of movie I am used to seeing with Eric Roberts or any of the other casts, but I have to note, Ms. Fox seems to be slipping. How she got in the film is a big question mark for me, I guess since she did not get called for a part in The Best Man movie, she came up with something else tired. The work and time of all other members commendable, and appreciated, but Viv is trifling and tacking and anything her name is associated with, makeup, wigs, movies, products, are bad, not worth the money spent, or tired. I have lost respect for her and her ability to remain a member of the A-listers. Now Eric Roberts and his co-star, were superb! No spoiler here, but don't waste your time or the money to see this. The movie has meaning and gets one to think, but it could have been better.

Great movie with real life lessons

[kajacobson · 10/10 · 4 February 2013]

So This Is Christmas is a great film! We loved it! We can't wait to see it out in theaters so all our friends can see it too! I loved the fact that it was a blended family with a black mom and white dad. It is so appropriate for our world today, yet you don't see it much on movies or TV. I really loved the Christian beliefs added, we need more of this in our movies today! The movie was heart wrenching, funny and serious, so you had several emotions throughout the film, which in my opinion makes a fabulous movie! The actors did a great job bringing the characters issues to the light and learning from them. I could see the pain they all were facing and it was real!!! Great job!

Good plot, but that is it

[anaffma · 6/10 · 4 December 2020]

Liked the plot, but actors, scenarios and overall is not well done. Seems like a homemade movie

Violent, Preachy, and Slow Paced. So this Is Christmas

[gccates · 1/10 · 15 December 2013]

I'm guessing most of the people who gave this movie positive reviews are Lexi Ainsworth fans. Eric and Vivica fans know those two can make some clunkers from time to time and this was one of them. I am familiar with some of this cast and since Christmas movies on TV this year have been pretty bad I thought I'd try VOD. This movie followed the trends of being badly written/acted and barely about Christmas that other movies this season have followed.

Word to the wise when trying to create "A different kind of Christmas movie" advertise it as such and don't label it a family film. I'm sure a lot of people were mislead into thinking it was a family film.

It started off your typical Christmas movie but after the first five minutes took a cringe worthy. Lots of bad acting during those scenes where Ashley was parading around in short shorts drunk. Eric Roberts seemed lost an confused like he didn't know which movie he was filming at the moment. He gave the same amount of effort he gives for most of his low budget films which amounted to basically none. Vivica Fox's was playing a caricature. She was the wicked stepmother to Ashley's Cinderella. When Ashley stumbled into the house I thought for sure she was gonna smack her up the way she was lunging. Jason, black athlete addicted to coke in need of saving. I've never seen that one before.

This movie was too preachy, too violent, and there were too many plot points. As someone who lives in the city and hears about violence frequently the last thing I want to see when watching a movie expecting Christmas cheer is a bunch of violent stereotypes put together to be showy and make the movie seem deep.

So This Is Garbage

[ChaosUnleashed · 1/10 · 23 December 2013]

No idea why this is labelled as "comedy" although we did laugh out loud at the abysmal acting and watching the set fall apart. Vivica A. Fox & Eric Roberts did a competent but lazy performance and everyone else was just plain terrible, seriously the Twilight vampire movies had better acting. The movie did touch some important deep issues which requires good acting but you won't find that here. Two hours of my life I am NEVER getting back. Thanks Richard Foster for wasting my time and I'll see you at dole/unemployment office on Monday. My advice to you gentle reader looking for a movie to watch: Move along, nothing to see here.

I've noticed a lot of the positive reviews for this movie moan about the negative reviews being anti-Christian, personally I'm not for or against Christianity, you can worship whatever you like I couldn't care less, that's not the problem, the problem is its a very bad movie.

Bad acting, prop setting, and camera effects

[junkiebobwaters · 2/10 · 6 December 2018]

I really wanted to like this movie, but the fake blood, bad acting, and poor quality of the scene during car rides just turned me off 8 mins. into the movie.

NOT a Christmas Movie! Makes Die Hard look like A Christmas Carol!

[jorgito2001 · 1/10 · 3 December 2021]

...its not Christmas til the end of the film for all of a minute or so...til then, you need to sit through very poorly-acted family drama involving drugs and violence that makes this a very NON-Family oriented film! At 2 hours, its TOO long, drawn out & BORING! I also think it attempts to go the "Christian film" route at the end. As a Christmas, Christian OR any kind of "entertaining" film, it fails in every category. Vivica Fox deserves better then this dreck! Avoid Avoid Avoid!

Horrible

[ISeeLots · 1/10 · 17 December 2016]

This movie was extremely slow paced. Pretty bad acting for some people/parts and the subject matter was realistic but it wasn't pleasant. Whoever wrote the script and directed the movie did a horrible job with a couple characters. The gardener was made out to look like a pedophile. The character is just really made out kind of creepy. Also, the girl with the bruise to me I thought was a hicky because of the way she lived her life (you'll know what I'm talking about if you saw the movie) The scene violent scene at the ended was horribly placed and shot, they made it look like it was a dream.

The only part of the movie I liked was the idea of the movie, certain ideas, the love story, the children's play, I just wish they did a better job at filming the movie, the camera angles, the script, the acting, some scenes left out or some script parts left out or changed. I didn't like the boy and Angle's story line, it was really kind of stupid and dull. The drug use always frustrates me in movies because the people are just unbelievably stupid.

Title lies!!

[Marynewcomb2013 · 1/10 · 12 December 2018]

This is really called, So This Is Political Correctness!! That's all it is!!! Don't listen to the bogus positive reviews on this!! As a family movie, NO WAY!! There is drinking, drugs, dressing trashy like a street walker in this!! This movie is just down and out offensive!!

Preachy?

[abbysgrandma · 1/10 · 3 December 2018]

I don't know where people get that it's preachy, NOT! Its just a terrible movie, terrible acting, nothing to do with Christmas. Dont waste your.

A great family movie with life lessons

[tamspaugh · 10/10 · 4 October 2013]

Great movie! Really enjoyed the storyline.People can relate because there are so many families dealing with issues such as these today,very thought provoking.The actors were very good and brought their characters to life. Mac and Jonathon played by Brian Massey and Justinh Avery were excellent!!! would love to have seen more of Jonathan( Justinh Avery) quite a talented actor.His performance demanded your attention. A natural in front of a camera.I hope to see more of his work in the future.The scenes between he and Ashley(Lexi) were very real and sweet.I also thought Eric and Vivica did a really good job on vocals. This is a great family movie, I would not suggest appropriate viewing for younger children.

So This Is Christmas Is Awesome

[hans-pasco · 10/10 · 26 January 2014]

So This Is Christmas Is An Awesome Movie. Life is about choices and this movie exemplifies this to the point. I like the Christian theme and the point of cause and effect through choices in life. I enjoyed the plot and setting as well. I want to see this movie again in order to catch anything I might have missed. I enjoyed the camera angles, the lighting, and the script writing and can tell this movie is made with love of the art of movie-making. The humor was subtle and played well with the story as it unfolded. The preaching of His word was subdued and yet came to point perfectly in a message of Love. The cast worked well together and flawlessly. I definitely want a copy of this movie for our home collection. I will make the addition personally to our school's library. This movie will become our families new Christmas classic.

Well done, Thoughtful and discussion worthy.

[reesha7591 · 10/10 · 6 December 2013]

In the "olden days" we used to watch movies together and then discuss them with our families, especially at the holidays. This is a great one for discussions between youths and adults.

Kids are exposed to so much these days regardless of how parents may try to protect them or whether everyone gets a trophy. They have so much access to information of all sorts and are exposed to problems most of us weren't in our youths. They may not know what to do with all the information, misinformation and feelings about information. Some of them learn the hard way that NOBODY'S life is "perfect." This film gives everyone a problem. It's an excellent vehicle for helping your kids explore not only the problems featured in this story, but also helps parents or other adults set the stage for open discussion on life's touchy subjects.

May be a little R-rated for the wee ones. Still, if you've ever wondered how to bring up subjects surrounding the idea of losing to win, this well-acted, well-directed and well-filmed movie is an excellent starting point. Bravo to the cast and crew!

Catch a rising star...and a decent film

[ray-280 · 8/10 · 3 October 2013]

I've been a fan of Eric "King of the B-movies" Roberts ever since I caught The Ambulance and Hit-man's Run on cable in the 1990s, and I've been a fan of General hospital since 1984. I never really understood the persistent appeal of soaps and B-movies until Alexandra Danielle "Lexi" Ainsworth graced my television set with ten minutes or more of screen time a day as mafia brat Kristina Corinthos, when the lightbulb went off: like minor-league baseball, soaps and B-movies offer the chance to watch greatness in the making, literally to catch a rising star before the world does, in generous doses. Ainsworth, offered this role within seconds of hanging up the phone after being told she was fired from General Hospital because they wanted an older, "hotter" Kristina as their romantic lead – only to decline a return to the role when GH realized the error of its ways with her replacement – entered this film like a batter who tore up the minors with a .427 batting average now facing big-league pitching. How would she fare? This fan's opinion of her work was strong enough for me to gamble $14.98 on the answer.

For Ainsworth, my standards were much higher than for the film. Any holiday film is going to be restricted by the parameters of the genre. For the actress, however, I was looking for signs of whether or not she could carry a film, and if she could score points for more than just avoiding the garden-variety acting mistakes which were absent in her performances on General Hospital, like in the scenes where she flourished, either by staring down an intimidating Bruce Weitz without saying a word, or by humbling soap vet Maurice Benard at the tender age of sixteen. Where other actresses would have cried, screamed, yelled, and moved their extremities like traffic cops, Ainsworth's instinctive understanding of when to let the scene do the talking strongly suggested she could handle this step up in class like a champion. My bigger question was whether director Richard Foster, and the writers, could handle her. On whole, I would say she gave the better accounting of herself.

This is a good, but not a great film. It is worth the purchase price, and will definitely be worth the time spent watching should it land on cable or Netflix, if only for Ainsworth's performance alone. In the film, eighteen year-old Ashley Lane (Ainsworth) is put in the position of media-res narrator, which allows her to showcase her talents. Within minutes, we are shown where the film winds up, leaving the question not what will happen, but why, who will be involved, and how. Casino was the textbook film on how to pull this off, and this film does so adequately. Fans who were wondering if Eric Roberts and Vivica A. Fox could sing will get their answer.

The film's saving grace, if one pardons the pun, is the director's astute use of third-billed Ainsworth, clearly the star of the film, with screen time to match. The lesser talents in the cast are relegated in direct proportion to their ability, except for Roberts, who is seriously underutilized. Fox gives a good accounting as the mother, but the blended family is more of a gratuitous political statement, as if to say we've come so far against racism that no one bats an eye at a racially mixed family. The message is useful, but not really central to the film. What is central is Ashley's journey of self-discovery, played flawlessly by Ainsworth, to the point where, by the end of the film, it Is rather clear she has outstripped the writing, and does not just belong in the majors, but needs to be traded to a championship team, or to have one built around her.

The other actors in the film are competent, with Danielle Vega (Angelina) giving an exceptional performance in a limited supporting role. Her physical resemblance to Ainsworth is a bit confusing, so pay attention; absent Ainsworth, she could have played the lead more than adequately, and her scenes were among the best of the film. Glee's Titus Makin (Jason) shows competence, but not greatness, while Fox and Roberts are not given enough to do until near the end. Bryan Massey (Mac) plays the "white Magical Negro," who assist the lead in her journey of self-discovery, a job on which the writers fell down a peg or two. Justin Avery (Jon) plays the romantic fodder, but is otherwise superfluous and stereotypical. Ainsworth is left stranded by the writing, not because the film is poorly written, but because of her amazing talent. There is only so much one can do with a film like this.

Very early on in the film, Ainsworth mows down the "movie star" checklist: flawless body language and voice tone, the ability to slip into character convincingly, a rare level of attention to detail, exceptional range which exceeded the writing, and a sexuality which, while not the typical "bombshell" variety, would leave one hard-pressed to find a man who would reject her, and which, even while front-and-center, is never gratuitous or crude. Surround her with top-shelf talent, and she can and will go anywhere in film, or in series television; perhaps ABC will reconsider Ainsworth and Jennifer Beals's pilot "Westside" on which they foolishly passed.

For all its many good points, the film needed a stronger compass, particularly with regard to what makes Ashley tick, and why she transformed into a good girl without much resistance, but these are minor plot issues that detract very little from an excellent performance in a decent film, one which could have ruined my afternoon off, leaving me feeling like I wasted my $14.98, but which definitely did not. I highly recommend this film. My primary question was answered: Lexi Ainsworth is more than capable of carrying a film. I look forward to her future work.

Heart warming message of hope when there seems to be none.

[Debjoy-576-25608 · 10/10 · 8 January 2013]

A Christmas film that the whole family should go see. With even grade school kids being exposed to so much info so young....this is one that shows right from wrong an brings hope to those who have lost theirs for whatever reasons. A heart warming experience that will surely help you leave the theater in The real uplifting spirit of Christmas. In a society that has seemingly lost the real meaning of Christmas .....to extended yourself to give to others....this movie is a throw back to the reality of real giving! Showing that our adults are so involved in making a living they are out of touch with their family. Neglecting to see what is really going in our children's lives in our own homes. This movie shows how outta touch we can be an how there is hope of getting our family ties back to the real deal... called family.

Awesome!

[momofblessings · 10/10 · 15 October 2014]

I decided to watch this movie because I was looking for a good Christmas movie to watch. But, this movie has very little to do with Christmas. It also does't focus a whole lot on the girl. I think the description was a bit misleading. It has a much bigger focus on her brother and his problems. But, it was still an awesome movie that I could easily watch again. I think it could be a good opener for parent's in talking to their children.

Also, I think this movie should be rated. It is for a more mature awesome as there was some language and even some intense scenes. It is definitely not a movie for younger children.

An entertaining Christmas movie with deep spiritual meaning.

[kittykittypaw · 9/10 · 2 November 2014]

So This is Christmas, is the story of a family broken by the death of the mother, and how God intervened and showed how love can be strongest in pain.

In all of our lives, trouble seems to come when we least expect it or at our moment of greatest weakness. There is no good time to lose spouse or parent and the loss of a loved one can tear a family apart. God is a healer and He works in mysterious ways. Sometimes we need an affirmation that God is really working to help us out. What God does isn't always direct or obvious but his healing touch is profound never the less.

Christmas is the time we celebrate God taking action to heal a lost and broken world and "So This Is Christmas" illustrates how God is also concerned with our world,our private brokenness and how he works to heal us and those we love. If you are one of the many people who feel down at Christmas time, let this movie lighten your heart. If you need a lift, or just want to watch an enjoyable movie; So This Is Christmas is well worth your time this holiday season!