The Essential Whitfield Ointment
A review of This Christmas
Starring Idris Elba, Chris Brown, Columbus Short, Regina King
A film about the Whitfields, a Black family at Christmas. That should suffice as a summary, but it hardly does. Perhaps because it lacks the simulated emotions inputted into this movie. Although truth be told, this film does not offer any new perspective to the ‘black challenges’, but it however engages the viewer’s few hours. Without offering new insights, it’s not enough to say that it does bring much to the table. The scenario is pretty much cliché: a whirlpool of problems tucked under armpits of a seemingly faultless family.
It’s Christmas and everyone is home. Everyone being facets that cater for the varying conditions that burden the black man, as it were. A mother of six who isn’t over the father of her children; a cuckolded wife who bears the brunt of others without looking out for herself; a gambling son; an interracially-married brother in denial; a well-to-do female that relies on a vibrator for satisfaction, etc. Different scenarios that can be trashed in their own rights merged into a big whole flick.
This entertainment flick, not devoid of black anecdotes and humor, is suffused with borderline performance from every member of the cast to make a theater money maker. This film is sure not to cart away awards, aside Black film awards. But whatever it lacks in new perspective is made up for by the super, super soundtracks. These apt songs would make the day of a soul-lover. And Chris Brown wasn’t bad with his renditions.
A refreshing movie in all.
A review of This Christmas
Starring Idris Elba, Chris Brown, Columbus Short, Regina King
A film about the Whitfields, a Black family at Christmas. That should suffice as a summary, but it hardly does. Perhaps because it lacks the simulated emotions inputted into this movie. Although truth be told, this film does not offer any new perspective to the ‘black challenges’, but it however engages the viewer’s few hours. Without offering new insights, it’s not enough to say that it does bring much to the table. The scenario is pretty much cliché: a whirlpool of problems tucked under armpits of a seemingly faultless family.
It’s Christmas and everyone is home. Everyone being facets that cater for the varying conditions that burden the black man, as it were. A mother of six who isn’t over the father of her children; a cuckolded wife who bears the brunt of others without looking out for herself; a gambling son; an interracially-married brother in denial; a well-to-do female that relies on a vibrator for satisfaction, etc. Different scenarios that can be trashed in their own rights merged into a big whole flick.
This entertainment flick, not devoid of black anecdotes and humor, is suffused with borderline performance from every member of the cast to make a theater money maker. This film is sure not to cart away awards, aside Black film awards. But whatever it lacks in new perspective is made up for by the super, super soundtracks. These apt songs would make the day of a soul-lover. And Chris Brown wasn’t bad with his renditions.
A refreshing movie in all.
No comments:
Post a Comment