This Christmas

Tries to be a Christmas film about real ishoos but it is quite boring and predictable and sentimental and the acting is not very good. It is therefore perfect for Christmas, and upholds all the traditions very, very well.

o matter how silly the situation, each member of the uniformly strong cast creates a nice balance between sentimental and sweet -- which is just how every holiday gathering should feel.

If you like schmaltzy, music-saturated family movies, This Christmas will set all the right bells jingling.

"Destined to become a Yuletide classic, " claim the press notes. Well, they do say Christmas is a time for dreaming.

A strong wire netting will keep out unwanted super-soaps such as the first, in which a black family in LA proves that being Afro-American is no inoculation against outbreaks of schmaltz and piety.

An entertaining and heartfelt film that makes the most of its wonderful cast.

You've seen the scene before, in a movie like this one, and you've heard the much-covered song before, but Brown makes it feel new again.

Easily the best film of its genre since 'Soul Food' and definitely makes for a excellent holiday season treat.

Despite an accomplished cast, it's about as surprising as last year's Christmas card.