This is the story of a solidly middle-class African-American familythat reunites for Christmas for the first time in seveal years. Ma'dere(Loretta Devine) is the Matriarch who's Los Angeles home is where thevast majority of the story takes place. As with any family gatheringthere are topics that are best not discussed. When they are discussedhere they end up in fights -verbal or physical (an excellent sister-onsister catfight stands out here).One sister is encouraging the siblings to sell the family dry cleaningbusiness and split the profits. One bother is running from loan sharks.One brother is AWOL from the Marine Corps and One sister has broughtalong the man she's dating at a historically Black college. Despitewhat the trailers and TV commercials may lead you to think this is nota warm syurpy comedy. There are dramatic moments, violence and courselanguage. It is however very much a slice-of-life that not enoughhollywood features present. This family, warts and all, is definitelynot a hollywood feel-good film with blackfaces. It is authentic in it'sportrayal of themes facing African-Americans in particular butAmericans in general.