A Jenkins Family Christmas (2021) User Reviews

This wasn't your archetypical Christmas movie...

[paul_haakonsen · 5/10 · 5 December 2021]

Right, well as I sat down to watch the 2021 Christmas movie "A Jenkins Family Christmas" from writers Oscar Estella, Joy Kecken and Christopher Oscar Pena I must admit that I was expecting it to be a Christmas movie. And calling "A Jenkins Family Christmas" a Christmas movie might be stretching it a bit.

Now, let me just say that this is a family drama about a somewhat dysfunctional family coming together for the Christmas holidays for the first time after the patriarch of the family has passed away. And things to mighty awry for the family.

I didn't really sit with a sense of Christmas feel as I watched "A Jenkins Family Christmas". Sure, it was a watchable movie, but if you are expecting a traditional Christmas movie, then "A Jenkins Family Christmas" might not be the best of choices. Especially since it was essentially just the last 10-15 minutes that had that tradition Christmas movie feel to it. The rest of the movie was a family drama.

The acting performances in director Robin Givens' 2021 movie were actually good. I wasn't familiar with the cast here, but they definitely put on believable performances in their individual roles and characters.

I have to say that I was somewhat disappointed with this movie, as I had been expecting a proper - and sappy - Christmas movie. I wasn't by any means expecting it to be a heavy family drama.

My rating of "A Jenkins Family Christmas" reflects my disappointment, as I must rate the movie a flat and mediocre five out of ten stars. However, if you sit down to watch "A Jenkins Family Christmas" with the intentions and expectations of being in for a dysfunctional family drama and not a Christmas movie, then I believe you will get more enjoyment from the movie.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas from Own Her Family

[PrepUofA · 4/10 · 29 April 2022]

Had the makings of a great movie. It was hard to relate to the lead character because she was so miserable and angry. Basically it came down to mama's going to mess you up if you don't enjoy the Christmas she planned for everyone. It had its redeeming qualities, but a little hard to watch at times.

Totally a waste of time!

[wild-angel-8x · 1/10 · 14 December 2021]

It's a really bad movie. The setup though weirdly convenient and illogical can somewhat be forgivable (it's another generic Christmas movie) but the acting is just unbearable. It's the most cringey and pretentious acting I have ever seen on any screen. Please do yourself a favour and stay away from this one.

A bad taste

[paulcurtis-69549 · 2/10 · 15 November 2023]

This was fairly enjoyable, if predictable, some of the acting was a bit over the top, particularly the Baneatta's sister.

The music was very good although when they sang "Go tell it on the mountain" outside the church, which was excellent, they were obviously miming to a studio recording.

But what spoiled the film for me were the one or two "unseasonal" comments in particular when the daughter Simone quizzed her brother Kenny about his choice of a white boyfriend and criticized him for always dating outside of his race, like it was a terrible sin.

That rather spoiled the movie for me, even though she redeems herself later in the film, but her racist comments rather left a bad taste in the mouth, and whichever writer thought it was acceptable dialogue for a Christmas movie should get a stocking full of coal.

So, it's not a film I will watch again.

Different Christmas movie

[Benjamin-holstebroe · 9/10 · 6 December 2021]

I really liked this movie, it isn't the normal Christmas movie and what I expected, it was way better!

Have some Kleenex by your side .. Highly recommend this movie.