The Night Before Christmas

Forget the story. This movie is basically a platform for a lot of singing and a little dancing in a gospel/pop style. There is a mother and daughter story plus a romance story. Both are good enough even if squeezed into all the music. The script has a good pace as we follow several characters and their interactions while it all leads to a show at the end. The dialogue is lively. The movie ends with a performance by all the major performers. There are some fantastic voices. Some of the music is original.

There is some God talk, but that is mostly random. Some of the song lyrics have a gospel message.

The Night Before Christmas (2022) -

This was the second film in a row that I wasn't sure about and I was definitely questioning how long it would take before the God element got to be too much. It's always hard to watch people that are so good through and through, because I'm just not used to people like that.

It seemed to be trying too hard to show "The True Meaning Of Christmas' and how anyone can make a difference. But also, it wanted to be hip-hop and tried to be cool and diggity or something.

Especially with the soundtrack that it utilised a lot.

As far as I saw the religious stuff was toned down, but the characters were all just too gratingly nice. That is except for Nia (Lorea Turner), who was the grudging teenager upset with her Mother for getting her stranded in a church, due to a snow storm and so far away from her friends and family, while the Pastor (Luke James) made googly eyes at the Mum (Naturi Naughton) who had no idea that they used to go to the same school.

The acting from everyone was a tad over the top as well.

I might be inclined to come back to it again when it isn't a few days before Christmas and I still haven't seen 'Elf' (2003) and some of the other must see's, but even then it would be reluctantly.

Unscored as Unfinished.

A Night Before Christmas,

Love all of Kirk Franklin's work. Found this on cable by accident. Good to see it, and not have to stream it.

Good to see wholesome movies !! We need more of them.

Good message and good actors. The plot kept moving, and good singing. Great to see Kirk show up in the movie!!!

Reminds of the old musical movies. Love them. I wish there were more made!! Shows you do not have to go to extremes. Some of the Hollywood stuff, now a days, just is not worth seeing, and some of it makes no sense. Just worthless.

Keep up the great work Kirk Franklin. Waiting for your next work.