Brewster’s Millions: Christmas (2024): Review and Summary
“Brewster’s Millions Christmas,” like many movies using name recognition for a boost, feels like it didn’t and shouldn’t have used its predecessor as a crutch, for this one could have stood on its own.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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| Film Length | 1 Hour 40 Minutes |
| Release Date | December 5, 2024 |
| Advisory Rating | Rated TV-PG |
| Initially Available On/Via | BET Plus |
| Genre(s) | Comedy, Drama, Romance, Young Adult, Holiday, Religious |
| Distributor | BET+ |
| Director | Patricia Cuffie-Jones |
| Writer | Patricia Cuffie-Jones |
| Based On Work By | Joseph Nasser, Patricia Cuffie-Jones |
| Character Name | Actor |
| Morgan | China Anne McClain |
| Mrs. Brewster | Telma Hopkins |
| Andrew | Romeo Miller |
| Tiffany | Tamika Shannon |
| Opal | Rain Pryor |
Plot Summary
Morgan Brewster has lived off her family’s money but hasn’t contributed to the company at all. Instead, she works to prop up bad actors in various markets, like real estate, using her gift of gab, marketing, and even legal background. But while her aunt, Mrs. Brewster, has watched and tolerated Morgan’s lifestyle, as it becomes clear that she has forgotten who controls the purse strings and has foregone treating her like family, she decides a major course correction is required.
So, she decides to strip Morgan of her wealth and properties, which apparently Mrs. Brewster had control over, and tasks her with giving back and meeting multiple goals over the course of 30 days, with the last day being Christmas. If she does this, her wealth will be returned, and she’ll have a position waiting for her in the family company. If she doesn’t, she will be left with nothing, and people like Tiffany and Andrew will take over.
Left with no choice, Morgan, who is assigned Andrew as a witness to her deeds, tries to follow the rules and limitations set by Mrs. Brewster to complete this list. Day by day, it seems the privilege and obnoxiousness of wealth melt away, and Morgan is reminded of who she was raised to be.
Character Descriptions
Morgan
One of the last members of the Brewster family, Morgan was arguably spoiled rotten for being an only child and the future of the family. While this has led to her being highly educated and with a strong network, she has also become selfish and the worst kind of privileged along the way.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Black Lightning.”
Mrs. Brewster
The matriarch of the Brewster fortune and CEO of the company is Morgan’s only family member left after Monty died and Morgan’s parents also passed. This has left her heartbroken but soldiering on. However, with the desire to retire, she is looking toward Morgan, and potentially others outside the family, to take over soon.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Better Things: Season 4 Episode 3.”
Andrew
Andrew is Tiffany’s right hand, who is the quiet, watchful type mostly. But he does have a flirt in him if the situation calls for it.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Christmas Angel.”
Tiffany
Tiffany is next in line if Morgan doesn’t step up, and she presents herself as a self-made woman with her own struggles, more worthy of the CEO job than Morgan is.
Opal
Opal lives in a housing development that Morgan was involved in, mainly with bad actors who made it worse than better.
Other Noteworthy Information
Where To Watch This:- Movie Contains: Drinking
- The distributor is also known for “Whatever It Takes.”
- The director is also known for “A Wesley Christmas.”
Review
Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)
Audience
“Brewster’s Millions Christmas” caters to those who want faith and lessons in their Christmas movies, as well as a bit of romance, and want to see a journey of redemption from the lead.
Highlights
This Didn’t Need The Brewster’s Millions Name
Let me begin by saying, while risking credibility, I have never seen “Brewster’s Millions.” With saying that, outside of the question of how Monty made his money and who Monty was, since he is often referenced, I don’t feel like I was missing anything. It seemed like, as seen with so many shows and movies, the name recognition was the initial hook, and the people behind this hoped that would be enough to get people to stick around.
They won on that end because McClain is a wonderful lead, and watching Morgan go from a spoiled but working brat to someone who tapped into her privilege and talent for good was something fun to watch. But, I believe that, especially with Richard Pryor dead, thus he can’t show up, there wasn’t a need to tap into the nostalgia of the name for this. It truly stands on its own, and considering that most holiday movies, whether on OWN or BET Plus, nearly all focus on the wealthy or the bygone middle class, this would have fit right in.
Opal
While most of what “Brewster’s Millions Christmas” offers feels like it fits a formula, a special shout-out has to be given to Rain Pryor. With this being one of her father’s movies, you could easily imagine that she would just have a nepo baby role where her appearance was more vanity than anything else, but that’s not the case. As Opal, she gives life and something worth latching onto when it comes to “Brewster’s Millions Christmas.”
She is that rare example of a character in movies like this who doesn’t have everything but is actually happy, or at least can find joy. Yes, she lives in an apartment and may not have custody of her daughter, amongst other issues going on, but she finds the silver lining. Characters like that don’t often exist in holiday movies, especially those starring Black people. So, to see someone working class or poor and not exist purely as part of the lead’s journey to redemption made Opal special, and Pryor gave the type of performance that made this role feel earned rather than given or contractually obligated.
Low Points
Andrew Was Bland
The way Andrew is performed has to be one of the blandest characters I’ve ever seen. Bad enough the writing has him as a basic potential love interest, purely in service to Morgan, but then to not give him much of a personality, Miller to pretty much be monotone throughout the whole movie, and him to seem like a stooge to whichever person has some semblance of influence? This movie could have saved some money by hiring a no-name actor to be a voyeur and driver for Morgan’s life rather than paying Miller not to give much beyond a face for marketing.
On The Fence
More Could Have Been Done With Tiffany
In “Brewster’s Millions Christmas,” Tiffany and Andrew mean to sabotage Morgan out of fear that if she succeeds and takes over, they will lose their jobs. For Andrew, it isn’t clear what damage this will do to his life beyond his pockets. Tiffany, on the other hand, we’re told late in the film that she came from nothing and takes care of her mom.
To me, Tiffany’s backstory and fears should have been front-loaded, and the goal changed. I get she wants financial security for her mother’s life and to maintain the lifestyle she worked hard for. That’s why it sucks she is made into such a basic villain who is snarky and a butthead. On top of the writing being a disservice to the character’s potential, it makes you question why Mrs. Brewster hired her, never mind promoted her to a level where she would be involved in the family business.
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