Unexpected Christmas – Review and Summary
Like a Shudder movie that premieres in theaters and then ends up on their platform, Unexpected Christmas feels like an early access movie meant for streaming or TV.
Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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“Unexpected Christmas” Film Details
- Director(s): Michael Vaughn Hernandez
- Writer(s): Cassandra Mann
- Distributor: Eammon Films
- Runtime: 1 Hour(s) and 44 Minutes
- Public Release Date (In Theaters): November 7, 2025
- Genre(s): Comedy, Drama, Holiday
- Content Rating: Not Rated
- Primary Language: English
- More Information (External Link)
Movie Summary
Marissa and Kyle, after losing their father, gained a stepfather in Willie and a stepsister in Kerry. Kyle is depicted as being unaffected, but for Marissa? Her father’s death and how her mother, Maria, handled it? That left her with long-term trauma that has made not only her relationship with Kerry, but also her romantic relationships with men, difficult for her to navigate.
Enter Richard, who seemingly was going to be different, but after a major reveal around Christmas, he appears to be like the others, and forces Marissa to scramble to not be embarrassed or live up to the insults her uncle Earl and aunt Debbie often joke.
Cast and Characters
Marissa (DomiNque Perry)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Marissa is a business owner, specifically in coffee, who struggles in her romantic relationships to the point of her aunts and uncles joking that she might be queer.
Kyle (Trell Woodberry)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Kyle is Marissa’s little brother, known for working hard, being under immense stress, and his wife not necessarily being happy about the level of intimacy in their relationship.
Willie (Ricco Ross)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Willie is Kerry’s biological father, Marissa and Kyle’s adoptive father, who married Maria not too long after her ex-husband died and has been a wonderful husband, partner, provider, and father.
Maria (Anna Maria Horsford)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Maria is not only her family’s matriarch but also a community figure thanks to her ownership and work at the local church.
Earl (Howie Bell)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Earl is that odd uncle who is comical, raises an eyebrow because of what he says and does, but is mostly seen as harmless.
Debbie (Tabitha Brown)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Debbie is the aunt who always has a drink in hand, or within arm’s reach, who knows how to handle her liquor, but with the way she talks about people, you sometimes would think otherwise.
Kerry (Reagan Gomez-Preston)
- Check out other productions we’ve covered starring this actor: [Link to Actor’s Tag]
- Character Summary: Debbie is the aunt who always has a drink in hand, or within arm’s reach, who knows how to handle her liquor, but with the way she talks about people, you sometimes would think otherwise.
What To Expect In “Unexpected Christmas” (Not Rated) – Content Overview
- Miscellaneous:
- Drinking: Yes
Review and Commentary
Highlight(s)
Decent Storylines For The Majority Of Characters [81/100]
The summary doesn’t convey what everyone goes through, just mainly Marissa, since she is presented as the lead. But whether it is Kyle’s marriage and his intimacy issues, Kerry dealing with the ethics of her job and how her lack of work-life balance affects her relationships, the potential issues with who Uncle Earl is dating, and more, there is something for the majority of characters. Even for those who don’t have their own story, like Willie, they are notable contributors or commentators for others, like when it comes to Momma Scott and her transition from Marissa’s father to him.
It all makes it so that, outside of one or two characters, everyone either gets to be the star of their own story or a notable supporting role in someone else’s.
It’s A Satisfactory Holiday Movie [80/100]
Unexpected Christmas feels very much like the upper echelon of what we’ve seen out of BET+ or OWN. Yes, it has religious themes, brings up the topic of forgiveness, and hits a lot of the usual beats you’d expect from a Black predominant holiday movie. But, it is also funny, especially the shady comments made by either Earl or Debbie, and heartfelt, as we see Momma Scott talk about the church she is trying to keep from being bought by Kerry’s employer.
The combination makes it so, while not deserving of becoming a holiday classic, it isn’t something you immediately question why it was given a theatrical release.
On The Fence
It Ultimately Doesn’t Stand Out Much [73/100]
While Unexpected Christmas is likable, has drama, and comedic moments, it doesn’t push itself to be on anyone’s pedestal and be something you reference again and again. Marissa’s troubles are valid, intriguing even, but this is a holiday movie. Unlike some, like The Best Man Holiday, it isn’t really trying to go deep into the wound, bring you to significant tears, and leave you seriously contemplative. Things often will feel simplified, solved by Christmas dinner, and that makes even the more or less touched on problems in Unexpected Christmas feel like they didn’t get their just due.
Heck, I would even add, with nearly all notable names getting storylines, or being notable parts in other people’s stories, what was up with Tabitha Brown as Debbie? Was she just supposed to be a shady aunt, making occasional comments and talking about others because she doesn’t have a life of her own? Earl at least had a girlfriend, albeit one who raised an eyebrow, but he did have something going on.
Overall
Our Rating (78/100): Mixed (Divisive)
Unexpected Christmas leans towards being one of those films you see in theaters, not because you know it is going to be good, but to support seeing people who look like you so films like One Of Them Days and Sinners eventually get produced. Which isn’t to say the film is bad; it just lacks that special something to be worth seeing in theaters without the pseudo-long term investment.
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