The Wasteland Reviewer

Unexpected Christmas (2025) Written Review

How complicated can holiday gatherings get with your family? Especially as an adult, your family can be spread to the four winds and getting everyone together can be a complicated affair. Families are also tricky because everyone has differing dynamics with each other and things can be tense just as much as they can be joyful. But when you throw in some other, outside-the-box complexities, that is where things can get really complicated. That is the space that movies are made of! High concept ideas are quite frequent in the romantic holiday comedy market for sure and many filmmakers and audiences love some of their favorite tropes. But sometimes you get some real wild concepts like you find in Unexpected Christmas…with an emphasis on that EX. I am sure if you show up for your family’s Christmas reunion after being dumped by your partner to find out that they had been dating your estranged sibling the whole time, you would be having a drama-fueled visit too. 

How does director Michael Vaughn Hernandez bring this tumultuous Christmas to life on screen? You can tell that Hernandez is not working with a big budget (or even a modest budget) and you can see some of the seams at times. The most glaring moments are when the stock footage for transitions pop up and look noticeably uncinematic. The main footage looks a little bit too Hallmark or Netflix, holiday romantic comedy but at least it isn’t averse to look at. Hernandez does balance the tone of the film well as Unexpected Christmas is a nice balance of humor and emotion. There are some overly silly moments and some of the music choices make certain moments come off a tad too melodramatic but overall, there are some genuine laughs and emotions throughout the film. The film has a natural progression from more humorous to more heartfelt as the story progresses and Hernandez handles that quite well. Pacing-wise, there are certainly moments when the film loses its narrative thrust a bit, but it still is a generally engaging experience from the start to finish. There is an organic tinge of faithfulness thrown in and overall, Unexpected Christmas captures that holiday movie vibe well. 

Does this script by writer Cassandra Mann balance all the moving parts well? Mann is attempting a lot with this film with a modest length and Mann does a solid job structuring it all. There are certainly some tropes that Mann leans on to bring all the threads together (including a big moment where all the subplots converge and blow up and the inevitable follow-up reconvening of the family moment as well). Mann also does a good job at giving each of these narrative threads a space to breathe. Each character gets some type of arc or purpose in the story and most of them feel essential to the flow (with a few exceptions like a weird romantic subplot for the Uncle Earl character). The central element and main conceptual hook focus on the love triangle between the two estranged sisters Marissa (DomiNque Perry) and Kerry (Reagan Gomez-Preston) with Lil Rel Howery’s Richard stuck in the middle. Each of these characters have unexpected depth and trauma that they overcome in the film, and the resolution is fresher and more meaningful than most romantic comedies would deliver. The parents (Anna Maria Horsford and Ricco Ross) each have their paths to process with their past baggage which adds depth to the emotional core of the film. The third child, Kyle (Trell Woodberry), has his own marital issues, which are not the most essential, but it does add some interesting parallel themes and ideas to the film. There is certainly a lot going on in Unexpected Christmas but there are some strong writing moments from Mann that tie the emotional and thematic threads of the film together. There are a few speeches in the third act (including from the sagely best friend of Marissa (Terrence Terrell’s Michael) which feels mature and meaningful, adding necessary depth to the film.

Does the cast bring the last needed elements to bring Unexpected Christmas to life? Overall, this film is filled with charismatic performers who have genuine chemistry with each other. There are some stiff and stilted moments sprinkled throughout but they are overshadowed by the commitment that these performers bring to the table. There are a few performances that feel lacking compared to some, but they are certainly overshadowed by the more powerful ones. The film’s vibe is also a little more melodramatic and over-the-top, which calls for some bigger acting choices. But that feels organic to this family’s story and works well to tie things together. Howery is the biggest name on the cast, and his veteran presence works well for the film. Horsford has some true standout moments that give the film real emotional depth. The two central sisters come to life well due to the committed performances of Perry and Gomez-Preston. Howie Bell and Tabitha Brown make for a pair of fun comic relief elements in the film. The last big standout must be Terrell who is electric any moment he is on screen. Overall, this is an attractive and engaging cast. 

Is Unexpected Christmas a fun and worthwhile holiday diversion for the season? Sure, Mann and Hernandez dabble in a few tropes to bring this story together, but the heart and soul of the film overcome them. This cast does their best, bringing this story to life with energy and authenticity. There are some strong elements in the film narratively and thematically that resonate well. This is not the freshest or best holiday movie of the season, but it makes for a welcomed addition to the holiday season at the theater.