Almost Christmas
A dysfunctional family gathers together for their first Christmas since the death of their matriarch.
Despite a mid-range budget of $17.0M, Almost Christmas became a financial success, earning $42.6M worldwide—a 150% return.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Almost Christmas (2016) demonstrates deliberately positioned dramatic framework, characteristic of David E. Talbert's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 51 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Walter Meyers
Rachel Meyers
Christian Meyers
Cheryl Meyers
Malachi "Baby" Meyers
Evan Meyers
Lisa Moore
Aunt May
Main Cast & Characters
Walter Meyers
Played by Danny Glover
The patriarch of the Meyers family who gathers his children for their first Christmas since his wife's passing, struggling to hold the family together.
Rachel Meyers
Played by Gabrielle Union
The responsible oldest daughter and law school graduate who puts her family's needs before her own career aspirations.
Christian Meyers
Played by Romany Malco
Walter's son, a former college football star turned congressman running for re-election while struggling with infidelity in his marriage.
Cheryl Meyers
Played by Kimberly Elise
Christian's wife and mother of their children, dealing with her husband's betrayal while trying to maintain appearances during the holidays.
Malachi "Baby" Meyers
Played by Romany Malco
The youngest Meyers son, a law school dropout and aspiring singer who returns home broke and searching for direction.
Evan Meyers
Played by Jessie T. Usher
Walter's eldest son and former college basketball player dealing with a back injury, recovering from pain medication addiction.
Lisa Moore
Played by Nicole Ari Parker
Christian's campaign manager and sister-in-law to Rachel, who brings her own agenda to the family gathering.
Aunt May
Played by Mo'Nique
Walter's outspoken sister who provides comic relief and family wisdom during the holiday gathering.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Walter Meyers visits his late wife Grace's grave, establishing that this is his first Christmas without her after nearly 50 years of marriage. He's alone and grieving, but determined to host the family holiday.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when The family arrives home for Christmas, bringing all their personal conflicts, secrets, and drama into Walter's house. The "perfect family Christmas" Walter wants immediately begins unraveling as old tensions and new problems surface.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Walter makes the active choice to push forward with Grace's Christmas traditions despite the chaos, declaring they will make this work and honor her memory. The family reluctantly commits to trying to get through the holiday together., moving from reaction to action.
At 56 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Major secrets explode: Christian's candidate's affair threatens his career, Rachel's marriage crisis becomes public, Malachi's pill addiction is discovered. The facade of a happy family Christmas shatters. Stakes raise as Walter realizes his family is falling apart., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 84 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Walter suffers what appears to be a heart attack or severe medical episode and collapses. His children realize they've been so consumed by their own drama that they've failed their grieving father. The literal "whiff of death" as they fear losing him too., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 90 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. The children realize that honoring their mother means putting family first, not maintaining perfect appearances. They understand what Grace and Walter were really asking for - genuine connection, not performance. They choose to truly come together., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Almost Christmas's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Almost Christmas against these established plot points, we can identify how David E. Talbert utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Almost Christmas within the comedy genre.
David E. Talbert's Structural Approach
Among the 3 David E. Talbert films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Almost Christmas represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete David E. Talbert filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more David E. Talbert analyses, see First Sunday, Baggage Claim.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Walter Meyers visits his late wife Grace's grave, establishing that this is his first Christmas without her after nearly 50 years of marriage. He's alone and grieving, but determined to host the family holiday.
Theme
Walter tells his kids on a conference call that their mother wanted one last Christmas with everyone together, no drama. He says "Family is everything" and asks them to honor Grace's wish - establishing the theme of family unity over individual conflicts.
Worldbuilding
Introduction of the dysfunctional Meyers family: Christian (struggling campaign manager hiding his candidate's affair), Rachel (law student in a failing marriage with kids), Malachi (former football star with injury issues and pain pill addiction), and Cheryl (drama-filled sister). Each has secrets and conflicts they're bringing home.
Disruption
The family arrives home for Christmas, bringing all their personal conflicts, secrets, and drama into Walter's house. The "perfect family Christmas" Walter wants immediately begins unraveling as old tensions and new problems surface.
Resistance
Walter attempts to navigate family tensions with the help of sister-in-law Aunt May, who serves as his support. Family members clash: Rachel fights with her husband, Christian hides his work crisis, Malachi's addiction hints emerge, old sibling rivalries flare up.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Walter makes the active choice to push forward with Grace's Christmas traditions despite the chaos, declaring they will make this work and honor her memory. The family reluctantly commits to trying to get through the holiday together.
Mirror World
Walter finds connection with his late wife through memories and moments with each child, particularly bonding scenes that show what family unity meant to Grace. Aunt May also serves as the voice of Grace's values and wisdom.
Premise
The promise of the premise: a messy family Christmas with all the traditions, conflicts, meals, and moments. Comic and dramatic scenes of family dysfunction mixed with genuine attempts at connection. Secrets begin to surface as everyone struggles to maintain appearances.
Midpoint
Major secrets explode: Christian's candidate's affair threatens his career, Rachel's marriage crisis becomes public, Malachi's pill addiction is discovered. The facade of a happy family Christmas shatters. Stakes raise as Walter realizes his family is falling apart.
Opposition
Family conflicts intensify. Siblings blame each other, marriages strain further, addiction spirals, career crises deepen. Walter tries to hold everyone together but his own grief and the mounting pressure of everyone's problems push him to his limits. The family fractures further.
Collapse
Walter suffers what appears to be a heart attack or severe medical episode and collapses. His children realize they've been so consumed by their own drama that they've failed their grieving father. The literal "whiff of death" as they fear losing him too.
Crisis
At the hospital, the family confronts their failures. Each member has their dark night - realizing how they've let their personal problems destroy what their mother wanted most. Emotional reckonings with their own selfishness and what they've lost.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The children realize that honoring their mother means putting family first, not maintaining perfect appearances. They understand what Grace and Walter were really asking for - genuine connection, not performance. They choose to truly come together.
Synthesis
The family actively supports each other: helping Malachi get help, supporting Rachel through her divorce, standing by Christian through his career crisis. They complete the Christmas celebration authentically, with real love and support rather than fake harmony. Walter recovers and sees his family truly united.
Transformation
Walter returns to Grace's grave, but this time he's not alone - his family is with him. The closing image mirrors the opening but shows transformation: from isolated grief to supported healing, from fractured family to genuine unity. Grace's wish fulfilled.