First Christmas (2020 OWN)
Cast: Idara Victor, Tonea Stewart, Nikki Dixon
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Synopsis (via OWN)
Given up for adoption and placed in foster care at a young age, writer Halle Downing (Idara Victor) receives the blessing of a lifetime when she is invited to spend Christmas in New Orleans with the biological family she never knew she had – The Moore family.
Thoughts
Halle is a successful writer suffering from writer’s block.
After the death of the patriarch of the Moore family, Joan and Memaw settle his affairs and learn of an adoptive daughter… who just happens to be Halle. They have the lawyer send a DNA test and an estate notification letter.
Halle first eats some chocolate. Then she sends out the DNA test and hopes a new life event will spark inspiration. Two weeks later, and no such luck. Halle does get an email from Memaw and calls her while eating more candy.
Halle hops on a flight to New Orleans and is picked up by a handsome man named Devin. The family welcomes Halle to their elegant French colonial home. They save a spot at the table for the dead father and are VERY insistent that Halle not sit there. They want Halle to experience their family traditions, which includes parties and SHADE! (Joan is the second wife and has drama with Tiffany.) Joan is also working on a book, and Halle offers to read the manuscript.
Tiffany and Glenn take out their new sibling to brunch. They open up about Joan and their rocky relationship with Joan. Halle tells them to put the past in the past and start over. The conversation goes well until Halle accidentally says Joan known about the baby being put up for adoption and kept it from the family.
Halle spends time with Devin, and they start to form a relationship. Halle shows up at the family party dressed in an ugly Christmas sweater, at Tiffany’s suggestion. Halle is embarrassed and channels her rage into her writing.
Tiffany and Halle make up. Halle encourages Tiffany to invite her girlfriend, Paris, to a family Christmas. Tiffany realizes that she needs some sisterly advice. The siblings start an app business together.
The family welcomes Paris with open arms. I’m so glad that the family is accepting of Tiffany and Paris. Halle opens up about her famous Pen name, and Joan becomes insecure about her writing and her place in the family. Then they watch the reading of the will video from the father. Everyone opens their envelopes, and Joan feels slighted again. They are all brought together by a pizza and ice cream party. Well, that is until Joan finds the chapters that Halle wrote when she was angry and blows it out of proportion. Tiffany screams at Halle and asks her to leave.
Halle checks herself into a hotel room and writes all night. Her writer’s block is cured by SADNESS. She spends Christmas alone. Devin tracks her down and tells her that he wants to spend Christmas with her. They kiss. The family shows up and apologizes for how they overreacted. Halle forgives everyone and thanks them for inspiring her next story about family and love.
. She hooks Joan up with a book deal, and Joan gives Halle an engraved bag briefcase that used to belong to her father. The family continues to apologize and finally share a Christmas breakfast and pray to GOD. Merry Christmas.
Side Note
Minority Report: The entire cast feature Black actors.
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Overall rating
🎄🎄🎄 (3 Christmas Trees)
🍷🍷🍷 (3 glasses of wine required.)
*Photo Credit: © 2020 OWN
