Film Review: 'Merry Liddle Christmas'

Being a Type-A perfectionist, Jacquie Liddle (Kelly Rowland) has always been used to being in control and excelling at everything she's done. It's paid off nicely for her, now that she's running a digital media company in Silicon Valley and living in an immaculate smart house. So when she learns that a furniture company wants her to head their tech division and wants to compile a promotional video of her and her family at Christmastime, Jacquie takes them up on their offer. Figuring it can't be too hard to host Christmas, Jacquie arranges for the annual Christmas gathering take place at her house this year.

But soon after everyone arrives, it becomes clear that Jacquie's in for a much tougher job than she expected. Jacquie's rigid scheduling and particular way of doing things clash with her mother Marchelle's (Debbi Morgan) dedication to family traditions. She also has troubles to deal with in the form of her estranged sister Kiara (Bresha Webb), Kiara's messy dog, and her rambunctious niece Ava (Thalia Campbell) and nephew Royce (Marcello Guedes). As the day of the video shoot draws closer, Jacquie worries her chance at a big career opportunity is falling apart on her. But can her family and new neighbor Tyler (Thomas Cadrot) help this overstressed hostess learn the true definition of a "perfect" Christmas?

Before checking out the wedding-centric sequel to this 2019 Lifetime Christmas feature, I realized I really had no choice but to give it a look. Serving as Kelly Rowland's first time producing a film, Merry Liddle Christmas was inspired by Rowland's own chaotic Christmas experience. It makes sense that the film would have such personal roots, as Merry Liddle Christmas is very much a movie about family. While the above poster pictures Rowland with her love interest co-star, Jacquie and Tyler's budding attraction is far from being the central plot of the film. In fact, compared to Jacquie's Christmas hosting drama, her relationship with Tyler is practically a footnote. While a part of me feels that might change going into Merry Liddle Christmas Wedding, this movie certainly thrives off placing its focus on Jacquie and the Liddle clan.

With the bond between the Liddles being under such a microscope, it's a good thing the casting behind them is so perfect. Everyone playing a member of the Liddle family is effortlessly natural and charming, and help bring authenticity to the love they have for each other. The "Liddle" cast also helps bring the comedy in Andrea Stevens' script to life, making for a movie as funny as it is heartfelt. Debbi Morgan is a powerhouse as the loving but sassy Marchelle, and Chris Shields gets in on the snark too as the more grounded Wade. Latonya Williams and Jaime M. Callica make for an adorable couple as Treena and Julian, and while they have some moments of becoming cloying and/or annoying, Thalia Campbell and Marcello Guedes are otherwise sweet and precocious enough to keep Ava and Royce cute and likable.

Bresha Webb's Kiara, however, stands out for how her character is handled. One of Kiara's first scenes has her arriving at Jacquie's house, decked out in fur and complaining about the airport losing her clothes and makeup. You'd think the film's setting her up to be a Diva Sister antagonist, but in Webb's hands, that isn't the case. For all her catty remarks and occasionally childish behavior, the movie is quick to show there is some depth to Kiara. We see her express her love and devotion for her son Royce and watch as she makes genuine efforts to reconnect with Jacquie. And in a particularly touching scene, Kiara opens up to Julian (who she's had little if any interaction with by this point) about her struggles with being a single mother and her fears that she's messing it up somehow. It's some excellent character development and an awesome defiance of tropes, with Webb bringing her A-game to all of Kiara's facets.

As the lead Liddle, Kelly Rowland is as charming as the rest of her on-screen family. She also effectively navigates her character's journey, as Jacquie Liddle proves to be a character that could've easily been made unbearable. But throughout Jacquie's bouts of being an excessively uptight and snippy control freak, Rowland keeps Jacquie reined in to where her behavior doesn't become unjustifiably harsh. It's not until things legitimately start going pear-shaped that Jacquie starts lashing out, and at that point, it can't be said she doesn't have some room to be upset with her family. Rowland stops Jacquie from going down an unlikable path, and the script gives Jacquie some moments where she can let loose and show her softer side. Jacquie's goofy costumed selfie session with her sisters was worth a smile, and her scenes with baby Hailey are just adorable. Such moments allow Jacquie's character growth to feel like a natural and believable progression of events, which lead up to a satisfying conclusion.

For the last member of the primary cast, we have Thomas Cadrot as Jacquie's new neighbor Tyler Brooks. Cadrot was last seen on this blog as minor love interest Ted in Hallmark's My Best Friend's Bouquet, and his character here is similarly distanced from the spotlight. But despite his diminished screentime, Cadrot plays Tyler with all the right charisma to make you like him as quickly as the Liddle sisters do. And while Cadrot and Rowland aren't given all that much time to form chemistry, they do well enough with what they're given. Hopefully, though, Merry Liddle Christmas Wedding will allow them the chance to work on that and develop Jacquie and Tyler's relationship.

The one noteworthy problem with Merry Liddle Christmas has to do with its post-conflict action. The big falling-out moment between Jacquie and her family is dealt with not long after it happens, and afterward, the movie begins to feel like an overly long wrap-up. There's plenty of heartwarming moments to be had in the final act, but its tail-end still carries with it a slight feeling of overindulgence. Barring that, Merry Liddle Christmas makes for a wonderful family comedy with a cast that clearly brings their all to the material. The Liddle family is a fun and wholesome group to watch tackle a crazy Christmas together, with director Bosede Williams working with her cast to cultivate that feeling of familial love. The script brings equal parts heart and humor to the proceedings, and the soundtrack (which includes a few songs from Rowland herself) only adds to the uber-festive atmosphere. So if you're looking for a light-hearted Christmas comedy to watch with the whole family, Merry Liddle Christmas would make a great selection.

Score: 8.5 out of 10 convertible-driving snowmen.