Last year was the first time I had ever heard of gospel singer Kirk Franklin. A Gospel Christmas was a fairly boring movie with some amazing music. This year we’re given The Night Before Christmas. Let’s see if it’s any better.

Journee (Naturi Naughton) and Nia (Lorea Turner) are a mother and daughter going through a difficult time. After the loss of their husband/father, they have had a tough time connecting with one another. When they get caught in a blizzard on Christmas Eve, they find sanctuary in a church. With the help of youth pastor Adam (Luke James) and the rest of the trapped congregation, maybe they can heal their relationship.

Much like last year’s movie, the music in The Night Before Christmas was amazing. Thankfully, this time around, the plot was better. Focusing on the troubled mother/daughter relationship separated the movie from the rest of the Christmas fare. Yes, there is a little bit of romance but it’s not the main plot of the story. And, to be honest, there aren’t a lot of movies that focus on a mother and teenage daughter. If a movie does feature a mother/daughter relationship, it’s almost always two adults.

I absolutely recommend watching this one. Last year I recommended watching for the music. This one I recommend for both the music and the plot. It’s just a great movie overall.