WHAT’S IT ABOUT
With her assets frozen, wealthy heiress, Monica Brewster, must complete unusual tasks from her late Uncle Monty’s will to prove she’s worthy of her inheritance by Christmas Eve.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
This story follows Morgan Brewster, a wealthy heir who’s been coasting through life thanks to her family’s money. But her aunt, Mrs. Brewster, has had enough of Morgan’s aimless lifestyle. To shake things up, she takes away Morgan’s fortune and challenges her to a 30-day mission that ends on Christmas. If Morgan completes a set of tasks, she’ll get her inheritance back and a role in the family business. Morgan isn’t alone in this challenge. Her aunt assigns Andrew to keep an eye on her. Reluctantly, Morgan starts this journey. As the days pass, her sense of entitlement starts to fade, and you begin to see who she really is underneath all the privilege. Morgan is the last hope for the Brewster legacy. Even though she’s well-educated and well-connected, she’s also become selfish and spoiled. Family tensions run deep here. Mrs. Brewster, who’s dealt with a lot of loss—including the death of Monty and Morgan’s parents—wants a successor she can trust before she retires. Watching closely are Tiffany and Andrew, who hope to step in if Morgan fails. Tiffany presents herself as the hardworking, self-made option. Andrew plays the quiet observer with flashes of charm. They both know their future careers depend on what happens next. One standout character is Opal, a resident of a housing development Morgan once affected with shady business moves. Rain Pryor does a great job bringing Opal to life. Unlike the usual side characters in holiday movies, Opal feels real. Despite her struggles—living in a small apartment and possibly dealing with child custody issues—she has an honest, uplifting spirit. This film is geared toward viewers who enjoy faith-based stories with themes of redemption and a hint of romance. Sure, they have a huge similarity, but unlike that, it can stand on its own. Morgan’s metamorphosis, acted by McClain, seems plausible. She goes from being an exceedingly pampered socialite to someone understanding that she can utilize her social status for the good. It is not overly simplistic or contrived. The movie is not entirely entertaining, though. Andrew’s character is weak: he’s so dull he comes off an implement to the plot than a real person. Putting all things together, the actor’s role did not count much, thus rendering Andrew forgettable. Tiffany doesn’t quite make the cut either-she had a potentially riveting backstory about being poor and supporting her mother but was cast in the cliched mold of a categorically villainous character. The “bad-guy” behavior ends up losing her goal of financial security further back into predictability. The movie might have a few of these imperfections, but it gets some really awesome things down. It’s not just the average holiday movie. Apart from the typical holiday movie trope, the characters like Opal show some truly honest perspectives on a working-class life. Ultimately, Brewster’s Millions Christmas will still reign in things such as performances and themes, though the telling would not be flawless. It presented a redemption story here, so familiar and yet touched with real humanity and social insight. The film examines privilege and how it grows as well as how it may change. Morgan’s journey is not just about reclaiming her family’s legacy but also a true reconnection with her potential and others.
OUR RATING – A REVISITED 7