Written by: Kevin Berge
It's your classic romcom with family drama, miscommunications, and ultimately a happy ending. Except... this time, Hollywood is finally allowing gay leads. (Image Courtesy of: theloop.ca)
Quick Take: Happiest Season is a simple fun romantic comedy that adds representation to a familiar formula. It is not nuanced but certainly sweet, and it ultimately feels realistic.
***This review will contain no spoilers beyond the basic set-up of Happiest Season, avoiding any major moments in the story. You should be able to read ahead without spoilers unless you wish to go in completely blind.***
Christmas romantic comedies are a dime a dozen, and their formula is pretty expected. Happiest Season is not going to break any molds, but it does add in the dramatics of focusing on two women in a relationship.
It is odd that it took this long to see this high profile a gay Christmas romcom, but that works to the movie's credit. It is built on the back of a story that should be commonplace in 2020 but is not.
This sweet story follows Abby (Kristen Stewart) going to see her girlfriend Harper's (Mackenzie Davis) family for Christmas. Along the way, she realizes her family have no idea that Harper is gay and must reconcile with how the love of her life hides from their own love.
The rest of the cast include Dan Levy (Schitt's Creek) as Abby's best friend John, Alison Brie (GLOW) and Mary Holland (Mike and Davis Need Wedding Dates) as sisters Sloane and Jane, Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation) as a former love interest of Harper Riley, and Mary Steenburgen (Las Vegas) and Victor Garber (Alias) as parents Tipper and Ted.
This is a great cast for a simple story of acceptance. A lot of this story is watching Abby struggle with Harper, and it makes Harper almost the villain of this story though her family are the major antagonists in this tale.
It is hard to truly sympathize with Harper. She leaves others to suffer for her own mentality, and she always has because she cannot be honest. In order for her to be honest, she needs a true wake-up call that comes throughout this film.
Christmas romantic comedies are a dime a dozen, and their formula is pretty expected. Happiest Season is not going to break any molds, but it does add in the dramatics of focusing on two women in a relationship.
It is odd that it took this long to see this high profile a gay Christmas romcom, but that works to the movie's credit. It is built on the back of a story that should be commonplace in 2020 but is not.
This sweet story follows Abby (Kristen Stewart) going to see her girlfriend Harper's (Mackenzie Davis) family for Christmas. Along the way, she realizes her family have no idea that Harper is gay and must reconcile with how the love of her life hides from their own love.
The rest of the cast include Dan Levy (Schitt's Creek) as Abby's best friend John, Alison Brie (GLOW) and Mary Holland (Mike and Davis Need Wedding Dates) as sisters Sloane and Jane, Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Recreation) as a former love interest of Harper Riley, and Mary Steenburgen (Las Vegas) and Victor Garber (Alias) as parents Tipper and Ted.
This is a great cast for a simple story of acceptance. A lot of this story is watching Abby struggle with Harper, and it makes Harper almost the villain of this story though her family are the major antagonists in this tale.
It is hard to truly sympathize with Harper. She leaves others to suffer for her own mentality, and she always has because she cannot be honest. In order for her to be honest, she needs a true wake-up call that comes throughout this film.
This is the true ship of Happiest Season. Don't take away the best couple! (Image Courtesy of: denofgeek.com)
The movie really shines in how consistently the emotion of Abby lands. Kristen Stewart (Charlie Angels) sells the subdued emotion she feels as she loses control of her situation. Her hatred of Christmas is understandable and only emphasized by the faux respect she is shown by others.
Among the rest of the cast, Mary Holland and Dan Levy stand out for the humor they bring before shifting the focus to their genuine emotion in the midst of the drama around them.
This movie is funny at times but always sweetly dramatic. Each of the main characters may not go through a major evolution, but they do all face their mistakes and grow. It is a straightforward story of people truly understanding the meaning of Christmas.
Clea DuVall (The Intervention) has a particular goal in showing the experience of gay women in a situation where heteronormativity is expected. The script is sharp and makes up for a simplistic overall plot by feeling realistic in its focus and voice.
The movie is built on this experience. While more nuanced independent films might land stronger, this one has a more universal appeal that makes it work for any audience. It feels familiar, even when it deals in stories less told in Hollywood.
The somewhat facetious title of Happiest Season ultimately comes to a welcome holiday-inspired conclusion. It idealizes its ending in a way that may not be true to life. Still, it's hard not to appreciate it after the journey of the movie to that point.
This movie is the sweet Christmas experience most should enjoy fully. Even though I have rarely been enamored with truly saccharine romcoms, this one lands by force of its cast and script above all.
Among the rest of the cast, Mary Holland and Dan Levy stand out for the humor they bring before shifting the focus to their genuine emotion in the midst of the drama around them.
This movie is funny at times but always sweetly dramatic. Each of the main characters may not go through a major evolution, but they do all face their mistakes and grow. It is a straightforward story of people truly understanding the meaning of Christmas.
Clea DuVall (The Intervention) has a particular goal in showing the experience of gay women in a situation where heteronormativity is expected. The script is sharp and makes up for a simplistic overall plot by feeling realistic in its focus and voice.
The movie is built on this experience. While more nuanced independent films might land stronger, this one has a more universal appeal that makes it work for any audience. It feels familiar, even when it deals in stories less told in Hollywood.
The somewhat facetious title of Happiest Season ultimately comes to a welcome holiday-inspired conclusion. It idealizes its ending in a way that may not be true to life. Still, it's hard not to appreciate it after the journey of the movie to that point.
This movie is the sweet Christmas experience most should enjoy fully. Even though I have rarely been enamored with truly saccharine romcoms, this one lands by force of its cast and script above all.
