The ending lets the Harper character totally off the hook for her shitty behaviour.
Lovely holiday kind of entertainer with a strong story.Even if there's nothing unpredictable or extraordinary,still something feels new and different from the other typical christmas movies.
Good movie.
Understated movie without being too preachy.
I was expecting a Hallmark movie. Thank heavens it turned out better.
Good one to watch during the holidays.
This was actually awful. It's the drama and stress of a romantic comedy set during Christmas with the most irrational characters. It's like any other movie with a central couple but the twist is they're gay.
Pros:
- John
- Abby's hair
- The inclusion of LGBT characters.
- Not everyone is hot.
- The bonding scene between Riley and Abby at the drag bar and Riley's story about Harper.
- John's coming out story.
- Some of the jokes are actually funny.
Cons:
- Every interaction with Harper and Abby once they're in the car.
- Not a single problem is addressed until it blows up in one big fight and everyone is happy now that they've aired their dirty laundry. Jane doesn't need therapy from her parents shitting on her. Abby is okay with being called an orphan every time. Harper has self-awareness. Sloan realises that she's just a fucking bitch.
- No one apologises for the things they said in the movie. No one apologises to Abby for accusing her of theft. No one apologises to Jane for how they treated her. Harper can't be clear with Abby even when they're alone.
- Jane's one big scene where she gets upset at her painting being destroyed is ruined by it instantly turning into a joke.
- Every romantic comedy has issues stemming from a breakdown in communication. Harper and her parents. Harper and Abby. Sloan and Eric.
- Not a single person in this movie is realistic so I can't root for any of them.
Comments:
- We only see 1 happy bonding scene with the couple during the opening, then days and days go by of Harper shafting Abby and then the single moment where Abby expresses how unhappy she is, Harper calls her clingy.
- Harper's parents are horrible caricatures of rich people constantly shitting on Jane and making it obvious how Harper is the golden child.
- No one has any boundaries and it isn't funny.
Had such a great opportunity to be a unique Christmas film but then just fucked it up by being cliche and basic.
I can't believe we finally get to have a lesbian Christmas rom-com with all the fucking tropes with hate to love.
And it's actually so good and fun? Is this like cosmic balance for how fucked up 2020 has been?
Also, don't hate on me but Aubrey Plaza as the stunning lesbian doctor kinda stole the show for me!
I was looking forward to watching a nice romantic Christmas movie, and the prospect of being LGBTQ inclusive seemed even more appealing. I saw a few promo shots of Kirsten Stewart and Mackenzie Davis before and they seemed to have a good chemistry, so I was really looking forward to this movie.
But after they get in the car to visit Harper's parents for Christmas, this became the most toxic shit show I've ever seen and stays this way almost entirely throughout the movie, while trying to pack each and every worn out cliché into the story. Of course in the end, all personal issues are miraculously resolved within a blink of an eye and we get our sweet "Merry Christmas" ending.
Still, some pros:
hey kristen stewart, GET OUT!
The ending kinda ruined it, as nothing is actually resolved and no one ever gets called out for their terrible behavior. Justice for Abby and Riley, and all the awards to Daniel Levy.
Great cast, reductive and unimaginative script
This has some great moments but they made a hash of the most pivotal scene (it just descended into silly mayhem). Some really good casting choices (although I thought Mackenzie Davis was a weak link). The story had a solid path it could have followed to tell a story that is rarely told adequately. It just needed to decide what kind of movie it wanted to be - a realistic Romantic Drama or hyperbolic RomCom. I think it ended up being neither. I give this film a 6 (disappointing with some great moments) out of 10. [Romance]
When you look best with your family? On picture. ;> Not so holiday movie, it's more socially engaged.
All those horrible Christmas tropes but with lesbians... I love it!
If it wasn't for the final act leaving so much unsaid and implying so many other apologies that should have been said out loud and worked through on the screen, it could have been a great movie. I guess that the allure of going the easiest way and turning it into a full feel good story at the end was too much to resist.
It's still a good start over any bullshit Hallmark puts out there, so it's a win nonetheless.
girl i guess. glad you guys got your hashtag representation. it’s not bad tho. aubrey plaza is very hot.
Started out poor with expository dialogue "I understand how you feel about Christmas because you lost your parents."
Got strong through the middle. Daniel Levy pretending to be straight was amazing, which made me think I need to try Schitt's creek.
Ended too conveniently with everything resolving on a dime.
It’s cute, it’s funny, it’s festive and it’s full of drama!
Jane completes this movie - she’s so adorable and hilarious.
Kristen Stewart is still Bella from Twilight but at least she smiles now.
Dan Levy is still David from Schitt’s Creek but at least wore normal clothes.
Connor would’ve worked out she was gay if he just took some NZT.
Ted was always gonna be ok with his daughter being gay after his extensive relationship with the CW.
I don’t think Abby should’ve stuck around personally, Harper treated her like shit that weekend and she definitely would’ve been way better hitching up with Riley.
And Sloane is hot.
All in all, this is a great movie that’s definitely worth a watch.
I don't ship the main couple AT ALL. I hate Harper and how she acted. Kinda wish Abby would have ended with Audrey Plaza's character
Crazy ass cast omg. Movie itself mid
My 3rd year watching this at Christmas and still enjoy it. I've had the displeasure of seeing it get a lot of flack during that time though and really think people are missing a layer of it.
If you look at it with a simple lens and concentrate on Harper's actions you miss a lot. This isn't just about her and Abby, it's about 3 sisters who have grown up in a choke hold of having to fight for the love of their parents and the neurosis that have come from that.
It's the unfortunate nature of a film that in order to cram itself into a decent run time and get a jump start you don't get a chance to see the good in their relationship too but it's there! This was just a few days out of that and Mackenzie Davis did great job of showing how torn the character was between her past, her present, who she is, and who she thinks she needs to be.
I'm so tired of seeing people say they're toxic and Abby should dump Harper and get with Riley. Sure, a girl she just met over the woman she's been with for over a year and is in love with. People fuck up. No one is perfect. I loved that we got a complex queer movie like this.
We won't get more if people slate them without understanding them though.
I loved this movie! It's wonderful to see a Christmas movie told from a perspective you really don't see much of for the genre, if any. It's not often that a movie will get me teary eyed, but this one did it, especially towards the end. Kristen Stewart especially was brilliant in this. I can see myself watching this again in the future.
Combine my favorite things and you get this movie. Christmas, a love story, Aubrey Plaza; recipe for succes. Make it gay? Yes!
That being said there is one thing I would've done differently. We meet Abby and Harper as this fun loving couple and the casting here is great because there is the right chemistry, Kristen and Mackenzie are just great! However... Harper - as we learn - in her fear of coming out did her ex-girlfriend really dirty way back when plus during their trip to the family is just awful to Abby. It makes the character very unlikable, I feel like if they had taken out the bit where she outed Riley in high school it would've been enough.
I am watching this movie in October and now am fully in the Christmas spirit! Oh and Jane is just too precious, I would honestly watch a spin-off movie with just her.
Kristen Stewart had way more chemistry with Aubrey Plaza than she did her fiancée but whatever.
Aubrey Plaza, Dan Levy and Mary Holland's characters were definitely my faves.
If I were Abby I'm not sure if I would have stayed with Harper, I honestly think she got away with way too much shit. I felt really sad for the sister when she smashed her painting, omygod... She deserved better for sure haha. At some point I honestly started rooting for Riley and Abby to get together haha.
This film was recommended to me & I can't even express how far off base that recommendation was. I could easily watch an entire film of the relationship between Abby & John because even though John is unreliable in certain ways, he is regularly the voice of reason when it comes to relationship advice. . Besides the scenes with Dan Levy, the scenes with Abby & Riley interacting are some of the best of the film. The ending is utterly disappointing as all of the AWFUL characters are given a pass for their shitty behavior. No one is held accountable for being terrible for each other - the movie is simply wrapped in a sweet little bow of acceptance. Representation in film is not enough if the stories you are telling are disingenuous.
"Thank you for trying to get me to like Christmas."
I am going to be honest: I only watched this because it has Dan Levy in it, and it is December. That being said, this was a cute movie. If you like movies similar to Meet the Parents, then you will like this. I had a few moments that cracked me up, and a few frustrating moments, which is what I think they were going for.
horrible movie. save yourself some valuable time and don't watch.
With an amazing cast and a funny and sharp script, this is something of a treat. It does get a little predictable, however, so it does fall down a little. Other than that minor quibble, this is still worth a watch, and it should put a smile on your face numerous times throughout,
had a really good time watching it
Got bored after 20 minutes.
Poor jokes, predictable.
Surprised myself, n isn't usual. To expect a lot of a movie just for a few actors I really like most movies they are in.
The movie.. that makes it mixed to "review" (or I'm in denial ?) lol
OK, even so. Somehow adds up... Push? Oh Mckenzie, turned out to be bad.. Specially for an actress that jumps out from TV and has too MUCH potencial, wasted or wasn't on. Couldn't believe the level of her (and, let's say all cast?) overdoing.. I know it's a comedy. It also is targeted as different, Clea Duvall isn't a typical writer... Yeah comedies can, and specially seasonal, be ultra corny and filler.
Here there is corny, filler, overacting, and LONG REPEATING CLICHES)
Even some very corny season comedies, manage 2 things or, one for sure : heart. Some kind of happy whatever feeling message
Eh! it ends up being being quite the reverse. Main characters do betray the story point and that heart warm whatever moment is.. Not close enough as that. Like they were going to places, that could lead to a rare comedy with endings that most hate no closure or not happy. Of growing up even if it HARD TO DO, They seem to,And then voila.:ALL is fixed and all end up GREAT. Let's make it happy as FORCED as it can be so what. Yep. 2 some manage to rob you some chuckles, if romantic some chuckles and may be some aw minute
No empathy. Couldn't find it. Some lil moment when one of the characters is about decide whether something is what real or just blinded or whatever. gone. Just OH drama that ended up being a farce
OK this is the season of this movies, was it subtle? Themed as gay themed isn't that way much. N maybe is something that does good to some extent, there's no preaching to add some extra msj. You can watch it as another relationship story with the OBVIOUS secret. I followed with FRIENDSGIVING yep: lower expectations: ended up being in same "forgive warm" story. BUT liked it, let's say REALISTIC with the usual FOOLISHNESS. But also well acted, at least compared. Nice cast, gay friendly cliche ish but, to me were cloaked by humor n the right way to. If you haven't seen this, try that one. Maybe You'll have some chuckles aws n nice cast. Half star
Whenever I discuss a movie that deals with an important social issue I try to separate the social issue from the rest of the movie. It feels odd trying to rate the entertainment value of something so important as someone trying to come out to a family that is probably not going to react well to the news.
This film was a bit of a mixed bag for me. For the most part there was nothing considerably good or bad with the movie. Wait, I take that back - the scene with the mall cops was downright awful and stood out like a sore thumb. Actually, the few attempts at slapstick comedy were pretty bad. I think the movie may have played better as a straight-ahead drama. Some of my favorite actresses were in this film and it felt like a lot of was left on the table in terms of character development and story. Most of the movie was just.... there.
I had rated the movie a little lower but the last fifteen minutes or so were actually very good. Mackenzie Davis really steals the show with a heartbreaking performance and some of the other characters that hadn't been given much had a chance to shine. The movie is heavily cliched from start to finish but then again it is a christmas movie so some of that is to be expected.
follow me at https://IHATEBadMovies.com or facebook IHATEBadMovies
Solid Christmas rom com. Lots of love, bit of drama, lots of emotion and a wonderful happy ending.
Had some great funny moments and an interesting cast of characters. What more could you ask for.
Loved this movie! Dan Levy was so awesome, i think I'm gonna have to start Schitt's Creek finally. I could'nt believe that was the girl from Terminator, wow! Kristen Bell was awe.... good. Overall, nice Christmas movie.
Shout by Liara T.BlockedParent2020-11-25T10:51:36Z
This was such a thrill to watch!
It didn't feel like your average Christmas movie. I genuinely enjoyed every minute of it, the plot and pacing was well done.
Kristen's charmingly awkward role played very nicely into it. Her and Mackenzie made an adorable couple - I didn't expect their chemistry to be this good throughout the movie. The rest of the cast was great too; many familiar faces, everyone really nailed their role.
Recommended! It's definitely going down as a holiday classic in my book.