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.
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.
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Review by CatsyBlockedParent2020-11-28T09:21:57Z
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.