Happiest Season

Great movie for the holidays

kristen stewart i love u

Great story line with lots of relatable scenes

As a 30 something gay woman who is pretty obsessed with Christmas this film has all the makings of being my most favourite thing ever. I looked past the fact that I have always wondered what Kristen Stewart thinks acting is (because clearly she has no idea) and sat down to watch this film with my partner.** Spoilers Ahead**It started off well - lesbian couple filmed as though it were as normal as fairy lights at Christmas for them to be the leading stars, happy in their little life but with a question over their heads about how to spend the holidays. Cue the trip of every lesbian's worst nightmare - being taken to your girlfriends family home without them having a clue that their daughter is gay. Constantly throughout the film we were screaming at the TV "GO HOME" or "GET OUT OF THERE". No normal person would have put up with half of what Abbie did and whilst it wasn't all that far fetched to see someone putting up with absolute nonsense from the person they loved - it did get a bit questionable toward the end. The fear that Harper was living in is a real thing and most gay people I know have gone through it but I don't know many of them who would have picked hanging out with their ex boyfriend over their current girlfriend when they have barely spent two seconds together in days. Things like that just meant most of the audience gave up on Harper and didn't want Abbie to forgive her at the end, which is a shame because I think had it been slightly more subtle people would have related to Harper's situation and forgiven her actions.Obviously Aubrey Plaza and Dan Levy are the stars in this and it's a shame that we didn't see them get their happily ever after as well, but the 'wingmen' rarely do I suppose! (Though blink and you'll miss Aubrey hugging Clea Duvall in the end credit photos!) I also absolutely LOVED Mary Holland in her role - she was perfection.Anyway, to sum all that up - this is a great 'Hey I'm being noticed' film for lesbians everywhere - with enough laughs, cringes and relatable moments that make the film a joy to watch. Just leave your 'what's acceptable within a relationship' opinions at the door.

*Spoilers Ahead* I expected the typical holiday rom com antics and there were plenty but overall I think this is a pretty poor representation of a relationship. I didn't see any redeeming qualities in Harper (Mackenzie Davis) she was straight up mentally/emotionally abusive to Abby (Kristen Stewart) and Riley (Aubrey Plaza - more on her later) also there was very little chemistry. In Kristen portrail of Abby you can see that she clearly adores Harper and was eager to do anything to make her happy, but I just didn't see it reciprocated. Don't get me wrong the relationship felt real, not like some queer media that feels false.I saw an interview where Aubrey Plaza was asked what she wanted people to take away from the film. Aubrey said that she wanted people to come out wishing that Abby and Riley had got together and that they would scream it from the rooftops. So here I am screaming! Watch their scenes, Riley has been hurt and messed around by Harper too and there is a fun spark between the two characters and their witty banter. She saved the film for me.It's like in the process of attempting to show Harpers struggle with coming out that they are willing to forgive her anything, without her actually redeeming herself. Even as a sibling, Abby seems to get praise for just being her. I felt more sympathy for Sloane (Alison Brie )the older sister with the picture perfect family when she blurts that her marriage is over.Kristen Stewart did brilliantly and looks fantastic doing it. Would I watch a spin off where Riley comes back for Abby...yes!Its a pity that this is the first big name Queer holiday movie there are others on smaller budgets that at least have more positive representation.For anyones who is interested, my Christmas gift to you...check out Season of Love on Tello Films and enjoy lots of other content while you are there 😘

I enjoyed this, it was funny and light

With the outside lights up and the first doors on our advent calendars opened, a wine advent calendar for the Memsahib and pork scratchings for yours truly, Christmas round ours was underway, and as a mid-week treat we settled down to watch "Happiest Season" on Amazon Prime.And what a treat. Without giving too much away, with elements of "Meet the Parents", "Happiest Season" is a lesbian rom-com of highs and lows, of awkward cringey-moments and slap-stick comedy prat-falls, but underneath it all there's a tender story about the girl (Kristen Stewart as Abby) who loves the girl (Mackenzie Davis as Harper) who hasn't come out to her parents and the family dynamics of Harper's outwardly "picture perfect" and inwardly dysfunctional family.OK, so as a lesbian love-story it ticks the boxes, but there's little that's new in the story and you know they'll all live happily ever after, but so what? It's Christmas 2020 and this Christmas more so than most we're all in need of some laughter and a happy ending, and "Happiest Season" delivers.PS Kristen Stewart as Abby is superb, her comic and emotional performances alone make "Happiest Season" worth watching.