I’ve been meaning to write this article for a couple of years, but ironically, most of the wintery holiday seasons I have been too busy. This is not an exhaustive list, nor is it a list of the best all-time movies. But these are my go-to movies to put me in the spirit while not making me scream at the screen, “all of this could be solved with proper communication or the concept of polyamory”.
Oh, also, if you’re looking for queer Christmas movies, I suggest Amazon Prime or Tubi, since most other mainstream streaming services have only one or two. I really need to subscribe to some of those queer only channels.
The one that is a complicated – Happiest Season
This is the most star-studded of all the ones on this list. It’s got Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, Daniel Levy, Holland, Victor Garber, and Mary Steenburgen. I particularly love the performances by Kristen and Aubrey, and then you have Daniel Levy, who is always funny. The movie is the story of Harper Caldwell (Mackenzie Davis), a young woman who is taking her partner, Abby Holland (Kristin Stewart), home to meet her conservative parents. Harper, however, chickens out and asks Abby to stay in the closet for the trip. Happiest season is full of humor, romance, and a lot of family drama, but I appreciate it the most for its nuance. The movie portrays all of the different ways parents can react to someone coming out and gives space to show how that affects the person coming out as well as the people around them. This one might hit me harder than some people because I have had to hide who I am around my partner’s family, and I know how much that sucks, but also how complicated it can be for them.
The clone of the hallmark channel one – Single all the way
For this one, we get Netflix dipping its feet into the Gay Christmas movie. The plot is set up to be a typical I need a pretend boyfriend for Christmas when Peter ( Michael Urie) convinces Nick (Philemon Chambers), his best friend to come home with him but almost immediately drops that idea when the duo discover that Peter’s mom (played with humor and aplomb by Kathy Najimy) has set up Peter on a blind date. The focus of the movie then switches to Peter’s desire for a return to his home and the new guy, or whether he should take a shot at a romantic relationship with Nick. The movie is very cute, and every member of Peter’s family is super supportive and loving. The film is a great low-stakes viewing for a night of wrapping presents.
The non-binary one – Merry and Gay
I think the thing that most appeals to me about Merry and Gay is that everyone involved seems to be part of the community, and it shows in the whole production. It does not have the flashy budget or big-name stars as the first two items on the list, but it does have charm and character, and, as far as I have been able to discover, is one of the only Non-binary characters in a Christmas Rom-Com. The film follows Becca (Dia Frampton), who recently ended a long-running starring role on Broadway and is returning to her childhood home. She is drafted into directing a small town Christmas pageant and runs into Sam (Andi René Christensen), her high school sweetheart. The two have many unresolved issues stemming from their breakup after Becca left for New York. Sam and Becca’s moms are convinced they are meant to be together and conspire with family and friends to get them to reunite. Overall, it’s a quaint, affirming story of love rekindled. The thing that touches me most is the thought that there might be a small town in Tennessee that seems to be ninety percent queer.
The kinda depressing one – Good Grief
Good Grief is the story of a year in the life of Marc as he tries to get over the sudden death of his husband, Oliver, on Christmas Night. He is supported in this by his two friends, Sophie and Thomas, and they take a trip to Paris to try to deal with the loss and turmoil in their lives. This is further complicated by Marc finally opening a Christmas card from his husband that contains revelations about Oliver and what he had been doing in Paris.
The movie could have taken many routes, with clear good people and bad, showing the situations in black and white, but instead it peels back the surface and exposes the truth of all these characters, some of whom are trying very hard to hide at all costs. Grief is something that I experienced when my father died, and I know how it can turn you inward, losing your ability to focus on other people, and Dan Levy shows this in his portrayal of Marc. He strikes out at others, lies to protect himself, and acts selfishly. While this is shown as understandable, the movie does not let him off the hook, as his friends and newfound companion Theo confront him about his choices, leading him to step out of his grief and reclaim some of the life he had left behind. All in all, while it was an emotional watch, it was also worth every minute, and I think you should check it out right away.
Paper Phoenix ink 