PROVOKR PICK: HAPPIEST SEASON

BY: Amanda Jane Stern

The winter holiday season is upon us, and you know what that means: a constant stream of Christmas-set romances being churned out by Lifetime, Hallmark, and Netflix. One thing that these films generally have in common is that the romantic leads are always straight. This year, that is going to change. We are getting not one, but two holiday rom-coms with a queer couple at the center. One of those films will be The Christmas Setup which will premiere on Lifetime on December 12, 2020. That’s not the one we’re going to talk about right now though. No, the other one we’re getting, coming out even sooner, is Happiest Season, which is being distributed by Hulu.

Abby (Kristen Stewart) plans to propose to her longtime girlfriend, Harper (Mackenzie Davis), while at Mackenzie’s family’s annual Christmas party. However, when they arrive at Harper’s parents’ (Mary Steenburgen and Victor Garber) house, Abby is shocked to discover that Harper is not yet out to her family, and they believe that Abby is merely Harper’s “orphan friend” and not her lover. Forced back into the closet, Abby must figure out how to get through the holiday season and what the future holds for her and Harper’s relationship. Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, Dan Levy, and Mary Holland (who also co-wrote the script) round out the rest of the cast.

Lesbian icon and actor Clea DuVall (But I’m a Cheerleader) directed Happiest Season from a script she co-wrote with Holland. Like many movies, it was initially slated for a theatrical release this November. But, due to the ongoing pandemic, it got pulled from the theatrical schedule. Hulu purchased the streaming rights to it, although Sony will still distribute the film internationally.

Watch Happiest Season on Hulu starting on November 25, 2020.