Happiest Season Review (2020) – A strong look into family dynamics, emotional abuse, and what love and sacrifice can look like!
As we draw closer and closer to our beloved holidays, we can’t help but think of family. As we all know, family is often just as complicated as they can be wonderful. Keeping that in mind, we chose a fairly recent movie, but one that we both enjoyed a lot; a HULU film called Happiest Season.
A bit of fair warning: this movie can be very triggering. It touches on some of the struggles that the LGBTQ community have experienced, but it is also triggering if you were raised in a household with psychological and emotional abuse.
We want to caution anyone who may be interested in this film that while it is one that we appreciated very much, it was also challenging at times despite the humor.
We will do everything we can to not give too many spoilers in this review, but there is likely to be some, so please take that into consideration and read cautiously.
Our film begins with Abby, (Kristen Stewart) and her girlfriend Harper, (Mackenzie Davis) taking in some Christmas lights and enjoying a cute evening together. Harper is so enraptured with Christmas and the fun of the evening that she invites Abby to go with her to her parent’s house for Christmas!
Abby is hesitant at first as she lost her parents around this time of year when she was younger. It is a rough time of year for her and she usually does not participate in the revelries. Abby is very much in love with Harper though and decides that this could actually be a great way to meet the parents. Abby even plans to propose to Harper!
Even though it was Harper’s suggestion, the next morning…Harper is suddenly hesitant herself. She reveals on the drive to her parent’s house that she has not actually come out to her family, despite having told Abby that she did. Abby is, of course, very upset by this, but Harper is able to talk Abby around and convinces her to pretend to be Harper’s straight roommate until after the holidays.
Abby feels conflicted, but seeing as they are already on the way there and it would still be an opportunity to meet Harper’s family…she decides to go along with it for the time being.
Harper’s family is a very well off, political family with the almost expected abuse that would come with it. With perfectionistic, overbearing, devaluing, self-absorbed parents (Mary Steenburgen and Victor Garber) and two complicated and traumatized sisters (Alison Brie and Mary Holland).
Ted, (Victor Garber), the father, is running for Mayor! So perfection is not only expected as a standard, it is NECESSARY. He needs money from generous donors and needs his daughters and wife to present the perfect family ideal.
Having Abby, Harper’s straight roommate… (This is what the parents are told), at the house, does not exactly line up with what Harper’s mom Tipper (Mary Steenburgen), and Harper’s dad Ted, (Victor Garber) had originally planned, but they do their best as put upon hosts because Abby is an “orphan”.
Harper is the youngest of her siblings and has been deemed the favorite by her parents as an adult, which results in a competitive and unhealthy relationship with her oldest sibling Sloane, (Alison Brie). Jane (Mary Holland) the middle child, fills the invisible child role, doormat and the fixer in the family.
Sloane had the title of golden child for a time until she decided to follow her passions and sell handmade gift baskets. The parents do not approve but, they use Sloane for her two kids as that is apparently the only thing that she brings to the table to Ted and Tipper.
In toxic family systems it is very common for the parents to switch up family roles when need be to better suit them. In this case, the golden child crown went from Sloane to Harper and Harper is loath to give it up as it is the only way to get their parents to actually show any love.
The parents have pitted their daughter’s against each other so that they would constantly be competing for their love and attention, even as adults.
This causes a lot of relationship issues between all three of the sisters as well as behavioral issues for all of the sisters. It is an exceptionally triggering and difficult space for Harper and Abby to be in.
Abby is finding it a lot more complicated and grim than she thought it would be. Throughout the film, Abby is trying to deal with loving someone that does not seem know who they truly are, but still allows their family to have way too much power and control over them.
Harper’s behavior throughout the film, while understandable considering her parent’s behavior and treatment of her, is problematic. Harper gaslights Abby, manipulates Abby and all around does not treat Abby with the love that she repeatedly claims to have for her.
We can hold space for Harper and her struggles with her family, especially her parents, but this does not excuse her bad behavior in our eyes, but we digress.
Harper is trying so hard to be the person that her parents want her to be throughout the film that she subjugates her true self, and becomes a version of herself that is difficult to watch. Abby questions the relationship, and questions her importance in Harper’s life.
It very much feels like Harper is trying to walk a tight rope. She really struggles with being genuine because she is morphing into whoever the situation requires her to be. It is a bit heartbreaking to watch as Harper feels very strongly that she absolutely cannot be herself.
The tension in the house builds as the sisters have a more and more difficult time managing themselves, their parents, and each other. Everything comes to a head on Christmas Eve at the annual Christmas party!
We loved the Christmas party scene and we personally rooted for Jane, Abby, and John (Daniel Levy) as they are our favorite characters in this movie! But our all-time favorite part was the sisters coming together and taking a stand for themselves.
We do not want to give too much of this film away because we really want anyone who reads this to watch it for themselves!
We found the very end of the film to be wholly unrealistic, but that did not stop us from loving this movie! As we stated before, the movie discusses family dynamics, sibling issues, the complications of coming out to family, and more.
It is a complicated film that leans more dramatic than comedic but does have its comedic moments that hit well. The movie wraps up with a sweet ending as only a Christmas film can!
If you like Christmas movies that deal with hard truths, family drama, do not sugar coat everything, and yet still has a happy ending, then this movie is for you!
We highly recommend this picture! It is different from the standard Christmas film, but in extremely great ways, and it still sticks to some classic holiday tropes! It is a Christmas film that we have added to our yearly rotation of holiday movies.
We give this move…4 glasses of bourbon out of 5!
Happiest Season Drinking Game
Take a sip anytime:
1. There's an awkward moment between Abby and Harper
2. John is snarky or sarcastic
3. Abby and John talk on the phone
4. Harper lies
5. Abby is forced to lie
6. Harper is manipulative
7. Harper makes a promise
8. Harper and Sloane are competitive
9. We learn something new about Harper's past
10. Jane fixes or cleans something
11. Jane prostrates herself
12. Parents look disappointed
13. The twins are creepy or awful
14. Ted talks about work, donors, elections, or the campaign
15. Tipper is stressed out
16. Anyone is passive aggressive
17. Anyone mentions reputation, appearances, or perfection
What did you think?? Did you like the movie? Did you hate it!? Do you have suggestions for films we should consider?! Let us know here in the comments and always remember to be safe and drink responsibly!