Hulu’s Happiest Season has a strong cast and an even stronger message, but does this holiday rom-com carry its own? Find out in my Happiest Season movie review.
Hulu’s Happiest Season Movie Review
I love a good holiday movie, which is why I was so excited to screen Happiest Season, a Hulu Original Movie. If I’m being honest, I was most excited that this was NOT a kids movie. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE watching movies with my kids, but I also love myself a good romantic comedy! There’s something light and carefree about a rom-com. They often get criticized for not having a lot of substance, but I think that’s part of why I like them. They’re a great escape. The plot is almost always easy to follow, and they usually have a happy ending. Let’s be honest. We all need happy endings right now.
CR: Lacey Terrell/TriStar Pictures
The Story
Happiest Season opens with girlfriends Abby (Kristen Stewart) and Harper (Mackenzie Davis). We see a glimpse of their happy relationship together. They’re young and in love. Completely carefree and overall happy. Caught up in the moment, Harper invites Abby to spend Christmas with her family. However, she immediately regrets it the next morning, giving Abby many outs if she has changed her mind. Abby accepts the invitation and is even planning on proposing to Harper. She wants to make it extra special by asking for her fathers blessing.
There’s only one problem. Harper’s family doesn’t know she’s gay. She confesses this to Abby, and Abby agrees to pretend to be Harper’s roommate for 5 days. What Abby isn’t prepared for is everything that awaits her once she arrives.
Between hiding her identity, Harper’s ex-boyfriend, being accused of shoplifting, and Harper’s family in general, Abby is in for many awkward moments.
Is there love strong enough to last when put to this test?
Harper’s Family
Harper’s mom, Tipper, is continuously striving for that perfect family image. She’s extremely eccentric and over the top. She even set up an instagram page to document her family’s “perfect” moments. Her father is running for mayor and very much concerned with his reputation. Harper is her parents “perfect” child, and fits in with the image they hope to perceive.
Harper’s two sisters, Sloane and Jane, couldn’t be more opposite. Actually, all three sisters are nothing alike. Jane tries SO hard to be the daughter that she thinks her parents want. However, no matter how hard she tries, no one seems to appreciate Jane. I honestly felt bad for Jane’s character, especially towards the end of the movie.
Sloane has a multicultural family with her husband and two children. She is very jealous of and competitive with Harper.
Despite their differences, all three sisters have one thing in common. They’re all hiding something.
The Power of Friendship
Dan Levy plays Abby’s friend, John. Let me tell you. We all need a friend like John. Like Abby, John is also gay. He has a heart to heart conversation with Abby at the end of the movie that will give you all the feels. John doesn’t want his friend to pretend to be someone she is not, and he wants her to be with someone who isn’t afraid to show the world the truth. He is the friend who literally shows up at the right moments.
Powerful Messages
Happiest Season is full of inspirational messages. The biggest being the importance of being true to yourself. Coming out might be scary, but you need to be comfortable with who you really are. Ultimately, you need to accept yourself and put your insecurities aside, no matter how scary they might seem.
There is also a great message of what it means to be family. A family should love you unconditionally, no matter what. As a mom, I strive daily to make sure my children know they can tell me anything. I hope they are always comfortable confiding in me and knowing that my love for them will never change.
Is Happiest Season Kid-Friendly?
Happiest Season is rated PG-13 and has a runtime of 102 minutes. I think this film would be okay for ages 13 and up. There’s some language, but nothing too bad. My children are 7 and 11 and did not watch it. It’s a romantic comedy and simply wouldn’t hold their interest.
Overall Thoughts
Overall, I enjoyed Happiest Season. It’s an uplifting rom-com filled with life lessons and messages we all need to hear. Put the kids to bed, grab your favorite beverage and cozy blanket and stream Happiest Season on Hulu November 25th!
Happiest Season Synopsis
Meeting your girlfriend’s family for the first time can be tough. Planning to propose at her family’s annual Christmas dinner — until you realize that they don’t even know she’s gay — is even harder. When Abby (Kristen Stewart) learns that Harper (Mackenzie Davis) has kept their relationship a secret from her family, she begins to question the girlfriend she thought she knew. HAPPIEST SEASON is a holiday romantic comedy that hilariously captures the range of emotions tied to wanting your family’s acceptance, being true to yourself, and trying not to ruin Christmas.
I hope you enjoyed this Happiest Season movie review. Make sure you watch the end credits to see Tipper’s Instagram photos!!
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