Happiest Season
Directed by Clea DuVall
- romance
- comedy
The story
A young woman's plans to propose to her girlfriend while at her family's annual holiday party are upended when she discovers her partner hasn't yet come out to her conservative parents.
What it’s like
Warm, glowing holiday lights and cozy interiors give this comedy its look: snowy suburban streets, candlelit dinner tables, fireplaces and festive sweaters in saturated reds and greens, all shot with a bright, friendly polish. The mood is light and bubbly, a sweet-tempered romcom with an undercurrent of tension that stays mostly comic, with cringe-worthy family dinners, awkward toasts and a pleasantly sharp ensemble rhythm that keeps the laughs coming. Its emotional register runs from giddy to tender: a couple navigating the pressure of hiding their relationship from a conservative family, and the slow, sometimes painful work of being seen. Intensity is low, with no violence or gore, only mild sexual innuendo and brief, playful kissing. It suits a cozy December evening, a comfort rewatch with someone you love, or a holiday-season watch for people who want a funny, warm, queer love story that leans into the chaos of family gatherings rather than heartbreak.
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