Why Do Lesbians Hate Happiest Season? | Film Analysis 

I'm a lesbian , i loved the movie, I loved Abby and Harper, I expect a sequel with more than two, thanks for the video ♥️

Mackenzie Davis' portrayal of Harper was absolutely beautiful. IMO the story was about her coming out, not about Abby's journey/Abby's pov. And ppl having the hotts for Aubrey Plaza is/was not reason to break up a (fictional) committed couple, just because they found Riley & Abby would've been a hot couple. The movie was/is always spoke of as a gay woman's story about coming out to her family at xmas. Also, who has ever been in a relationship where at some point or another there wasn't toxicity?

Great analysis. I'm a straight guy and I really really liked the movie, so I was really surprised when a lesbian couple I'm friends with told me the movie has been really controversial in the gay community (they have yet to see it themselves).

I'm a lesbian, and actually really enjoyed Happiest Season

THIS DESERVES MORE VIEWS

I’m a straight guy, and I enjoyed the movie. It hooked me when Abby said in the car, “How bad can it be?” I knew this Christmas movie would have the one thing I like in Christmas movies. A train wreck. But, I do have to admit, I did tear up when Harper did come out, and then again when Ted said he just wanted his daughters to find the same joy and happiness they had given him, no matter where it came from. As a straight guy, I think a lot of the criticism is because of the lack of representation in main stream entertainment, which is sad. We’re in the third decade of the 21st century. It shouldn’t be an issue anymore. I know it is, but it shouldn’t. One thing I hope we do see is a sequel with a wedding. Not being up on movies with LGBTQ main characters, I’m not sure if there have ever been a movie dedicated to a same sex wedding. But, like I said, we’re well into the 21st century. It should be done.

Love your take on this. We just expected a lot on the movie. And too critical about it. Real talk. I actually enjoyed it and did not take seriously at all. I was just happy to see that everyone is alive in the end. Isn't it that what we want all this time? And Kristen got the girl in the end. 🤭

Very well articulated! I agree expectations where too high and I am personally tired of hearing people whine about it. It was suppose to be clea's vision and story and people are being very dense and childish about that. I liked it for what it is and hope there's a 2nd part where we see more of a romance story between Harper and Abby

One of the best movie reviews ever. You clearly expressed everything I felt watching the movie. Now if they'd only make a sequel where Riley gets the girl.

i actually enjoyed the movie, in all my honesty im tired of the coming out narrative but this one was actually good. It represented me because just like Harper i come from a family in which my dad was a politician and appearances are basically everything so coming out to my parents was always something i feared a lot. I don’t think the things she did were okay but they have a justification and a pretty valid one. to be in that position is very scary and what Abby’s friend said changed my way of thinking about my own coming out experience. I’m yet to come out to my mom (my dad passed away) but i’ve spoken to my siblings about my sexuality and my partner. It’s an good movie and I, too, will defend it from the criticisms. I’m still waiting for more representation of sapphic relationship in other movie genres besides romance.

Totally agree with your analysis! And I loved this movie so much! Would be nice if you made a video on the "San Junipero" episode, from Black Mirror

My wife and I love this movie. My wife never had a chance to come out to her father before he passed and she finds the ending of this movie very cathartic. We watched it at least twice a year now. I hope we get a sequel!

I loved it! I agree with everything you said, people were expecting something else but that's on them. You should not decide what the movie is before watching it, that's the whole point of watching a movie or show you want the unexpected. I'm so tired of the period piece movies, I would love a sequel especially if it involves more of Riley's story.

I’m straight and I love this movie :)

I loved this movie! I thought it was a really nice family christmas movie. I love happy endings, even though they are unrealistic.

I almost never watch videos like this but this one kept me hooked until the end. Love your opinion and I agree on everything you said. Plus I can't stand the hate against this movie. Like WHY? Can't we just enjoy good things anymore? I also totally dislike the opinion that Abby should have ended up with Riley .... like what? They prefer to cheat instead of a fight for their love? Disappointing.

I'm straight, but I understand how difficult for lesbians to tell their parents, friends and someone else. And I love this movie cuz my heart is in touch and sometimes, I feel heartbroken. 🙂 The casts did their best to express the characters.

This is the best review ever unlike the other reviews that I have watched. I am totally happy with the ending, abby never looks at riley the way she looks at harper. And abby just met riley and they only known each other for like 4 days and some people want her to end up with riley at the end of the movie??? Yes, harper act badly sometimes but who doesn't? We are all toxic at some point of our relationship. The movie revolves more on harper not coming out and more on her family, we actually did not see how they started, how abby fell inlove with her, we really did not see how they are as couple when they are just the two of them. Would you not forgive someone you love who hurt you just because she is too afraid of showing her true self to her family? You should be first person to understand her, you should be the first person to trust her own process of when she's ready to come out. We all do poor decisions in life, so people should stop commenting like they are so perfect in a relationship like they never hurt someone at some point. Give harper a chance to make it up with abby. I'd be happy if riley will have someone also in the movie if there will be a sequel. I have watched the movie for like 10x

Thank you for this!!! Totally agree with virtually everything you’ve mentioned this here, and really appreciated the time and effort you’ve put into articulating it for us. Subscribed ☺️

I'm a lesbian and I loved the movie. People are being way too critical on it.

I agree with everything you just said. Perfect review. And for the record, I am a lesbian and I absolutely love this movie. Made my Christmas great :).

I agree! A lot of people on the internet were too harsh on Harper who was just struggling to come out. And your comparison to LOTS of hetero movies that display "toxic" behavior for the sake of the comedy set up is such a good point. I'm a lesbian and I loved this movie. Thanks for sending out your analysis!

I'm a straight dude and I loved it. I think how toxic their relationship was made it more real - To not necessarily give up but to WORK on a relationship.

9:45 🔥🔥 love it lol

I'm a lesbian and I LOVE this movie. I'm happy and satisfied with what it is, and thankful that finally a lgbtq movie that ends with happy ending.

This movie for sure will be a Christmas classic for me. I watched it 3 times over the course of the holiday season last year, and I'm glad I did because each time I watched it, I gained a new perspective and appreciation for both the characters and the plot of the film. The first time I watched it, I was very conflicted. I hated how much Harper mistreated Abby and, like others, I thought that Abby certainly deserved better, whether it was with Riley or someone else. The second time I watched it though, I started to see and understand Harper's side of the story. I don't think any of her behaviors are justified, but I actually really started to empathize with her because I could see myself in her position. When you've been raised in an environment where love has to be gained through performance, and add to that the strictness of conservative and religious values, it's a recipe for people to hide themselves in order to be loved. I started to see myself in Harper because I grew up in an environment like this. She has this desire to be who she really is and live as her true self, but in loving her family she doesn't want to lose them. And the fact that she feels like she has to make a decision between living an authentic life and choosing her family should break our hearts, not make us angry at her. I started to see Harper as a scared child, and that gave me empathy for her. I think when she says to Abby, "I am not hiding you, I'm hiding me!" her true childlike fears are revealed. The third time I watched it, I felt like I was able to enjoy the movie as a complicated Christmas film that any family could probably relate to, considering the theme of the movie is hiding secrets in order to keep the peace in the family. I also saw Riley's place as more of an outside investigator rather than an alternative relationship option for Abby. Riley's job in the film is to be a voice of empathy for Abby and criticism for Harper. What's interesting is that John's role is almost the exact opposite. He ends up being a voice of empathy for Harper in his vulnerable coming out speech, and he criticizes Abby throughout the film (in a playful way, but he makes some strong points to keep her grounded). All in all, I think the people who were upset about this film wanted these characters to have different purposes than what the film intended, so it was frustrating for them when the decisions of the characters did not live up to their expectations. Ironically, I think this first film can actually be the setup for a sequel that CAN be a classic lesbian rom-com that keeps the focus around Abby and Harper's relationship. Hopefully it got enough positive reviews to make a sequel worthwhile.

As much I understand why people want them to be together, instead Abby being with Harper. What Harper been doing to Abby, was little selfish and unfair to Abby. But I just saw this, that Riley just really understand. What Abby going through dnd really feel bad for her, because Riley went through the same pain as Abby. I really don’t know if there was any, loving chemistry between them. I just think that Riley just feel sorry and bad for Abby, because Harper isn’t ready to come out to her parent yet. Because she afraid to lose them and disowned. But I do not want Abby to be Riley, not because I want Abby and Harper to be together. It just that Abby and Riley don’t makes sense, because they only know each other for a few days. Considered to be a couple and ended up with each other. I don’t ship them like that and Riley is nothing more than, a supported person to talk to and there’s nothing. To suggest that Abby and Riley wants each other. Really is just a supporting person and that’s all she is, there’s nothing going to suggest that they want. To be with each other, plus wouldn’t do that to Harper.

I'm a lesbian and I loved it. It was a true to real life.

Couldn't agree more! We all have our own timing when are we going to come out, and it shouldn't be taking away from us or from anyone, so I understand why harper denied it at the party. Yes harper act badly sometimes , we all do.

My wife and I watched this movie together and even thought we both liked it, there's several things we believe could've been better. I feel the movie is both overrated and underrated depending on the audience. I think the relationship between Harper and Abby was not there yet, and that the movie was really driving at Abby and Riley getting together.. But the most shocking thing to me was Harper's lack of character development (her parents did a bigger leap than she did) anyways, thanks for coming to my Ted Talk.

👏👌So sweet words,so well said😊🇬🇷

I hate home alone and I didn’t enjoy happiest season, but it’s nice to hear your perspective :)

I think people dislike the movie, maybe because they dislike Harper.

I thought there were definitely things that the movie did well and everything you mentioned about it being a Family Christmas Movie as opposed to a Lesbian Movie do make sense. However. Lol, as someone who did actually like the movie overall, I was ultimately disappointed with the direction they took the story. And that's just the point you made about expectations, but to me it felt a bit like a gay movie made for straight people. And yes the "coming out" narrative will always be relevant and important. But I think the let down for a lot of the wlw i know was "okay...here's another movie centered around two thin white feminine lesbians. and okay...it's nice to see representation becoming more common. But can't we just have a movie about gay people for ONCE that isn't centered around their gayness and being closeted, or the struggle of how hard it is to be gay." Clearly that isn't what the goal of this movie was, but i personally want to see more stories told in many different diverse ways and contexts, because the "closeted, hiding, uncomfortable experience, and hopefully the family eventually comes around" is not the entire gay experience. And I guess it's not even totally a critique of this movie in general, but more of the lack of positive stories being told, still in the year 2021.

i'm gay and i really liked this movie. i didn't even realize so many people disliked it. i think people's expectations were way too high. it wasn't supposed to be some groundbreaking masterpiece, it's a fun christmas movie! why is that bad lmfao

Yes! It's a story about commitment!

IDK why you say this was the first lesbian-themed rom-com released by a major studio!! Imagine Me & You had a limited theatrical release , including in the U.S., through BBC Films way back in 2005!! That was almost 20 years ago. In fact, when D.E.B.S. & Imagine Me & You came out in the same year, I remember being so happy, thinking we had finally arrived. These were not movies ABOUT being gay. They were love stories that happened to involve 2 women, & I loved them for that. So THOSE movies were groundbreaking! However, D.E.B.S. was an independent film, so even though it came first, it was NOT released by a major studio, so in that aspect you are correct. But what about Saving Face? That was a rom-com that was also released in the mid-2000s. Kissing Jessica Stein was the earliest of them all & I loved that movie because rom-com. It was released in March 2002, but it was an indy film, so it wasn't released by a major studio. (However, kudos to Jennifer Westfeldt & Heather Juergensen, who co-wrote, co-produced, & co-starred in the film, for making a film with such high production value that one would be surprised that it wasn't a major studio production!) There might be more films that I'm forgetting, but Imagine Me & You was the first wlw-themed rom-com released by a major studio. In 2005!

wait there are ppl out there hating this movie? I'm confused

Eventhough I didnt watch the whole movie yet. It's look like a good movie and funny than other lesbian movies. I love the trailer.

I really appreciate this analysis. I absolutely agree that genre contextualizes most of what is problematic or a tired trope in this film (now that you've made the case). The film is decidedly fluff, but also gives us some things to celebrate. I love that there is some very relatable queer exposition in this film (like Riley and Abby's relationship, Abby's wardrobe, and even the contrast of the gay and straight bars) missing from other depictions of gay ladies in studio-production films and TV (all those gay ladies, and not a gay bar or pub or softball game or sensible shoe to be seen...). And I agree: this coming out story is more nuanced (and a nuanced coming out story is a real part of many of our journeys), but I just maybe want to see a lesbian romance where coming out/wrestling with a burgeoning queer sexuality is not the central tension. Not a knock on this film, I guess, just something I want. In any case, great video!

Amen ! 😃I so agree with you and I loved the movie !

Great points. It advertised itself well and I think it hit the mark. Looking forward to that Rom Com too, though ;) As an ally, I can confirm, we like it too. A good movie is a good movie.

your video is so amazing

"Why Do Lesbians Hate Happiest Season?" I'm going to take a guess because it's basically the holiday version of "Jenny's Wedding". And Jenny's Wedding felt like it was made for straights and outdated back during the 2000s. This came out in 2020... yeah...

👈🏼 Lesbian. I loved this movie. I’ve watched it multiple times by now and will watch again in the future without doubt.

I was expecting a romcom. For me, it was triggering and unsettling. Somehow it hurts less when it's straight people.

I‘m a lesbian and this movie is like one of my favourites it even started a very unhealthy obsession with Kristen Stewart but I mean can you blame me?

terrific movie. Completely identified with it.

Not this lesbian! I LOVED this movie and have watched it so many times.

Mind if I share? 😊

Isn't the problem that the coming out story distracts the story about Abby and Harper as a couple? Harper's coming out doesn't go well with Abby being the protagonist of the story. In fact, since there's more focus on Abby, while Harper's coming out anxiety drives the main storyline causes us to be less empathetic with Harper and more with Abby. So in essence, there's so little focus on Harper as a person that it's easy to make her the antagonist, especially since Abby's hurt emotions are depicted with more focus. Personally, I come from a country that isn't that conservative anymore - this story would have been realistic maybe 40 ys ago so I don't find the story really relevant. Instead, it feels annoying to watch yet another movie about these struggles. But like many others I think that Abby and Riley seemed like a potentially more interesting match... Another way to view this story is that it's about how an insecure lesbian's internalized homophobia almost destroys her relationship. But if that had been the ambition, wouldn't it have been better or more natural to make Harper the protagonist. And that approach doesn't really go well with the feelgood / Christmas theme, imo... The story would probably have been better with a sad ending, so that "Happiest season" more clearly would have been ironic? I feel that this movie wants to be both happy ending and what really should have been a tragedy and it doesn't mix well

i wish they were subtitles for this vid :(

People hate this movie?

the trailers had a light comedic tone to them, so of course women weren’t expecting it to be so dramatic and for the main character to be so mistreated by her closeted girlfriend. straight christmas movies usually get to be lighthearted and silly. there were a couple of feel good christmas movies that came out in 2021 but they were hallmark movies, so they weren’t major studio productions but still better than this trauma fest catered to the straights also the half of it wasn’t bad because she didn’t get the girl at the end but because it was centered too much on her friendship with a man and her love interest wasn’t fleshed out as a character. why are we supposed to believe she has a crush on her? the director could’ve at least given her a female best friend, and yeah one of the main premises is that she agrees to help a straight guy get a girl but she didn’t have to become bffs with him. too much focus on a man in a supposed lesbian movie. saving face is much better

I LOVE HAPPIEST SEASON! :)

I loved it

I see it as an adaptation of Lez bomb but with Kristen and with more publicity

Very nice movie harper and abby. Hapiyest season..waiting for season2...downloding for us.....👍👍👍❤❤😘😘😍😍👋👋👋i like lesbian movie..... I'm from Sri Lanka.....🇱🇰🇱🇰🇱🇰

Mackenzie y Kristen deberian hacer una peli dramatica lesbica en donde se pudiese apreciar más la quimica que tienen ambas. Eso seria suficiente para resarcir la falta de escenas romanticas y apasionadas en esta pelicula. Son mujeres hermosas y seria un placer y una satisfaccion verlas en una pelicula que se centrara más en el romance. Opinión personal.

Harper is an ok person but a terrible partner. She can figure out the shit she’s going through but she is still a terrible partner to both of her gfs. She’s manipulative, she doesn’t know how to communicate, she puts Abby through hell on a holiday where Abby is already dealing with her own shit. And also the way she treats Jane (the only person in that family who is actually likeable) is horrible

I want Lauren Jauregui to watch this

DOPE MOVIE 😎

Abby & Riley were the only acceptable outcome.

BakwaS

if so many lesbians get pissed when lesbian movies arent romcoms or just romances maybe high profile companies should take fucking note