Netflix jt dropped a full trailer for “Sgle All the Way,” s first holiday romantic edy featurg gay lead characters.
Contents:
- 'LIKE A GAY DREAM E TE': NETFLIX'S FIRST GAY HOLIDAY ROM- 'SGLE ALL THE WAY' RELISH JOY
- NETFLIX’S 1ST GAY HOLIDAY ROM- BRGS LGHS — AND JENNIFER COOLIDGE
- NETFLIX’S FIRST GAY CHRISTMAS ROM-COM IS THE #3 MOVIE RIGHT NOW
- THE HOLIDAY STER: 7+ THOUGHTS I HAD WHILE WATCHG HALLMARK'S NEW GAY ROM-COM
- 12 MERRY AND GAY MOVI TO SPICE UP YOUR HOLIDAY
- MERRY QUEERMAS! 2020 IS THE YEAR OF THE LGBTQ+ ROM-COM'HAPPIT SEASON,' 'THE CHRISTMAS HOE,' AND SIAR QUEER-LED MASTREAM HOLIDAY MOVI ARE LG THE CEMATIC {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}MOVIBY MTV NEWS STAFFDECEMBER 16, 2020/10:00 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:4160PX;WIDTH:6240PX;}LACEY TERRELL/HULUBY MTV NEWS STAFFDECEMBER 16, 2020 / 10:00 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"MERRY QUEERMAS! 2020 IS THE YEAR OF THE LGBTQ+ ROM-COM","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2020-12-16T15:00:52.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2020-12-16T15:00:52.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"MTV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"MTV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1280,"HEIGHT":720}},"CREATOR":"MTV NEWS STAFF","ARTICLESECTN":"MOVI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BY CHRIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HAPPIT SEASON DIRECTOR CLEA DUVALL HAD NO IA SHE WAS GOG TO BE A PART OF WHAT HAS TURNED OUT TO BE A VERY QUEER CHRISTMAS 2020. HER ROM- ABOUT A LBIAN UPLE UGHT A CHRISTMASTIME FAY CEPTN, WHICH THE GAY FILMMAKER ALSO -WROTE, BROKE HULU PREMIERE RERDS WHEN BUTED ON NOVEMBER 25. IT WASN'T MAKG S POT ALONE. WH ME AN ARMY OF NONHETERO-LED MASTREAM HOLIDAY MOVI, MORE THAN ANY OTHER YEAR THE HISTORY OF POP CULTURE: LIFETIME'S THE CHRISTMAS SETUP, HALLMARK CHANNEL'S THE CHRISTMAS HOE AND PARAMOUNT NETWORK’S DASHG DECEMBER. "I THOUGHT WE WERE GOG TO BE THE ONLY ONE THIS YEAR," DUVALL TELLS MTV NEWS. "I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE MOVI UNTIL FAIRLY RECENTLY, ACTUALLY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}NOW, THE LGBTQ+ MUNY IS FALLY SEEG VERSNS OF THEMSELV LOOKG CUTE AND UPLED OUTSI FAKE-SNOW HOLIDAYSP, L SOFTLY AND WARMLY — THE LIGHT OF PROGRS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}EVEN HAPPIT SEASON’S STARS, KRISTEN STEWART AND MACKENZIE DAVIS, WHO PLAY THE ONSCREEN UPLE, DIDN'T FOREE A YULETI QUE THIS GAY. DAVIS WAS SHOCKED TO FD OUT HALLMARK WAS DOG A QUEER-CLIVE CHRISTMAS MOVIE SCE "THEY ARE HISTORILLY NOT PROGRSIVE, TO SAY THE LEAST," SHE DIVULGED A JOT TERVIEW WH STEWART FOR PRISOURCE. "NOW THEY HAVE TO BE," STEWART SASSED, "OR ELSE THEY GET LEFT BEHD!"LACEY TERRELL/{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HAPPIT SEASON DIRECTOR CLEA DUVALL WH STARS MACKENZIE DAVIS AND KRISTEN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS HISTORY HAS MONSTRATED, NOTHG SPARKS CHANGE LIKE ANGRY GAYS. PAT MILLS, THE DIRECTOR OF MATCHMAKG MOVIE THE CHRISTMAS SETUP, THKS THE FUR BACKLASH OM THE LGBTQ+ MUNY TARGETED AT HALLMARK FOR PULLG FOUR MERCIALS FEATURG SAME-SEX WEDDGS DECEMBER 2019 LIKELY PRSURED THE WORK (AND SUBSEQUENTLY OTHER WORKS, LIKE LIFETIME) TO DIVERSIFY. “TO BE HONT, I FEEL LIKE THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED A WHILE AGO,” MILLS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LAST YEAR, HALLMARK EXECS APOLOGIZED, REVERSED THEIR CISN, AND LLED CLN A “TOP PRRY” — AND THEN THEY PUT WORDS TO ACTN. THE CHRISTMAS HOE, WHICH PREMIERED ON THE CHANNEL ON NOVEMBER 22, FEATUR A GAY MARRIED UPLE HOPG TO ADOPT WHO GET TO BE AS SICKLY HAPPY AS THE STRAIGHT PEOPLE THE MOVI. AND Y, THEY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GAY MEAN GIRLS STAR JONATHAN BENT, WHO PLAYS ONE HALF OF THE UPLE (ACTOR BRAD HARR PORTRAYS HIS HBAND), TELLS MTV NEWS THAT THE LGBTQ+ MUNY "HAD ENOUGH OF SUPPORTG THE MASSIVE WORKS AND NOT FEELG REPRENTED THEIR STORYL. THEY'VE HAD TO EXPAND THE TABLE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALL THAT UPROAR PUBLIC PRSURE, DUVALL ADDS, HAS MEANT THAT EVEN MORE NSERVATIVE WORKS ARE NOW HAVG TO TCH UP TO THE "REALY THAT DIENC WANT TO SEE ALL DIFFERENT KDS OF STORI" AFTER BEG "PRENTED STORI THROUGH THIS VERY SPECIFIC CIS, WHE, MALE, STRAIGHT LENS FOR SUCH A LONG TIME."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE EXPANSN OF LGBTQ+ REPRENTATN ON WORKS AND THE BIG SCREEN HAS ALREADY BEEN A REALY MASTREAM NON-CHRISTMAS NTENT. IN MANY WAYS, HAPPIT SEASON IS AN EXTENSN OF 2018’S GROUNDBREAKG ROM- LOVE, SIMON, WHICH ALSO TOLD A FAIRLY NVENTNAL STORY ABOUT G OUT AND YOUNG LOVE. LIKE HAPPIT SEASON, WAS A BIG-STUD RELEASE WH A GAY CHARACTER THE LEAD ROLE. QUEER LOVE ALSO TOOK CENTER STAGE THE ROM- THE THG ABOUT HARRY, RELEASED EARLIER THIS YEAR ON {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS FOR THIS YEAR'S QUEER CHRISTMAS-MOVIE BOOM, JAKE HELGREN, WHO WROTE AND DIRECTED DASHG DECEMBER AND HAS PRODUCED MANY OPPOSE-SEX CHRISTMAS ROMANC FOR LIFETIME AND HALLMARK, THKS THE POLIL AND SOCIAL CLIMATE OF 2020 MA FOR THE PERFECT TIME TO CHALLENGE THE STAT QUO. "I DON'T KNOW IF THE ENVIRONMENT WOULD HAVE FELT AS FORTABLE LAST YEAR," HE SAYS. "THIS YEAR, WAS LIKE WE BATTENED DOWN THE HATCH AND WE ME FULL FORCE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DUVALL'S HAPPIT SEASON HAD BEEN VELOPMENT SCE THE END OF 2017, TWO YEARS BEFORE THE HALLMARK NTROVERSY. THOUGH THE FILM WAS ACQUIRED BY SONY TRISTAR, AND EVENTUALLY SOLD TO HULU DUE TO THE COVID-ED CLOSURE OF THEATERS NATNWI, DUVALL SAYS WAS NOT A HARD SELL. INSTEAD, "THERE WERE SEVERAL STUDS THAT WERE TERTED MAKG THE MOVIE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MEANWHILE, DASHG DECEMBER BEGAN AS JT ANOTHER STRAIGHT-FOCED FILM BUT, THANKS TO PRODUCER STEPHANIE SLACK'S SUGGTN, EVOLVED TO A LOVE STORY ABOUT TWO GAY MEN (PLAYED BY PETER PORTE AND JUAN PABLO DI PACE), WHO MEET BY HAPPENSTANCE RAL COLORADO. EXECS BEHD THE SCEN ENURAGED HELGREN TO IMPART HIS OWN EXPERIENC AS A GAY MAN TO THE SCRIPT. (MTV NEWS AND PARAMOUNT NETWORK ARE BOTH OWNED BY VIACBS.){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MILLS, HOWEVER, FOUND THAT, AT LIFETIME, THE BAKED- FORMULA OF HOLIDAY ROM-S IS MORE LIKE A HAIKU. "YOU N CHANGE SOME WORDS, BUT YOU N'T ACTUALLY CHANGE THE STCTURE AT ALL," HE SAYS, RELAYG WHAT THE CHRISTMAS SETUP WRER MICHAEL J. MURRAY TOLD HIM. EVEN THOUGH HE HAD TO ADHERE TO LIFETIME'S RTRICTNS, HE WANTED TO "SATISFY QUEER PEOPLE AND PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO ARE BEGGG TO SEE THEMSELV REPRENTED," SO HE SNUCK SOME NUENDO DURG A SCENE PICTG THE TWO GAY LEADS, PORTRAYED BY REAL-LIFE MARRIED UPLE BEN LEWIS AND BLAKE LEE, AWKWARDLY SETTG UP A CHRISTMAS TREE. MILLS HAD L LIKE "I'LL JT GRAB THE BOTTOM" (OF THE TREE) AND "IT SLID RIGHT " (AS , THE TREE, UH, PERATED THE TIGHT DOORWAY) WRTEN TO THE MOVIE ON THE DAY OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WH DASHG DECEMBER, HELGREN WAS EXCED TO GIVE THE GAY MUNY WHAT THE STRAIGHT MUNY HAS LONG BEEN ABLE TO ENJOY WHEN WATCHG THE KD OF RANCH WTERSPE FLICKS: SOME SK, GRATUO DIP PANS, AND A GUY FTIVE REER-PRTED BOXER-BRIEFS. "I SAID, HEY, THIS IS A SCENE THAT I DREAMED OF HAVG THIS FILM. CAN I GO DO THIS?" SURE ENOUGH, WAS A CHRISTMAS WISH E {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MILLS PARTED OM THE GRTY EDY STYLE HE CEMENTED WH HIS 2014 SATIRIL MOVIE GUIDANCE TO MAKE THE CHRISTMAS SETUP, AND DOG SO LEARNED THAT LGBTQ+ PEOPLE, WHOSE ONSCREEN NARRATIV HAVE OFTEN ALT WH DIFFICULT TOPICS LIKE AIDS AND G OUT, REALLY JT WANTED WHAT STRAIGHT FOLKS ALREADY HAD: BASIC-BLE MEET-CUT AND HOLIDAY HAPPILY-EVER-AFTERS. "PEOPLE DON'T WATCH THE MOVI TO SEE REAL LIFE REFLECTED BACK ON THEM," HE SAYS. "I THK THERE'S SOMETHG POWERFUL ABOUT QUEER PEOPLE SOMETHG THAT IS NOT CHALLENGG AT ALL."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT FOR SOME FILMMAKERS, QUEERG TRADNAL TROP IS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH. "IT'S IMPERATIVE TO SHOW SOMETHG THAT HAS NOT BEEN SEEN — THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO STAND OUT," SAYS OTOJA AB, WRER-DIRECTOR OF A NEW YORK CHRISTMAS WEDDG, A LS-GLOSSY GAY CHRISTMAS LOVE STORY WH A AO-LATA ACTRS NIA FAIRWEATHER THE LEAD ROLE, FOR NETFLIX. HE LLS A "TRAVTY" THAT THIS YEAR, "WH ALL THE DIFFERENT VARIATNS OF STORI TOLD, AT MAJOR LEVELS, MD YOU, NOT ONE HAS PTURED A SAPPHIC LOVE STORY WH A WEDDG A CHURCH DURG CHRISTMAS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}STILL, THIS SURPRISE WAVE OF QUEERED CHRISTMAS MOVI HAS SURELY LEFT DIENC FEELG MERRY AND BRIGHT. DUVALL'S BEEN SHOWERED WH GRATU OM THOSE THE LGBTQ+ MUNY WHO'VE LONGED FOR REPRENTATN THE MASTREAM CHRISTMAS-MOVIE NON. MANY HAVE TOLD HER THAT, BEE OF HAPPIT SEASON, THEY'RE LS AAID OF G OUT. "IT REALLY MAK ME FEEL VERY EMOTNAL," DUVALL SAYS. THE SAME IS TE FOR BENT, WHO WAS RECENTLY TEARS AFTER SEEG SOME FACEBOOK POSTS EXPRSG HOW GOOD FEELS TO SEE LOVG HBANDS EMBRACED BY FAY ON THE HALLMARK CHANNEL. "IT'S BIGGER THAN PEOPLE THK," HE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE CHRISTMAS HOE DIRECTOR MICHAEL GROSSMAN TELLS MTV NEWS THAT THIS IS A "TRANSFORMATIVE TIME OUR HISTORY." HE SAYS, "I HAVE DIRECTED OVER 200 HOURS OF NTENT MY REER, AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WHERE MY LIFE EXPERIENCE WAS DIRECTLY REPRENTED THE NTENT."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}INIALLY, HELGREN THOUGHT DASHG DECEMBER WAS GOG TO BE A QUEER CHRISTMAS FLICK FIRST, BUT WHEN HE HEARD THERE WERE OTHERS THE WORKS, HE KNEW THIS WOULD BE A "BETIFUL MOVEMENT AND SUCH A BETIFUL TIME FOR THE LGBTQ+ MUNY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS FOR DUVALL, SHE LIGHTS UP KNOWG SHE'S GOOD, QUEER PANY WH FILMMAKERS WHO ARE REVOLUTNIZG THE STALE NVENTNS OF A CLASSIC FORM OF 21ST-CENTURY CHRISTMASTIME AMERINA. AND NOT ONLY DO SHE PLAN ON WATCHG ALL OF THEIR FILMS, BUT, SHE SAYS, LIKE ANY LEARS WHO E TOGETHER FOR A MON E (ALBE, PANMIC-STYLE NOW), "WE ALL NEED TO HAVE A CHRISTMAS MOVIE ZOOM."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
- SGLE ALL THE WAY IS THE GAY CHRISTMAS ROM-COM HAPPIT SEASON SHOULD HAVE BEEN
'LIKE A GAY DREAM E TE': NETFLIX'S FIRST GAY HOLIDAY ROM- 'SGLE ALL THE WAY' RELISH JOY
Netflix's first gay holiday romantic edy, "Sgle All the Way" (now streamg), has arrived to lift holiday spirs and change up a tradnally heterosexual, there has been a glut of LGBTQ holiday romance movi as of late – Hulu's "Happit Season" and Hallmark's "The Christmas Hoe" premiered last year, among others – but this one rehgly avoids a g out story and ters to a queer to mentn that the prence of gay in Jennifer Coolidge was "like a gay dream e te, " says star Michael film centers on Peter (Urie) and Nick (Philemon Chambers), bt iends and roommat Los Angel who have always kept their relatnship platonic. "I've never seen that portrayed where there is a gay son and the fay who is heterosexual wants the son to be a relatnship wh another gay man. Why uldn't the same be done for gay stori?
NETFLIX’S 1ST GAY HOLIDAY ROM- BRGS LGHS — AND JENNIFER COOLIDGE
)Netflix approached screenwrer Chad Hodge ("The Darkt Mds, " "Good Behavr") and asked him to wre the streamer's first gay Christmas romantic edy.
The gay wrer had never wrten a Christmas movie before but lik to keep himself on his everyone gets right:Why 'Happit Season' falls short as a LGBTQ romantic holiday edy He wrote the role of Peter's Aunt Sandy – a former off-Broadway diva charge of the lol Christmas pageant – wh Coolidge md, wh no guarantee she'd actually sign on. "I ma a list when I was startg out wrg this movie of all the thgs I would want to see a gay Christmas movie, " he says, "and one of the thgs was Jennifer Coolidge. "In se you missed Coolidge's turn 'The Whe Lot':Review: HBO's r edy 'The Whe Lot' is your summer mt-watchAlso on Hodge's wish list for the film: an acceptg fay atmosphere; a distctn between big-cy gay life and small-town life; and what you give up when you're far om your lovg stead of another story riddled wh trma queer people face for jt existg, "Sgle All the Way" opts to tell a story about the liv of gay people after they e out and what their adulthood looks has grown all too faiar wh g out stori and acknowledg their importance.
I've been stori about homophobia, I've been stori about shame, I've been stori about trma relatn to the LGBTQ+ muny, " he says. "Hodge agre, sayg he wanted to create a story that felt regnizable " unique ways" to a gay dience, pepperg the film wh referenc to Instagays, Grdr and pop sired a role a romantic edy early his reer but stopped dreamg of opportuni that didn't exist.
NETFLIX’S FIRST GAY CHRISTMAS ROM-COM IS THE #3 MOVIE RIGHT NOW
Netflix jt dropped a full trailer for “Sgle All the Way, ” s first holiday romantic edy featurg gay lead movie, g Dec. Driftg through the trailer a leopard-prt at and enormo, star-shaped earrgs, she mak a vague reference to the datg app Grdr, and livers another quip that hts at Coolidge’s real-life stat as a gay in.
“The gays jt know how to do stuff, ” she m. ’” another fan another fan clared that Coolidge was “speakg the God’s hont tth Netflix’s gay holiday rom-.
”Mastream holiday rom-s featurg gay upl are slowly beg more mon. Last Christmas, the Hallmark Channel released “The Christmas Hoe, ” which follows a gay uple on their journey to adopt a child.
THE HOLIDAY STER: 7+ THOUGHTS I HAD WHILE WATCHG HALLMARK'S NEW GAY ROM-COM
“Bros, ” the first romantic edy by a major stud to feature a romance between two gay men, acrdg to star Billy Eichner, is also slated for next story first appeared on Today.
12 MERRY AND GAY MOVI TO SPICE UP YOUR HOLIDAY
And although Happit Season was predated by pennt films like Make the Yuleti Gay and holiday flicks wh queer storyl like Let It Snow, never before had an LGBTQ+ narrative been prented on such a grand sle a big-budget Christmas, a year later, Netflix has quickly followed su wh their first gay holiday rom-, Sgle All the Way. It n't be a cince that openly gay actor Le Macfarlane—who has starred a number of h (heterosexual) Hallmark movi like Mistletoe Promise and Christmas Land— was st one of the leadg romantic rol for this film.
The script treats mon stereotyp humoroly, like wh Peter's obssn wh plants or referenc to “Instagays. ” But also, the entire premise of Peter and Nick fallg love purposefully verts the historil trope of gay men verg up their relatnships by llg their partners their “roommat. ” Instead, the two roommat are a space where they're accepted and the whole fay is actually tryg to set them up (while also acknowledgg that some stanc gay men really are jt iends) Sgle All the Way isn't solely tertg bee of s nstctn.
It also featur genuely funny moments, like when Nick tells Peter's father that he learned many of his rpentry skills om watchg HGTV and the dad asks if that stands for “Homosexual Gay” televisn, or like when Peter's nt, Sandy (Coolidge), hears he's gog on a date and asks, “Like om Grdr? Meanwhile, would be nice if some of the stars of the film (like Coolidge) were given a ltle more room to all though, Sgle All the Way succeeds what sets out to do, wh a wholome and progrsive tale of gay romance that rv out s own space among a long le of Christmas flicks.
MERRY QUEERMAS! 2020 IS THE YEAR OF THE LGBTQ+ ROM-COM'HAPPIT SEASON,' 'THE CHRISTMAS HOE,' AND SIAR QUEER-LED MASTREAM HOLIDAY MOVI ARE LG THE CEMATIC {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}MOVIBY MTV NEWS STAFFDECEMBER 16, 2020/10:00 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:4160PX;WIDTH:6240PX;}LACEY TERRELL/HULUBY MTV NEWS STAFFDECEMBER 16, 2020 / 10:00 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"MERRY QUEERMAS! 2020 IS THE YEAR OF THE LGBTQ+ ROM-COM","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2020-12-16T15:00:52.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2020-12-16T15:00:52.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"MTV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"MTV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1280,"HEIGHT":720}},"CREATOR":"MTV NEWS STAFF","ARTICLESECTN":"MOVI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BY CHRIS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HAPPIT SEASON DIRECTOR CLEA DUVALL HAD NO IA SHE WAS GOG TO BE A PART OF WHAT HAS TURNED OUT TO BE A VERY QUEER CHRISTMAS 2020. HER ROM- ABOUT A LBIAN UPLE UGHT A CHRISTMASTIME FAY CEPTN, WHICH THE GAY FILMMAKER ALSO -WROTE, BROKE HULU PREMIERE RERDS WHEN BUTED ON NOVEMBER 25. IT WASN'T MAKG S POT ALONE. WH ME AN ARMY OF NONHETERO-LED MASTREAM HOLIDAY MOVI, MORE THAN ANY OTHER YEAR THE HISTORY OF POP CULTURE: LIFETIME'S THE CHRISTMAS SETUP, HALLMARK CHANNEL'S THE CHRISTMAS HOE AND PARAMOUNT NETWORK’S DASHG DECEMBER. "I THOUGHT WE WERE GOG TO BE THE ONLY ONE THIS YEAR," DUVALL TELLS MTV NEWS. "I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE MOVI UNTIL FAIRLY RECENTLY, ACTUALLY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}NOW, THE LGBTQ+ MUNY IS FALLY SEEG VERSNS OF THEMSELV LOOKG CUTE AND UPLED OUTSI FAKE-SNOW HOLIDAYSP, L SOFTLY AND WARMLY — THE LIGHT OF PROGRS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}EVEN HAPPIT SEASON’S STARS, KRISTEN STEWART AND MACKENZIE DAVIS, WHO PLAY THE ONSCREEN UPLE, DIDN'T FOREE A YULETI QUE THIS GAY. DAVIS WAS SHOCKED TO FD OUT HALLMARK WAS DOG A QUEER-CLIVE CHRISTMAS MOVIE SCE "THEY ARE HISTORILLY NOT PROGRSIVE, TO SAY THE LEAST," SHE DIVULGED A JOT TERVIEW WH STEWART FOR PRISOURCE. "NOW THEY HAVE TO BE," STEWART SASSED, "OR ELSE THEY GET LEFT BEHD!"LACEY TERRELL/{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HAPPIT SEASON DIRECTOR CLEA DUVALL WH STARS MACKENZIE DAVIS AND KRISTEN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS HISTORY HAS MONSTRATED, NOTHG SPARKS CHANGE LIKE ANGRY GAYS. PAT MILLS, THE DIRECTOR OF MATCHMAKG MOVIE THE CHRISTMAS SETUP, THKS THE FUR BACKLASH OM THE LGBTQ+ MUNY TARGETED AT HALLMARK FOR PULLG FOUR MERCIALS FEATURG SAME-SEX WEDDGS DECEMBER 2019 LIKELY PRSURED THE WORK (AND SUBSEQUENTLY OTHER WORKS, LIKE LIFETIME) TO DIVERSIFY. “TO BE HONT, I FEEL LIKE THIS SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED A WHILE AGO,” MILLS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LAST YEAR, HALLMARK EXECS APOLOGIZED, REVERSED THEIR CISN, AND LLED CLN A “TOP PRRY” — AND THEN THEY PUT WORDS TO ACTN. THE CHRISTMAS HOE, WHICH PREMIERED ON THE CHANNEL ON NOVEMBER 22, FEATUR A GAY MARRIED UPLE HOPG TO ADOPT WHO GET TO BE AS SICKLY HAPPY AS THE STRAIGHT PEOPLE THE MOVI. AND Y, THEY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}GAY MEAN GIRLS STAR JONATHAN BENT, WHO PLAYS ONE HALF OF THE UPLE (ACTOR BRAD HARR PORTRAYS HIS HBAND), TELLS MTV NEWS THAT THE LGBTQ+ MUNY "HAD ENOUGH OF SUPPORTG THE MASSIVE WORKS AND NOT FEELG REPRENTED THEIR STORYL. THEY'VE HAD TO EXPAND THE TABLE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALL THAT UPROAR PUBLIC PRSURE, DUVALL ADDS, HAS MEANT THAT EVEN MORE NSERVATIVE WORKS ARE NOW HAVG TO TCH UP TO THE "REALY THAT DIENC WANT TO SEE ALL DIFFERENT KDS OF STORI" AFTER BEG "PRENTED STORI THROUGH THIS VERY SPECIFIC CIS, WHE, MALE, STRAIGHT LENS FOR SUCH A LONG TIME."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE EXPANSN OF LGBTQ+ REPRENTATN ON WORKS AND THE BIG SCREEN HAS ALREADY BEEN A REALY MASTREAM NON-CHRISTMAS NTENT. IN MANY WAYS, HAPPIT SEASON IS AN EXTENSN OF 2018’S GROUNDBREAKG ROM- LOVE, SIMON, WHICH ALSO TOLD A FAIRLY NVENTNAL STORY ABOUT G OUT AND YOUNG LOVE. LIKE HAPPIT SEASON, WAS A BIG-STUD RELEASE WH A GAY CHARACTER THE LEAD ROLE. QUEER LOVE ALSO TOOK CENTER STAGE THE ROM- THE THG ABOUT HARRY, RELEASED EARLIER THIS YEAR ON {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS FOR THIS YEAR'S QUEER CHRISTMAS-MOVIE BOOM, JAKE HELGREN, WHO WROTE AND DIRECTED DASHG DECEMBER AND HAS PRODUCED MANY OPPOSE-SEX CHRISTMAS ROMANC FOR LIFETIME AND HALLMARK, THKS THE POLIL AND SOCIAL CLIMATE OF 2020 MA FOR THE PERFECT TIME TO CHALLENGE THE STAT QUO. "I DON'T KNOW IF THE ENVIRONMENT WOULD HAVE FELT AS FORTABLE LAST YEAR," HE SAYS. "THIS YEAR, WAS LIKE WE BATTENED DOWN THE HATCH AND WE ME FULL FORCE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}DUVALL'S HAPPIT SEASON HAD BEEN VELOPMENT SCE THE END OF 2017, TWO YEARS BEFORE THE HALLMARK NTROVERSY. THOUGH THE FILM WAS ACQUIRED BY SONY TRISTAR, AND EVENTUALLY SOLD TO HULU DUE TO THE COVID-ED CLOSURE OF THEATERS NATNWI, DUVALL SAYS WAS NOT A HARD SELL. INSTEAD, "THERE WERE SEVERAL STUDS THAT WERE TERTED MAKG THE MOVIE."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MEANWHILE, DASHG DECEMBER BEGAN AS JT ANOTHER STRAIGHT-FOCED FILM BUT, THANKS TO PRODUCER STEPHANIE SLACK'S SUGGTN, EVOLVED TO A LOVE STORY ABOUT TWO GAY MEN (PLAYED BY PETER PORTE AND JUAN PABLO DI PACE), WHO MEET BY HAPPENSTANCE RAL COLORADO. EXECS BEHD THE SCEN ENURAGED HELGREN TO IMPART HIS OWN EXPERIENC AS A GAY MAN TO THE SCRIPT. (MTV NEWS AND PARAMOUNT NETWORK ARE BOTH OWNED BY VIACBS.){BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MILLS, HOWEVER, FOUND THAT, AT LIFETIME, THE BAKED- FORMULA OF HOLIDAY ROM-S IS MORE LIKE A HAIKU. "YOU N CHANGE SOME WORDS, BUT YOU N'T ACTUALLY CHANGE THE STCTURE AT ALL," HE SAYS, RELAYG WHAT THE CHRISTMAS SETUP WRER MICHAEL J. MURRAY TOLD HIM. EVEN THOUGH HE HAD TO ADHERE TO LIFETIME'S RTRICTNS, HE WANTED TO "SATISFY QUEER PEOPLE AND PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO ARE BEGGG TO SEE THEMSELV REPRENTED," SO HE SNUCK SOME NUENDO DURG A SCENE PICTG THE TWO GAY LEADS, PORTRAYED BY REAL-LIFE MARRIED UPLE BEN LEWIS AND BLAKE LEE, AWKWARDLY SETTG UP A CHRISTMAS TREE. MILLS HAD L LIKE "I'LL JT GRAB THE BOTTOM" (OF THE TREE) AND "IT SLID RIGHT " (AS , THE TREE, UH, PERATED THE TIGHT DOORWAY) WRTEN TO THE MOVIE ON THE DAY OF {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WH DASHG DECEMBER, HELGREN WAS EXCED TO GIVE THE GAY MUNY WHAT THE STRAIGHT MUNY HAS LONG BEEN ABLE TO ENJOY WHEN WATCHG THE KD OF RANCH WTERSPE FLICKS: SOME SK, GRATUO DIP PANS, AND A GUY FTIVE REER-PRTED BOXER-BRIEFS. "I SAID, HEY, THIS IS A SCENE THAT I DREAMED OF HAVG THIS FILM. CAN I GO DO THIS?" SURE ENOUGH, WAS A CHRISTMAS WISH E {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}MILLS PARTED OM THE GRTY EDY STYLE HE CEMENTED WH HIS 2014 SATIRIL MOVIE GUIDANCE TO MAKE THE CHRISTMAS SETUP, AND DOG SO LEARNED THAT LGBTQ+ PEOPLE, WHOSE ONSCREEN NARRATIV HAVE OFTEN ALT WH DIFFICULT TOPICS LIKE AIDS AND G OUT, REALLY JT WANTED WHAT STRAIGHT FOLKS ALREADY HAD: BASIC-BLE MEET-CUT AND HOLIDAY HAPPILY-EVER-AFTERS. "PEOPLE DON'T WATCH THE MOVI TO SEE REAL LIFE REFLECTED BACK ON THEM," HE SAYS. "I THK THERE'S SOMETHG POWERFUL ABOUT QUEER PEOPLE SOMETHG THAT IS NOT CHALLENGG AT ALL."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BUT FOR SOME FILMMAKERS, QUEERG TRADNAL TROP IS SIMPLY NOT ENOUGH. "IT'S IMPERATIVE TO SHOW SOMETHG THAT HAS NOT BEEN SEEN — THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO STAND OUT," SAYS OTOJA AB, WRER-DIRECTOR OF A NEW YORK CHRISTMAS WEDDG, A LS-GLOSSY GAY CHRISTMAS LOVE STORY WH A AO-LATA ACTRS NIA FAIRWEATHER THE LEAD ROLE, FOR NETFLIX. HE LLS A "TRAVTY" THAT THIS YEAR, "WH ALL THE DIFFERENT VARIATNS OF STORI TOLD, AT MAJOR LEVELS, MD YOU, NOT ONE HAS PTURED A SAPPHIC LOVE STORY WH A WEDDG A CHURCH DURG CHRISTMAS."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}STILL, THIS SURPRISE WAVE OF QUEERED CHRISTMAS MOVI HAS SURELY LEFT DIENC FEELG MERRY AND BRIGHT. DUVALL'S BEEN SHOWERED WH GRATU OM THOSE THE LGBTQ+ MUNY WHO'VE LONGED FOR REPRENTATN THE MASTREAM CHRISTMAS-MOVIE NON. MANY HAVE TOLD HER THAT, BEE OF HAPPIT SEASON, THEY'RE LS AAID OF G OUT. "IT REALLY MAK ME FEEL VERY EMOTNAL," DUVALL SAYS. THE SAME IS TE FOR BENT, WHO WAS RECENTLY TEARS AFTER SEEG SOME FACEBOOK POSTS EXPRSG HOW GOOD FEELS TO SEE LOVG HBANDS EMBRACED BY FAY ON THE HALLMARK CHANNEL. "IT'S BIGGER THAN PEOPLE THK," HE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE CHRISTMAS HOE DIRECTOR MICHAEL GROSSMAN TELLS MTV NEWS THAT THIS IS A "TRANSFORMATIVE TIME OUR HISTORY." HE SAYS, "I HAVE DIRECTED OVER 200 HOURS OF NTENT MY REER, AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WHERE MY LIFE EXPERIENCE WAS DIRECTLY REPRENTED THE NTENT."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}INIALLY, HELGREN THOUGHT DASHG DECEMBER WAS GOG TO BE A QUEER CHRISTMAS FLICK FIRST, BUT WHEN HE HEARD THERE WERE OTHERS THE WORKS, HE KNEW THIS WOULD BE A "BETIFUL MOVEMENT AND SUCH A BETIFUL TIME FOR THE LGBTQ+ MUNY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS FOR DUVALL, SHE LIGHTS UP KNOWG SHE'S GOOD, QUEER PANY WH FILMMAKERS WHO ARE REVOLUTNIZG THE STALE NVENTNS OF A CLASSIC FORM OF 21ST-CENTURY CHRISTMASTIME AMERINA. AND NOT ONLY DO SHE PLAN ON WATCHG ALL OF THEIR FILMS, BUT, SHE SAYS, LIKE ANY LEARS WHO E TOGETHER FOR A MON E (ALBE, PANMIC-STYLE NOW), "WE ALL NEED TO HAVE A CHRISTMAS MOVIE ZOOM."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
In 2020, Hallmark buted s first same-sex uple, and now the work’s evolutn has led to an entire rom- wh a gay uple as the foc. The Holiday Ster buted on Hallmark on December Christmas Hoe was the first Hallmark movie to feature a gay uple promently, but The Holiday Ster is their first film centered around a gay uple.
Clearly, The Holiday Ster was always wrten (or at least altered) wh a gay uple md. Takg place around Christmas, the film explor the them of homophobia, addictn, lonels, and the importance of mutual support.
Make The Yuleti Gay (2009). In an terview wh Vulture, Sarah Jsi Parker rells a particular scene where Meredh nonts Thad and Patrick about the possibily of havg a gay child.
SGLE ALL THE WAY IS THE GAY CHRISTMAS ROM-COM HAPPIT SEASON SHOULD HAVE BEEN
Reviewer Carmen Phillips had signifint praise for the film terms of s stg, askg "when have you ever your life, and I tly do mean ever, seen a gay Christmas love story wh a woman of lor lead?
TV holiday rom-s have bee a ttage dtry over the last 20 years, so some may be surprised ’s taken this long for Hallmark and Lifetime to send jad gay urban home for Christmas to fd the love of their mastream holiday movi are largely aimed at straight women, wh predictable plots and sackfuls of stereotyp about relatnships, genr rol, fay and “the te meang of Christmas.
Below, we celebrate a dozen movi that make the yuleti jt a ltle b gayer. In a si plot, Everett’s gay af brother reveals that he and his partner are planng to “The Fay Stone” don’t revent the holiday movie, do shake up nventns about expectatns when to romance. 'Make the Yuleti Gay' (2009)College stunt Gunn (Keh Jordan) is totally out at school, but he hasn’t gotten around to tellg his Midwtern fay that he’s gay and that his “roommate, ” Nathan (Adamo Ruggiero of "Degrassi"), is actually his boyiend.