The Christmas House

My third holiday queer movie of this month from USA. I guess this much be a special year where many production houses are either focused on gay storyline or have made sure to have gay characters more prominently featured in almost lead roles. Although in this film, the leads are not gay but keeping a gay couple as the other prominent couple qualifies this movie to be reviewed here.

Mike is the star of TV show Handsome Justice. After wrapping the current season, he is about to head home when his parents tell him that this is going to be like the childhood Christmas. His parents are giving the old Christmas House tradition one final go—which means they move literally everything out of their home and turn it into a wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling winter wonderland! Also arriving are Mike's brother Brandon with this husband Jay who are in the middle of adopting a baby. It turns out that Mike's high school crush Andi has moved back in town with her 10 year old son after her divorce. Slowly, we find out that the parents are not doing too well personally and are looking to sell the house so they can live separately for sometime. and the gay couple is doesn't want to tell family about adoption since it fell through before. While preparing for the Christmas house, Mike realizes how much he enjoys and misses being in the small town and how much he still cares for Andi and now her son as well. He decides to take a risk with his career and buy his parents place and move back to town to work on his personal and family life. And Brandon and Jay get the good news that finally their adoption has gone through and soon they will be having a baby.

Made by Hallmark for their network, this is a classic holiday rom-com film. Its the addition of a gay couple that made it special for me. Andi and Mike's story is what you would expect but thankfully Brandon and Jay were given the respect that it deserved. There is no coming out angle (Thank God!). They are just there as any other couple working on their love and issues without getting any second looks from anyone. They hug, they hold hands, they are generally affectionate—and they kiss. And this is what I call a huge change. The chemistry of the family members is quite good, although i am really not clear what was the real issue between the parents. It felt that they were growing apart and the mother would blame father for it, but hey all's well that ends well. The actors do a good job of showcasing the love and the holiday spirit. 

Of the three films I have seen recently for Christmas, this one would rank the lowest but hey this is still high up there in my recommended list. Watch it, feel good and get into the holiday spirit. (6/10)