T&K's XMas (2020) Advent Calendar: Day 14 - The Christmas Setup

 2020, Pat Mills (Guidance) - download

Shout out to writer Michael J Murray, who started his career writing terrible horror movies, but who more recently fell into writing THESE kinds of Hallmarkies. This is the first of these movies that seemed to be self aware! And I believe he has done one of the first not just gay friendly, but gay led, movies!! Kent has mentioned before how the Lifetime and Hallmark model is not very progressive, and considers a token back character, or token gay character, as progress. It ain't. Murray, while holding to the Hallmarky tropes also seemed to have details of plot, that most, if not all, of these wouldn't even bother with. He does a traditional movie with main characters who happen to be gay.

We open with our stock photography shots of NYC. At some point, I am going to have seen so many of these movies, that I will actually be able to recognize the same shot being used once again. We meet Hugo (Ben Lewis, "Other Scott", Scott Pilgrim vs the World), young Business Man (lawyer) in the Big City who stands up to his boss and demands a promotion to partner. Boss needs time to think about it, and Hugo takes said time to go home to spend Xmas with his family. He brings along his best friend Maddie (Ellen Wong, "Knives Chau", Scott Pilgrim vs the World) who was to be alone during the holidays.

Mom (Fran Drescher, "Fran", Scott Pilgrim vs the World The Nanny) is ecstatic Hugo has come home, and I mean ecstatic. Mom is just stupendous, 110% Fran Drescher exuberant. But its not just a "my son is home for Xmas" exuberance, as she has something in mind -- Patrick (Blake Lee, Parks & Rec), handsome, successful but now living at home in Milwaukee, is gay and single.

At first, there is some meet cute, where Patrick is not aware Hugo is gay, and assumes Maddie is his wife. Hugo is VERY aware of Patrick as he was the popular, handsome and very Out guy in highschool, when Hugo had not yet come out. Once that is cleared up, they begin hanging out. Unlike many of these movies, it is very clear that the two are not just hanging for the sake of some plot contrivance. Oh, the contrivance IS there, the Xmas Event, a party held for the neighbourhood kids to write letters to Santa, and held at the local heritage train station, which is in danger of being shut down, but the contrivance is the only reason they begin hanging out. This is 5 star meet cute, not yet quite dating time, but with clear intentions, despite Hugo's hesitation, knowing full well he is going back to NYC at the end of the Xmas season.

The B plots are just as engaging, with Hugo and Patrick discovering that the man who founded the tran station was likely a closeted gay man, inspiring Hugo to seek ways of saving the station from demolishing. Hugo is a lawyer from NYC, and there is a really smart statement where Mom actually checked with the state bar association, and determined Hugo can in fact work in Milwaukee, and after he discovers an important detail, can work on behalf of his mom to save the station. And Hugo's brother shows up, a handsome straight man that Maddie cannot keep her eyes off. Seriously, the thirst on her face startling obvious. In Aiden (Chad Connell, Warehouse 13) she sees a man his 30s who is single and still fit, which she points out as rare. OK Maddie, way to be shallow but sure... and they make a cute couple.

Then Hugo gets the offer of a partnership in his firm. BUT he has to move to London and open the office there. Not only does he hurt his mom, at the idea he will be so far, but finally its very clear to Patrick that there is no future with Hugo, unless they do long distance. And neither seem up to that. But eventually, through the further discovery of the relationship between the train station owner and his "coworker", Hugo begins to realize that its worth fighting for things between he and Patrick. I will admit I was not sure if Hugo rejected the promotion, to stay in Milwaukee, or just that he will work to have a LDR, but the two decide to stay together.

The Draw: Honestly, because this was the first Gay Hallmarky we had seen, and since the other offering (gay xmas romcom) left such a sour taste in our mouth, we were wanting something more... formulaic?

The Formulae: Big City Business guy goes back to PST (well, Milwaukee is smaller than NYC) and ends up bumping into an eligible beau from his past. Meddling Mom tries to connect the two while also involving them a local Xmas Event (the Xmas Letter writing for kids). We also get a Xmas Tree Lot and even an evening of Xmas Caroling !! There is also the conflict between Stay in PST vs Return to the Big City.

Unformulae: Does two gay men as the romantic leads break the formula? No, no it doesn't. There was the very sweet kiss before the end of the movie, and the very clear recognition that these two were interested in each other; most movies usually pretend their is no connection until the conflict at the end brings it to a head. Occasionally there is Competition for Affection in these movies, but not here. Probably already too many gay people in one Lifetime movie already (#drippingwithsarcasm). 

True Calling? Yeah very much so. Mom is very transparent about setting her son up with Patrick :) We even get a Side Setup, with Aiden the Single Straight Brother appearing to set Maddie all a-flutter. 

The Rewind: Nothing really rewindable.

The Regulars: Only Single Straight Brother Aiden (who is gay IRL) is a regular in Hallmarkies.

How does it Hallmark? Yeah, this Hallmarked right down the hall. In fact, it set the bar higher. This was sweet, sincere, without any real cringey moments and everyone was likeable. Given that it kept my attention enough that I didn't even notice if there was fake snow, or not, yeah good on them.

How does it movie? No, despite being a high marks for Hallmarkies, it is not original or compelling enough to be a good movie on its own.