Kristen Stewartas AbbyThe story
About Happiest Season
A woman who has long disliked Christmas agrees to spend the holidays with her girlfriend's family, planning to propose on Christmas morning. On the drive there she learns her partner has never come out to her image-conscious parents, whose father is running for local office, so she spends a fraught festive week posing as a straight flatmate through parties, family outings and sibling rivalries until the truth comes out on Christmas Eve.
The CineClaus verdict
A coming-out story that happens to be set at Christmas, and a warmer one than its premise suggests.
Kristen Stewart is lovely as the girlfriend asked to hide in plain sight, and Aubrey Plaza walks off with every scene she gets. The trouble is the partner doing the hiding, whose choices the film forgives faster than we could.
Dan Levy's late pep talk nearly squares it. Worth it for anyone who has spent a family Christmas pretending to be someone slightly different.
The family desk
Can the kids watch?
Our take: rated 12 for infrequent strong language and moderate sex references. Better suited to teenagers than younger children: there is a great deal of grown-up family tension, though nothing frightening.
BBFC advice: Infrequent strong language, moderate sex references.
Content advice & accessibility
- Where the advice comes from
- The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC).
- Our age guidance
- Editorial, separate from the official 12 certificate, and never looser than it.
- Subtitles
- Check your chosen service and edition for supported tracks.
