The Christmas House

Last updated
The Christmas House
The-Christmas-House-Film-Poster.jpg
Written by
Directed by Michael Grossman
Starring
Music byMikel Hurwitz
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerCharles Cooper
CinematographyWilliam McKnight
EditorSaeed Vahidi
Original release
Network Hallmark Channel
ReleaseNovember 22, 2020 (2020-11-22)

The Christmas House is a made-for-television film produced for the Hallmark Channel. A Christmas-themed comedy-drama, it was directed by Michael Grossman. It features an ensemble cast, including Sharon Lawrence and Treat Williams as a wife and husband who invite their two adult sons (played by Robert Buckley and Jonathan Bennett) to come back home for Christmas and recreate a past family tradition. It premiered on November 22, 2020.

Contents

The Christmas House was the first Hallmark movie to prominently feature a same-sex couple. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6]

Plot

Bill (Treat Williams) and Phylis (Sharon Lawrence) have been married for many years. They invite their two adult sons, Mike (Robert Buckley) and Brandon (Jonathan Bennett) to stay with them for the two weeks leading up to Christmas, to revisit an old family tradition. They will transform the family house into "the Christmas house", with the entire home, inside and out, extensively decorated for Christmas. [7] Mike is an actor who stars in the television series Handsome Justice. Brandon is a baker, married to Jake (Brad Harder) who also comes to visit. Meanwhile, Mike's high school friend and former neighbor Andi (Ana Ayora) has moved back to town with her son Noah (Mattia Castrillo) following a divorce.

The family members each have issues that they are dealing with, that initially they do not tell each other about. Bill and Phylis have decided to sell the family house. Mike's TV show has not been renewed by the network. Brandon and Jake want to adopt a child, but their efforts have been unsuccessful. Despite these problems, the family members work together to revive their former holiday tradition.

Cast

Social context

The Christmas House was the first Hallmark Channel film to prominently feature a same-sex couple. In the movie, Brandon and Jake's relationship is fully accepted by their relatives and friends. The fact that they are gay is not discussed in the film, and they are shown as part of the extended family. In one scene, after a private discussion about their efforts to adopt a child, the two men share a romantic kiss. [4] [5] [6]

Wedding Every Weekend was the first Hallmark Channel movie to include a same-sex couple, though they were not part of the main story line. In that film – a romantic comedy that premiered on August 15, 2020, three months before The Christmas House – a man and a woman go to four weddings in four weeks. One of the weddings they attend is a marriage of two women. [8] [9]

In December 2019, some months prior to the broadcast of these films, the Hallmark Channel aired some commercials for Zola, a wedding services company. Some of the ads showed two brides kissing at their same-sex wedding. After complaints from One Million Moms, an organization that is part of the American Family Association, Hallmark stopped showing the commercials, only to face a backlash from supporters of LGBTQ rights. [10] Hallmark reversed its decision and issued an apology, saying that the company was "committed to diversity and inclusion – both in our workplace as well as the products and experiences we create." [11]

Sequel

A sequel titled The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls premiered on December 18, 2021. [12] [13] [14] [15]

Awards

The Christmas House was nominated for the 2021 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding TV Movie. [16] The sequel The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls was likewise nominated for the 2022 GLAAD awards in the same category

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hallmark Channel</span> American cable television network

Hallmark Channel is an American cable television network owned by Hallmark Media, a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards. The channel broadcasts family-oriented general entertainment programming, including television series and made-for-TV movies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great American Family</span> American digital cable and satellite television network

Great American Family is an American cable television network. Owned by Great American Media, it broadcasts family-oriented general entertainment programming, including television series and made-for-TV movies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hallmark Mystery</span> American cable television network

Hallmark Mystery is an American digital cable and satellite television channel owned by Hallmark Media, a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards. The channel was spun off from sister network Hallmark Channel, and airs family-oriented feature and television films along with a limited number of murder- and mystery-themed television series.

Jonathan David Bennett is an American actor and television host. He is known for his roles as Aaron Samuels in the 2004 comedy film Mean Girls, Bud McNulty in 2005's Cheaper by the Dozen 2, the title character in the 2009 direct-to-DVD comedy Van Wilder: Freshman Year, and his recurring role as Casey Gant in the mystery drama Veronica Mars. He was the host of the Food Network series Halloween Wars, and he previously hosted Cake Wars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niall Matter</span> Canadian actor (born 1980)

Niall Matter is a Canadian actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBTQ representation in children's television</span> Aspect of childrens television

LGBT representation in children's television is representation of LGBT topics, themes, and people in television programming meant for children. LGBT representation in children's programming was often uncommon to non-existent for much of television's history up to the 2010s, but has significantly increased since then.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candace Cameron Bure</span> American actress (born 1976)

Candace Helaine Cameron Bure is an American actress and talk show panelist. She is known for portraying D.J. Tanner on Full House and its sequel series Fuller House, and a number of roles in Hallmark Channel original productions—including the title character in their adaptations of the Aurora Teagarden novel series.

Historically, the portrayal of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people in media has been largely negative if not altogether absent, reflecting a general cultural intolerance of LGBTQ individuals; however, from the 1990s to present day, there has been an increase in the positive depictions of LGBTQ people, issues, and concerns within mainstream media in North America. The LGBTQ communities have taken an increasingly proactive stand in defining their own culture, with a primary goal of achieving an affirmative visibility in mainstream media. The positive portrayal or increased presence of the LGBTQ communities in media has served to increase acceptance and support for LGBT communities, establish LGBTQ communities as a norm, and provide information on the topic.

<i>The Fosters</i> (American TV series) American family drama TV series

The Fosters is an American family drama television series created by Peter Paige and Bradley Bredeweg. It premiered in the United States on June 3, 2013, on the ABC Family television network and concluded on June 6, 2018. It followed the lives of the Adams-Foster family led by a lesbian couple, Stef Foster, a police officer, and Lena Adams, a school vice principal, who raise one biological son and four adopted teenagers in San Diego, California.

<i>The Loud House</i> American animated television series

The Loud House is an American animated television series created by Chris Savino that premiered on Nickelodeon on May 2, 2016. The series revolves around the chaotic everyday life of a boy named Lincoln Loud, who is the middle child and only son in a large family of 11 children. It is set in a fictional town in southeastern Michigan called Royal Woods, based on Savino's hometown of Royal Oak. The series was pitched to the network in 2013 as a two-minute short film entered in the annual Animated Shorts Program. It entered production the following year. The series is based on Savino's own childhood growing up in a large family, and its animation is largely influenced by newspaper comic strips.

<i>Happiest Season</i> 2020 film by Clea DuVall

Happiest Season is a 2020 American romantic comedy film directed by Clea DuVall, who co-wrote the screenplay with Mary Holland. Starring an ensemble cast consisting of Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza, Daniel Levy, Mary Holland, Victor Garber, and Mary Steenburgen, the film follows a young woman who struggles to admit to her conservative parents that she is a lesbian while she and her girlfriend visit them during Christmas. A semi-autobiographical take on DuVall's experiences with her family, Happiest Season is the first lesbian Christmas rom-com produced by a major Hollywood studio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zola (company)</span> American online wedding registry

Zola is an online wedding registry, wedding planner, and retailer. It is a female-led e-commerce company that allows couples to register for gifts, experiences, and cash funds as well as add gifts from other stores. Zola has also expanded into wedding planning with free wedding websites, invitations, and items for the wedding day. There is no cost or fee to register with Zola, with the company generating revenue by selling wedding gifts and wedding-related items.

<i>Dashing in December</i> 2020 film directed by Jake Helgren

Dashing in December is an American romantic holiday drama film directed by Jake Helgren. The film stars Peter Porte, Juan Pablo Di Pace, Andie MacDowell, Caroline Harris, Carlos Sanz, and Katherine Bailess.

<i>The Christmas Setup</i> 2020 American-Canadian romantic comedy television film

The Christmas Setup is an American-Canadian romantic comedy television film, directed by Pat Mills and broadcast in 2020. The first LGBTQ-themed Christmas film ever broadcast by Lifetime, the film stars Ben Lewis as Hugo, an uptight New York City attorney who comes home with his best friend Madelyn to visit his mother Kate for Christmas, and is forced to consider what he really wants in life when he reconnects with his high school crush Patrick just as he is offered a promotion to his firm's office in London.

<i>The Nine Lives of Christmas</i> American-Canadian romantic comedy film

The Nine Lives of Christmas is a 2014 American made-for-television romantic comedy film and Hallmark Channel original movie, written by Nancy Silvers, based on the book by Sheila Roberts. Directed by Mark Jean, it stars Brandon Routh and Kimberley Sustad. The film premiered on November 8, 2014, on the Hallmark Channel.

Good Witch is a Hallmark Channel media franchise that is centered on a series of films and a television series. The franchise is centered upon Cassandra "Cassie" Nightingale, the titular "good witch" who uses her abilities to bring positive change in the lives of those around her.

<i>Single All the Way</i> 2021 film

Single All the Way is a 2021 Canadian Christmas romantic comedy film directed by Michael Mayer and written by Chad Hodge. The plot follows a man who convinces his best friend to pretend to be his boyfriend when he goes home for Christmas, only to be set up on a blind date by his mother. Luke Macfarlane, Barry Bostwick, Jennifer Robertson, and Jennifer Coolidge also star.

The Holiday Sitter is an American-Canadian romantic comedy television film, directed by Ali Liebert and broadcast in 2022. The first LGBTQ-themed film ever broadcast by The Hallmark Channel in its annual lineup of Christmas-themed romance films, the film stars Jonathan Bennett as Sam Dalton, a single and commitment-phobic gay man who is roped into taking care of his sister Kathleen's kids just before Christmas, only to find himself drawn into a romance with Jason DeVito, his sister's neighbour, after asking for his help.

References

  1. ↑ Lee, Ashley (November 22, 2020). "Finally, Hallmark's Holiday Fare Makes a Gay Couple 'Part of the Family'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  2. ↑ Stevens, Heidi (November 24, 2020). "Finally, a Gay Couple in a Hallmark Christmas Movie. and the Bigots Never Seemed Less Relevant". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  3. ↑ Jensen, Erin (September 23, 2020). "Hallmark Christmas Movie Features LGBTQ Storyline Starring Jonathan Bennett". USA Today. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  4. 1 2 FitzPatrick, Hayley (November 20, 2020). "Jonathan Bennett Talks LGBTQ Representation in New Hallmark Movie, 'The Christmas House'". Good Morning America. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  5. 1 2 White, Brett (November 22, 2020). "Stream It or Skip It: 'The Christmas House' on Hallmark Is the Best Hallmark Holiday Movie of the Year". Decider. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  6. 1 2 Kelleher, Patrick (November 23, 2020). "'Intimate' Same-Sex Kiss in Hallmark's First Gay Christmas Movie Was Designed to 'Push Limits'". Pink News. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  7. ↑ Garber, Megan (December 17, 2021). "The Holiday-Rom-Com Fantasy Has Nothing to Do With Romance". The Atlantic. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  8. ↑ VanHoose, Benjamin (August 15, 2020). "Hallmark Channel's First Same-Sex Wedding to Air in New Original Movie Wedding Every Weekend". People. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  9. ↑ Henderson, Cydney (August 12, 2020). "Hallmark Channel Will Feature First Same-Sex Wedding in Upcoming Film Following Controversy". USA Today. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  10. ↑ Bruney, Gabrielle (December 15, 2019). "People Are Boycotting the Hallmark Channel After It Pulled Ads Featuring a Lesbian Couple". Esquire. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  11. ↑ Ortiz, Aimee (December 15, 2019). "Hallmark Channel Apologizes for Pulling Ads with Brides Kissing". The New York Times. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  12. ↑ Rude, Mey (September 24, 2021). "Christmas House 2 Is Making the Yuletide Gay Again for Hallmark". Out. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
  13. ↑ Baer, Rebecca Angel (December 17, 2021). "Hallmark's Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls Is Laugh Out Loud Funny". Southern Living. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  14. ↑ White, Brett (December 18, 2021). "Stream It or Skip It: 'The Christmas House 2: Deck Those Halls' on Hallmark Doubles the Feels and the Fun". Decider. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  15. ↑ Cooper, Alex (December 17, 2021). "Jonathan Bennett and the Holiday Queerness of Hallmark's Christmas House 2". The Advocate. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  16. ↑ Oliver, David (January 28, 2021). "Ryan Murphy, Netflix Lead GLAAD Award Nominations – Plus, Hallmark Scores First Nod". USA Today. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.