A Holiday I Do
Directed by Paul Schneider and Alicia Schneider
Written by Melinda Bryce
Starring Lindsay Hicks, Rivkah Reyes, Marsha Warfield, and Jill Larson
Not rated
Runtine: 93 minutes
Available on the Tello Films Network starting November 10th

by M. Lopes da Silva, Staff Writer

 Here: you can have a little gay, as a treat.

Jane (Lindsay Hicks) is a single mom frustrated with the local lesbian dating scene. She agrees to perform the role of “best woman” and help organize her ex-husband (Joe Piazza)’s bachelor party, only to end up crushing on his taciturn wedding planner, Sue (Rivkah Reyes). There’s also a B story about Jane’s mother (Jill Larson) losing her farm if she can’t come up with the money in time that is about as suspenseful as these things traditionally go: not very.

A Holiday I Do is a lesbian Christmas romance film shot in the style of Hallmark Christmas films, but it is not a Hallmark film. However, the tropes and storytelling world established by the Hallmark brand are clearly a huge influence on this production, from the inescapable Christmas décor to the ubiquitous holiday crafting going on in the background (so many things were baked. So! Many!). Jane is quirky and put-upon like many a protagonist in this position before her. Her chemistry with Sue is largely what the audience is here for, and they’re charming enough together to make the film work even when the belabored gags about baby’s breath allergies don’t. 

There’s a couple of surprising refreshes to the stale narrative structures we’re accustomed to: far from being a “bridezilla” or “evil stepmother”, Heather’s (India Chappell) concerns about her wedding being ruined are justified, and when she realizes that she has passed on an inappropriate message to her stepdaughter-to-be about body image and weight, she instantly corrects her error like a good parent.

A few scenes were clearly given to Larson and the banker (Marsha Warfield) to let these actors really shine. The result is that even Warfield’s character isn’t depicted as a shallow, money-driven villain, but someone who clearly empathizes with Larson while trying to perform an unpleasant part of her job. These touches of insight into the film’s characters end up distinguishing it from the usual Hallmark fare. 

It’s a shame that these emotional moments don’t manifest in quite the same way for Jane and Sue, who, while cute together, are mostly forced to have plot-oriented conversations. When they begin to open up more about their feelings, they simply don’t have much to say. Which is okay, because it’s nice to see them dancing together at the wedding reception along to a very on-the-nose song chorus (one of the funnier gags in the film that I will not spoil here).

A Holiday I Do is the tamest of new holiday traditions, not eggnog but a hint of eggnog aromatherapy candle lingering in the living room; but frankly sometimes that’s all the holidays leaves a human being with enough energy to process. So here – you can have a little gay, but just a little! – as a treat.