Holiday 2020
2020 Holiday Rom-Coms Are More Diverse Than Ever
While cable TV juggernaut the Hallmark Channel has long been the undisputed leader in the holiday rom-com field, their films haven’t exactly been known for their diversity. Most followed a similar pattern, featuring a white, heterosexual couple in a snowy locale finding love. But as competition started coming from Netflix and others in recent years, Hallmark has had to up its game. This year brings a more diverse slate of Christmas and holiday romance films than ever before. Here are a few to consider:
Happiest Season: Kristen Stewart (Twilight) and Mackenzie Caldwell (The F Word) star in this rom-com about Abby and Harper, a lesbian couple who go to Harper’s parents’ home for the holidays. However, Harper isn’t out to her conservative family yet, so she asks Abby to stay in the friend zone during their visit. That goes about as well as you’d expect. While the movie is charming, Marinette student Serenity Block notes, “Almost every movie with a gay plot is about coming out or being gay before electricity was harnessed. I would love to see a movie where coming out is not the focal point of the story.” Available now on Hulu.
Operation Christmas Drop: Loosely based on a true story, Operation Christmas Drop features Vampire Diaries actor Kat Graham as Erica, a congressional aide sent to assess whether a US Air Force base in Guam needs to close for budgetary reasons. There, she meets Andrew, an Air Force captain who shows her the true meaning of Christmas through the base’s tradition of airlifting holiday presents to the island country. Now available on Netflix.
The Christmas House: Hell might be freezing over and pigs might have started flying on Dec. 11, when the Hallmark Channel debuted its very first LGBTQ Christmas rom-com, The Christmas House. Brandon and Jake are already a couple when the film starts, but they’ve been trying, unsuccessfully so far, to adopt a child. Will they get the Christmas present they’ve been waiting for this year? Starring One Tree Hill‘s Robert Buckley and Jonathan Bennett, whom you might know as Lindsay Lohan’s love interest in Mean Girls. Now showing on HallmarkChannel.com and on TV Dec. 17, 25, and 31.
The Christmas Set-Up: Not wanting to be left behind, the Lifetime Channel also released its first LGBTQ Christmas rom-com, The Christmas Set-Up, on Dec. 12. New York City lawyer Hugo heads to Milwaukee to spend the holidays with his brother and his mom Kate. Little does he know that Kate is getting her matchmaker on, arranging for him to run into his old friend Patrick, who was his high-school friend—and secret crush. Sparks fly, but then Hugo gets a big promotion that would require him to move to London. Will he take the higher-paying job in the cool international locale, or take a chance on a budding romance? Now showing on MyLifetime.com.
A Sugar & Spice Holiday: Lifetime boasts that this holiday rom-com is the first ever to feature an all-Asian cast. When Suzie, a rising young architect, comes home to small-town Maine for Christmas, she runs into Billy, the grown-up version of the boy who stood her up for the Christmas dance in high school. When her Chinese American parents persuade her to enter the local gingerbread competition in honor of her late grandmother, Suzie ends up on a team with—you guessed it!—Billy. Will Suzie respond to Billy’s flirtation with sugar and spice, or a spatula to the side of the head? Now showing on MyLifetime.com.
Let’s Meet Again on Christmas Eve: College sweethearts Corinne and Rob get job offers upon graduation on opposite sides of the world. Instead of giving the long-distance thing a try, they decide to part ways, with a catch: They’ll meet two years later on Christmas Eve to see if they still feel that spark. Two years later, one shows up and the other does not. Quite a bit of time passes before they finally meet again, when they’re both hired to organize the same Christmas Eve wedding. But their romance is totally over, right? Now available on MyLifetime.com.
Love, Lights, Hanukkah!: As Christina prepares her restaurant for the holiday season, she takes a DNA test on a whim and finds out she’s Jewish. The discovery leads her to new family members and a possible romance with a cute Jewish guy named David. Now available on HallmarkChannel.com. Showing on TV Dec. 16, 19, 25, 31.
A Royal Christmas: Emily Taylor, a sweet and humble Philadelphia seamstress, is thrilled when her incredible boyfriend Leo finally pops the question with the holidays right around the corner. But his proposal includes a tiny little detail he’d never mentioned before…he’s actually Prince Leopold, heir to the throne in a small European country! When Leo’s mother, Queen Isedora, finds out about the engagement, she’s furious that her son plans to marry a commoner without her blessing, so she invites the pair to spend Christmas in Cordinia and attempts to sabotage their relationship at every turn. Will the Queen succeed in driving Leo and Emily apart, or will true love be able to conquer all the challenges standing in the way of their happily ever after? A Royal Christmas is the perfect mixture of the stories of Cinderella, The Princess Diaries, and Prince William and Kate. Like all Hallmark rom-coms, it’s cliché and predictable and wholly unrealistic, but hey—that’s what makes them so freaking irresistible. If you’re like me, a total sucker for romantic Christmas movies (especially royal ones!), then this film is for you! Watch on Saturday, Dec. 26, on the Hallmark Channel, or buy it for $9.99 on Amazon. —Mallory Allen
Merry Kissmas: Kayla is engaged to Carlton, a conceited film and stage choreographer who treats her poorly. One day, she runs into Dustin, a gentleman who is a caterer, on an elevator ride, and the two share a magical kiss. While Kayla is instantly attracted and intrigued by Dustin, Carlton begins to treat Kayla well, and Dustin becomes distant. Kayla must sort out her feelings and decide who her heart is truly with. Who will she pick? Available on Amazon Prime. —Mara Allen
A Princess For Christmas: A classic “ordinary girl,” Jules, and her family try to fit in at an estranged, wealthy family member’s manor. She falls in love with a princely bachelor, all while trying to keep her family together and give them a nice Christmas. Little does she know there’s more to him than meets the eye. Available now on Netflix. —Jasmine Hanson
Sense, Sensibility, and Snowmen: Anyone who’s had me in a literature class knows I love Jane Austen. I was surprised to discover that I’d missed an Austen-inspired holiday rom-com that debuted last winter on the Hallmark Channel: Based off a similarly named Austen novel, Sense, Sensibility, and Snowmen “centers on Christmas enthusiast party planners Ella and her sister, Marianne, who clash with their client, Edward, a not-so-jolly toy company CEO.”
Dear Santa: When privileged big-city socialite Crystal Carruthers is given an ultimatum by her parents—either find a way to change her irresponsible ways or she’ll be cut off—she’s left with no idea how to be a part of something bigger than herself. Then, Crystal finds a letter written by a seven-year-old named Olivia asking Santa Claus to bring her widowed father a new wife. Fearing the little girl’s heart will be broken if her wish doesn’t come true, Crystal tracks this father-daughter pair down and begins volunteering at Derek’s struggling soup kitchen, making it her mission to win the duo over by Christmas and in turn, prove to everyone who believes she’s nothing but a rich party girl that there’s more to her than they all thought. Full of love, laughter, and tons of heartwarming cheer, Dear Santa is the perfect romantic comedy to remind us all of the true meaning of Christmas this holiday season! Available on PeacockTV (free version). —Mallory Allen
Deadpool: I’m not a huge rom-com person so I’m saying Deadpool because that is totally a Valentine’s romance movie and February is still winter. Wade Wilson has a very healthy and secure relationship with his girlfriend in the movie. He even killed lots of bad guys to save her. Sounds romantic to me. Available on Hulu and for rental on other sites. —Derek Jepson
The Polar Express: This movie came out in 2004, so you will get to experience some terrible and outdated animation while watching this Christmas classic. Also, are you a fan of Tom Hanks? If you said yes, I have some great news for you: Hanks plays adult Hero Boy, Hero Boy’s father, a hobo, Santa Claus, puppet Ebenezer Scrooge, and the conductor in the film. Not only does he play all those roles, he also plays most of them without different voices for each character! The Polar Express has a child-like wonder about it, so anything bad about the movie is made up for with this mood. Available on FuboTV or to rent from Amazon and other services. —Serenity Block
Eloise at Christmastime: I’ve watched this movie since I was four, yet I still love it to this day … no shame! Eloise, a vibrant, nosy, sucker-for-all-things-romance six-year-old living in New York’s Plaza Hotel. wishes for the perfect Christmas for all of her friends and family. But when the hotel owner’s daughter comes back to get married on Christmas Eve, Eloise believes that she isn’t in love with her soon-to-be husband, and can’t help but try to intervene to help her find true love—a few days before the elegant ceremony is set to take place. Can she do it? Available on DVD through the Disney Store. —Mara Allen
Elf: I would consider the movie Elf to be my favorite Christmas movie. I watch it every year because I just find it hilarious and just overall a good movie to watch! Available on Starz and for rental on other streaming sites. —Kianna Bulin
Jingle All the Way: Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad, this film is a fantastic example of how late-term capitalism can tear apart a family, especially during the holidays. Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a successful businessman who forgets to buy his son the one thing he wants for Christmas, a Turboman doll. On his quest to find the most popular toy in the whole country, he meets a deranged mailman played by Sinbad, who wants to help Arnold. Wacky hijinks ensue from that point on. Available to rent from Amazon and other streaming sites. —Gabe Butler
The Nightmare Before Christmas: Two students recommended this film, which is available on Disney+ and for rent on several other streaming sites:
How the Grinch Stole Christmas: A beloved Christmas movie that’s about Christmas being for everyone and how joy comes from being with the people you love, not the materialistic gifts that one gives and gets. The character of the Grinch is a source of comedy as well, which will keep you laughing and loving the grumpy character as he goes through a “change of heart” about what the true meaning of Christmas is. Available on Netflix and for rental elsewhere. —Jasmine Hanson
The Man Who Invented Christmas: Celebrated Victorian author Charles Dickens was riding high on the success of his bestselling novel Oliver Twist, but his three subsequent books were all major flops. Since he’s spent himself into debt renovating his London townhouse, he has to write another bestseller before his creditors come calling. His publishers are demanding a Christmas novel, and he’s all over the idea. There’s just one problem: He has a raging case of writer’s block. Based on the true story of how Dickens came to write A Christmas Carol, this film is a warm, fuzzy delight. If you’re at all familiar with the main beats of the holiday classic novel, you’ll be entranced by the story inspiration Dickens finds all throughout this lovely film. Starring Downton Abbey‘s Dan Stevens as Charles Dickens and Christopher Plummer as the Scrooge who’s slowly taking shape in his imagination. Available to rent from Amazon and other streaming sites. —Professor Tracy Fernandez Rysavy
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York: Home Alone 2 is my favorite holiday movie. It is a laughter-filled movie yet also heartwarming in certain points. Watching Kevin defeat the bandits is hilarious. Available on Disney+ and for rental on other streaming sites. —Hailey Miller
Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey: Featuring a predominantly Black cast, including Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker, Jingle Jangle serves up a steampunk holiday tale about a jaded toymaker (Whitaker) whose heart grows three sizes after a visit from his sweet little granddaughter. Also starring Anika Noni Rose (aka Princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog), Puerto Rican music star Ricky Martin, and comedian Keegan-Michael Key. Now available on Netflix. —Professor Tracy Fernandez Rysavy
If you’re not into holiday cheer, how about a dark and creepy psychological suspense? The tragically underrated Darling Jim begins with Dublin mailman Niall discovering the diary of one of the three Walsh sisters, two of whom were recently found dead, along with their aunt, in their home. As Niall delves into Fiona Walsh’s journal, he becomes wrapped up in how itinerant storyteller Jim Quick came to their Dublin suburb, enveloping local audiences in his seductive charisma.
There’s a reason the English solve just about any problem, in part, with a cup of tea. A warm beverage can often soothe stress and worry, at least a little.
Looking for answers?!? Wondering how in the world the world got to the place we’re in? You need History/Humanities 102, Western Civilization from 1500 to the Present, a wild romp through the history of the Western World from the time of Martin Luther to the present! Read and learn about the Reformation, the 30 Years’ War, the Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment, the emergence of the modern nation-state, expansion to the Americas, the American and French Revolutions, the development of the modern urban-industrial society, nationalism, romanticism, two World Wars, and more! How did we get to where we are today? Come and find out! HIST/HUM 102 will be a hybrid course on the Marinette campus.
THE 211: World Theatre and Performance is an introduction to the performing arts through multiple global perspectives. Key genres and styles emerging from Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Europe will be studied in depth by examining performance traditions as they transform in relation to changing historical and social conditions.
BUS ADM 202: Business and Its Environment examines the major components of the business enterprise and its resources, competitive and regulatory environment, pricing, profit, finance planning, controls, ethics, environmental impact, social responsibility and other important concepts, as well as environmental issues that challenge the business leader.
