Christmas movies tend to be a dime a dozen, with a constant refresh year after year, it is very hard to gauge which ones will stick. Whether or not Happiest Season has the staying power, it packs an emotional punch that is not to be expected from a holiday family comedy. At its highest level, Happiest Season is another paint-by-numbers, coming home for Christmas tale, with the added dilemma of a gay couple coming out to their family. The film feels familiar, and while not necessarily a bad thing, the predictable plot plays to its detriment. Director and writer Clea DuVall tells the story in an emotionally binding way; she really does a good job conveying some of the claustrophobic feelings that the couple is going through. Happiest Season is really an exposé of the “ideal” family, wrapped in a Christmas skin, and while it is not perfect, it definitely deserves viewers’ attention.

Abby (Kristen Stewart) and Harper (Mackenzie Davis) are living their best life; young, happy, and in love. As Christmas time rolls around, Harper decides to invite Abby to her parent’s home, even though the former has not come out to her family. Posing as roommates for the weekend, the couple tries to navigate a crazy holiday while hiding their relationship. The family is going through a stressful time, as parents Ted (Victor Garber) and Tipper (Mary Steenburgen), are prepping for an upcoming election and sisters Sloane (Alison Brie) and Jane (Mary Holland) only add to the family drama. Abby struggles with Harper’s inability to come out to her family, and she finds relief in new and old friends, including John (Dan Levy) and Riley (Aubrey Plaza).

With such a cluttered cast of characters, DuVall does well in centering the story around Abby and Harper. Everyone else plays an impactful role, ranging from comedic relief to needless drama, but the film always asks the same question: How does this impact our main characters’ relationship? The chemistry between this crowded billing is actually pretty good, as most character interactions feel authentic, something that really drives home the more impactful scenes. Levy, in a minor role, steals the show late in the movie with a moving speech, and Stewart and Davis show some real chemistry working together. Even Steenburgen is full of hilarious backhanded comments and Holland (who also is a co-writer) excels at the “in your face” humor.

Unfortunately, there seems to be just a bit too much unnecessary drama for the sake of, well, drama. It makes the film feel a bit bloated, and it is almost like these classic tropes were forced. Happiest Endings had a chance to really be a unique and special movie, and while it comes close, it may be hard for this one to stand out amongst the crowd. Luckily, the payoff is significant during the last 30 minutes, and the movie seems to fly by in those final moments. Movie goers shouldn’t expect anything groundbreaking, but Happiest Endings is definitely a film to put on the holiday checklist.