Netflix And Chill: Single All The Way (2021)

Thanks to a gradual easing open of the gates over the past year or so, Christmas movies can now be tailored to include main characters representing the LGBTQ+ community. Because, as all of us were already aware, a love story between two people can play out in very similar ways, no matter what the genders or sexual preferences of those involved. In fact, the pleasant surprise is that these movies already seem to play out a bit funnier, a bit smarter, and with more resonance than some of the many other movies that retread the well-worn, and enjoyable, snow-covered paths that we visit every year at this time.

After another disastrous episode in his love life, Peter (Michael Urie) convinces his best friend, Nick (Philemon Chambers), to join him as he visits his family for the Christmas holidays. The plan is to pretend that the two have finally committed to a relationship with one another. Nick is already well-known to the family, and already well-liked. Things change quickly, however, when it turns out that Peter's mother, Carole (Kathy Najimy), has set up a blind date between her son and a handsome new resident of their small town (James, played by Luke Macfarlane). Peter and James actually get along very well, but everyone else can see that the real love story to root for is one between Peter and Nick. Everyone can see it apart from Peter and Nick themselves.

Although it can be comforting to see Christmas movies made by people who have long spent their time working under that seasonal umbrella, there are many films all the better for being made by people less inclined to feel beholden to every trope and story beat. That's the case here, with neither director Michael Mayer nor writer Chad Hodge having broken in their snow shoes throughout their careers. Both know exactly what is needed, because viewers watch these movies with certain expectations, but they fill the journey to the predictable ending with plenty of fun little surprises (from moments of humour that are genuinely funny, a great selection of references, and a cameo appearance from a singer known best for expletive-laden covers of popular hit songs).

It helps a lot that this is cast well, but that's not to undermine the great work done by Mayer and Hodge, with the latter treating almost every cast member to at least one great moment. Urie is a likeable lead, playing up his haplessness at times, and doing well with the comedic moments he has while being blindsided and frustrated by how things unfold around him. Chambers is really sweet, the kind of unselfish and good-natured soul that needs to eventually be seen for the great love he could be by our central character. Macfarlane is handsome and nice, and I have enjoyed seeing a few Christmas movies this year that have allowed other characters to become potential obstacles to true love without being complete douchebags. Najimy is a very cool and accepting mom, matched by Barry Bostwick as Peter's father, the latter happy to just say outright what others are thinking during the first half of the movie. Jennifer Coolidge is the overly dramatic Aunt Sandy, the role is perfect for her and she even gets to deliver a meta-statement about how gay people seem to love her, and Melanie Leishman and Jennifer Robertson portray sisters with different levels of nerviness. Madison Brydges and Alexandra Beaton also get to stand out, playing two teenagers who more actively plot to start pushing Peter and Nick to see what they actually have between them.

I often justify my ratings of Christmas movies by reminding people that I rate them AS Christmas movies. A good Christmas movie isn't necessarily the same as a good movie. I'm sure people are tired of me underlining that point. Single All The Way is a good Christmas movie, but it's also actually just a good movie. It may not be quite as good as Happiest Season, the film that came along last year to remind everyone that gay people also like some Christmas cheer, but it's very enjoyable.

7/10

P.S. Here is a huge list of every Christmas movie I have ever reviewed, either here or over at Flickfeast.

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Stage Fright (2014)

If you don't think that musical numbers can enhance a comedy slasher movie then you should run off right now to watch, and enjoy, The Legend Of Beaver Dam. It's a short film written and directed by Jerome Sable, with help in the music/lyrics department from Eli Batalion.

Stage Fright allows the two to stretch out the weird juxtaposition of bombastic tunes and copious amounts of bloodshed. It provides some amusement, but ultimately just ends up proving that the short film form was the best way to package this material.

After a great performance in The Haunting Of The Opera, a starlet named Kylie Swanson (Minnie Driver) is violently murdered by a masked killer. Fast forward many years later and we are introduced to a bunch of characters looking forward to some time in that most traditional of slasher movie settings, the summer camp. This particular camp is overseen by Roger McCall (Meat Loaf), the ex-boyfriend of Kylie. There are also two camp workers (Camilla, played by Allie McDonald, and Buddy, played by Douglas Smith) who happen to be the children of Kylie. The summer camp is focused on musical theatre, and I think you can guess what their big production is going to be for this year. And a masked killer strikes again as Camilla decides to try her luck and audition for the main role.

Thanks to a strong opening sequence, followed by a musical number that features some highly amusing lyrics, Stage Fright looks like it could be bloody good fun. As long as you know what you're in for then you can sit back and expect to enjoy yourself. Unfortunately, it starts to slide downhill quickly, trudging through a fairly redious middle section and then on to an unexciting and uninspired climax. Any supposed shocks in the third act are entirely predictable, although I do suspect that Sable made them that way on purpose, an extra joke about the standard slasher movie template. Elsewhere, the non-musical moments are tiresome, none of the characters stand out (not even any of the leads), and the song lyrics (once more crafted with help from Batalion) quickly become quite bland and unfunny.

Meat Loaf isn't too bad in his role, but he's one of the few highlights. He brings a bit more personality to any role he plays, of course, and this helps him to overcome the weakness of the script. McDonald and Smith don't fare so well, although they both have at least one scene each in which they show the potential to be better. And Brandon Uranoqitz, Ephraim Ellis, Kent Nolan and Melanie Leishman all blur in to one big mass of potential summer camp corpses.

Some of the kills are fun and I'm still not completely against the idea of a slasher movie that mixes such differing musical styles for comedic results. I just hope that the next time this is attempted, IF it is attempted again, the end result is a big improvement.

4/10

http://www.amazon.com/Stage-Fright-Blu-ray-Minnie-Driver/dp/B00JVFRH7E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420398308&sr=8-2&keywords=stage+fright

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