A Holiday I Do Will Do

A Holiday I Do is the kind of smirk-inducing sugary optimism that risks causing diabetes. However, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Clearly aimed at audiences looking for a little corny romance, this rom-com is almost a cob. Those who sink their teeth in won’t find anything gritty to crack a tooth, but be forewarned, A Holiday I Do never rises above formulaic confines.

The story opens with Jane McSurely on a disastrous speed dating excursion. Played by Lindsay Hicks, she was pushed into the event by her mother Mary Ellen. It seems Jane’s ex-husband, Mark, will be in town soon to marry his new wife, Heather. Although the divorcees have remained best friends, literally everyone in town seems worried Jane hasn’t moved on as well as her ex. Christmas around the corner, managing her family’s horse farm, and navigating duties as best woman, Jane is too frazzled to look for love. That is until she meets wedding planner, Sue, played by Rivkah Reyes.

Meanwhile, a myriad other subplots populate A Holiday I Do. There’s Jane’s daughter’s difficulty figuring out how to interact with Heather, her future stepmom. The realization that the horse farm is financially in danger. Foreclosure is looming without hope in sight. Not to mention, Heather is a bit of a bridezilla constantly watching her careful plans fall apart due to unexpected blizzards and comical mishaps.

It’s easy to get sarcastic about a plot that can be described as lesbian horse farmer looking for love at Christmas. I often found myself reminded of the pulp fiction collection “The Big Book of Lesbian Horse Stories”, but the narrative is no more ridiculous than any other rom-com. What makes A Holiday I Do work is that the material, even when tongue in cheek, is taken relatively seriously. The whole point is to remain lighthearted and detached from grim reality. In that respect, it succeeds.

Lindsay Hicks does a marvelous job throughout this film. Her performance is lovably awkward and often charmingly genuine. She also possesses wonderful comedic timing. I not only enjoyed a scene where she’s practicing pickup lines to use on Sue, I intend to steal a few.

And as for her potential paramour, Rivkah Reyes does an interesting job of being Jane’s opposite. There’s a delightful ineptness to their burgeoning romance as Sue needs to take the reins. Rivkah does an admirable job being more poised and bolder than the clumsy Jane. It’s only when a plot twist forces the character to overreact that the performance falters. That said, the genuinely hostile anger needed in the moment might have risked cracking the lighthearted façade, so it makes sense that Sue’s fieriness kind of fails to come across.

The rest of the cast usually keeps A Holiday I Do running smoothly. Occasionally, there’s a stilted manner of delivery, however, it fits the formula of these kind of films. Granted, it makes people seem slightly inhuman, such as the interactions between main characters and the Givens family, especially Mr. Givens played by Dale Dobson. Still, it’s expected in these kinds of movies, so it’s hard to critique. After all, part of the comedy in this genre of rom-com is the bad acting.

Jill Larson as Jane’s mother Mary Ellen is fine, especially in moments between characters. Although, I can’t say it ever really seemed like she and Lindsay Hicks had a mother-daughter chemistry. They sometimes felt more like good neighbors than family members. Joe Piazza as Mark never ruins a scene, though he rarely adds much. Marsha Warfield of Night Court fame does an excellent job of being a rough around the edges, yet gold-hearted, banker.

One of the delightful things about A Holiday I Do is the way certain subplots are softly resolved. Character interactions lead to implications of issues being taken care of more than monologues dumping that development into the story. For instance, at risk of spoilers, Jane’s daughter Lexi’s uncertainty about how to interact with future stepmom Heather. There’s an excellent scene in a motel room where the two end up sharing a burger that oddly enough says a great deal about their blossoming relationship, especially as they laugh together for the first time. And such scenes pepper the whole picture.

Directors Paul Schneider and Alicia Schneider (Just Another Dream) don’t take too many cinematic risks. There are a few times when stylization tries to enhance a moment. For example, when Jane feels off kilter after a particular encounter the camera angle is tilted. Yet overall, A Holiday I Do sticks to simple delivery of a straightforward script by writer Melinda Bryce. Cinematography by Jack Swanson captures the color palette of holiday pictures. Shades stay warm even when dark while bright vibrant hues give A Holiday I Do the storybook quality such movies strive for. At a glance, it’s easy to identify this as a Christmas picture.

Most of the comedy lands. Jokes which miss aren’t so much unfunny as simply too weak to stir a smile. Jane’s repeated pratfalls provide a running gag that would serve well during a drinking game. Yet, this isn’t a gut busting laugh a minute movie so much as a steady grin.

The main weakness of A Holiday I Do is that the film is formulaic. Granted, LGBTQ individuals have been woefully left out of the lead in such romcoms. (And it’s good to know 10% of producer’s proceeds will go to benefit The Trevor Project). Yet, the movie doesn’t do anything unique with that element or any other aspect of its story. There’s also something creepy about how the whole town is devoted to slyly making sure this one person finds love, though it’s not uncommon in the subgenre. Consider The Baker’s Son (2021).

Those in search of a wholesome holiday film will find a wonderfully LGBTQ friendly romcom. There’s even space for cynical naysayers to sit back sipping white wine while rolling their eyes at romance. Although A Holiday I Do doesn’t do anything new, it blends perfectly with the herd.