Single All The Way: 5 things to love about this gay holiday film

Over the past several years, the holiday period has treated the gays to a Christmas movie delight. Last year it was Hulu’s Happiest Season (two thumbs up!) and this year Netflix rolled out the red carpet for Single All The Way. Starring Michael Urie as Peter, Philemon Chambers as Nick, and Luke MacFarlane as James, Single All The Way is as sweet as a sugar cookie. 

Set in the tiny town of Bridgewater, New Hampshire, it’s the story of Peter – perpetually single and the center of concern for his all too doting family – and Nick – the ruggedly handsome best friend that no one can understand why he isn’t the boyfriend. 

Ya can see it coming a mile off. The clueless dumbasses are – SPOILER ALERT – going to end up together at the end of this cupcake romcom. The predictability of this plot: friends-who-don’t-want-to-ruin-their-friendship-to-lovers is exactly what the hellstorm of 2021 needed. It’s a serve of sugary, sweet goodness with no heartache, and no cringey, facepalm moments. So get your happy on, celebrate love, and come with us as we journey through the five best things about Single All The Way

1. Homophobia, what?

Perhaps one of the most delightful aspects of this Christmas love-fest is the distinct absence of homophobia. It’s not casually present, it’s not intentionally present, and it’s just not present. The gay men in this movie are not an abnormality, they are not presented as the “other” … they just are. 

The queer community has been begging the film and television industry to give us the representation we deserve that normalizes our presence without including us as something that exists on the periphery. The ability to see the queer community on screen in such a way that doesn’t require characters to explain their existence or defend their right to exist is very, very rare in Hollywood. Single All The Way may not be the next Oscar nominee, but it certainly is making this headway for the community. There is not even so much as a curious glance or a turned-up nose at any of the characters in this film. These boys are living their best gay lives in Bridgewater, New Hampshire and we are so very here for it all.

2. Dumbassery everywhere!

Sometimes, the ‘they’re-too-dumb-to-see-what’s-right-in-front-of-them trope is infuriating. This time, though, it is artfully done in such a way that it’s kind of endearing. The makers of this film got the recipe right! It’s just the perfect amount of cluelessness that leaves one cooing at the television rather than wanting to throw things at the wall. 

They really only keep up the “we don’t know we’re in love” charade for a short while though, which is possibly why it’s digestible. They move from clueless dumbasses to the kinds of dumbasses that are too afraid to rock their perfect friendship boat in a timely manner. Peter and Nick’s pit stop in this land of dumbassery is just long enough for one to question their own life choices should they also be presented with the same situation. 

By the time they arrive in the land of dumbasses in open love, you can’t help but give them both the standing ovation they deserve. Bravo!

3. The perfectly constructed love interest

What’s not to love about James? Gorgeous, sweet, and extremely mature, James is the yin to the yang of these idiots-in-love. Some people might say that it’s Peter’s family that is ultimately responsible for bringing Peter and Nick together in the end, but we here actually hold James entirely responsible for this. 

It wasn’t until Peter was failing to really have “the feelings” for perfect James did he allow himself to pause and ask himself: hey dumbass, don’t ya think there might be a reason why you aren’t into this amazing dude in front of you? James seemed to sense Peter’s heart belonged to another right from the beginning, and very maturely helped guide Peter to the place he ought to be.

There was no scheming, no deception, and no trying to trick Peter into being with James instead. We stan this very adult representation of two people (well, three) navigating the realities of dating today. 

4. The Christmas vibe

They absolutely freaking nailed it! The gorgeous, snowy small town, the Christmas tree debacle, the eccentric aunt, and the family-produced Christmas’ pageant – it’s all just very, very good. In a time where so many people have struggled to maintain normalcy and happiness over the past two years, this wholesome movie depicting a family vibing their way through the holidays was the dose of medicine we didn’t know we needed. 

5. The predictability was enjoyable

Call us crazy, but the predictable plot actually was a point of enjoyment in this film. Because viewers are able to pick up on what is going to happen pretty easily, this aspect opens up space for people to enjoy the other aspects of the film that we’ve already mentioned. 

There is a time and place for everything, and while we are all about pushing the social envelope, we feel that Netflix read the room this year and pushed just the right things in the right dose with this film. 

While this isn’t a title that we’re going to put into our Netflix rotation of constant rewatches, we will definitely add it to our Christmas movies playlist and give it another look-in next year. 

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Single All The Way is available to stream on Netflix now! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for all queer stuff!