HAPPIEST SEASON

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NOTE: This spoiler was submitted by Jeremy

The film opens with a couple, Abby Holland (Kristen Stewart) and Harper Caldwell (Mackenzie Davis), going on a Christmas tour around the neighborhood, but they don’t appear to enjoy it. Christmas is especially sore for Abby ever since she lost her parents. The two hang out on a rooftop where they discuss Harper going to visit her family for the holidays while Abby has to petsit. They are made to get off the roof by an angry tenant who is doing a weird S&M thing with a guy dressed as a reindeer. Abby and Harper run into an alley where they laugh and kiss.

Abby changes her mind about staying home and tells Harper she wants to join her and meet her family, to which she agrees. Abby goes out with her friend John (Daniel Levy) to a jewelry store where Abby is trying to pick out a ring to propose to Harper with. John disagrees with the idea, but Abby is sure she wants to marry Harper. John also agrees to stay behind to look after the pets in Abby’s place.

The couple heads out for the trip, but on the way there, Harper admits to Abby that she previously lied about telling her very conservative family that she is gay and has a girlfriend. Harper tries to assure Abby that it will not be a problem, but asks her to keep quiet about their relationship and pretend that she is Harper’s straight roommate, which makes Abby uncomfortable, but she accepts. They arrive at the Caldwell home and meet Harper’s mom Tipper (Mary Steenburgen), who boasts about being on social media to gain awareness for her husband’s campaign as mayor. They then meet Harper’s second eldest sister Jane (Mary Holland), who is eccentric and constantly brings up Harper telling them that Abby is an orphan. Abby also meets their father Ted (Victor Garber).

The family takes Abby and Harper out for dinner, where they are blindsided by Harper’s ex-boyfriend Connor (Jake McDorman) showing up, as it appears that Tipper wants them to get back together. Abby and Harper go to the bathroom to get some alone time, only to run into Harper’s OTHER ex, Riley Johnson (Aubrey Plaza). Ted and Tipper notice Riley’s parents, with whom they are friends, and they comment on Riley’s “lifestyle choice”.

In the morning, Abby meets Harper’s weird twin niece and nephew Matilda and Magnus (Asiyih and Anis N’Dobe), who complain about Abby sleeping where they normally sleep. Abby then meets the kids’ mother, Harper’s oldest sister Sloane (Alison Brie), who acts like she’s better than her sisters. She is married to Eric (Burl Moseley), who also makes Abby uncomfortable when he suggests her hands are too dry. Abby then joins the sisters and Eric as they go ice skating. Harper and Sloane get competitive and try to outskate each other while Jane records. They end up crashing into other people.

Abby is asked to take a family Christmas photo, but Tipper is critical of all of the shots that come out. She later joins the Caldwells later that night for a party with potential campaign sponsors such as Harry Levin (Ana Gasteyer). Abby feels awkward there since Harper goes to mingle with old friends and acquaintances, including Connor. She ends up talking to Riley for a bit before everyone listens to Ted give a big speech.

While everyone is sleeping, Harper sneaks to Abby’s room to sleep with her. The next morning, Harper hides when her parents go check on Abby. While the family is doing other errands, Abby is left to watch Matilda and Magnus. She takes them to the mall where she sees Carolyn McCoy (Sarayu Blue), whom she met at the party the night before. Although Abby tries to approach her politely, Carolyn is a bit dodgy. When Abby leaves the store, the alarm goes off because the twins snuck a necklace in her bag. She is interrogated by mall security but is ultimately let go. However, things are awkward when she gets home now that Harper’s family thinks she’s a shoplifter. Abby defends herself to Harper, but she still tries to keep Abby away from an upcoming dinner to spare the family from embarrassment, although she wants to hang out with Abby after the dinner.

During the dinner, Abby goes out into town and finds Riley. They go to a drag bar where they have a few drinks, chat, and even sing along with the performers until Harper texts Abby to hang out. Abby joins Harper and her friends at a bar, only to find Connor there, which prompts Abby to go home. When Harper is leaving, Connor asks her if there was somebody else when they were dating, but Harper insists there wasn’t.

The next day, Abby and Harper argue after Abby brings up her spending time with Connor, with Harper claiming that she is annoying her by keeping tabs on her. Abby counters that she is tired of having to hide from her family. She then calls John to vent to him and ask for a ride back home since an Uber back would cost her $1000.

Harper and Jane go pick up wine for the family’s White Elephant Christmas party, while Abby hangs out with Riley, which Harper notices. The Caldwells host the party that night, where Abby continues to hang out with Riley, who mentions that she was frustrated with Harper because she could never be open about who she was and who she loved. This is made worse by Connor showing up at the party and Harper continues to talk to him. John then show up to the house since he was tracking Abby, and he offers to give her a ride home. Abby tells Harper she is done and goes to get her stuff. Harper goes to comfort her, and Sloane walks in on them in a romantic embrace. She prepares to go tell her parents as Harper chases her and begs her to not say anything. They come across a closet where Eric and Carolyn are making out. Sloane apparently knew about this and tells Eric they weren’t going to go public with this until later. Harper and Sloane then start fighting until it goes into the party. Sloane blurts out that Harper is a lesbian and that Abby is her girlfriend, but when Harper declares that it’s a lie, Abby leaves tearfully with John. Harper then takes a large painting that Jane made and smashes it over Sloane’s head, which leaves Jane distraught. The sisters fight until their parents break them up.

Outside, Abby is getting ready to leave until John talks to her. He asks her about what her parents said when she came out to them, and she says they were supportive. John says his father kicked him out of the house and didn’t speak to him for 13 years after he came out, so he just wants to assure Abby that some families have their own way of supporting their children. Back at the Caldwell house, Ted chastises his daughters for their behavior. As Abby is going back to get her stuff, Harper finally admits to her family that she is indeed gay and that she is in love with Abby, but Abby tells her that it’s too late for that. Sloane then admits to her family that she and Eric are getting a divorce, which she feels like she couldn’t talk to her parents about because she thinks Ted only cares how her family (an interracial couple with biracial kids) looks for his campaign. Jane says she doesn’t have any secrets but has always struggled to feel like she fits in with the family. Ted leaves the room but Tipper goes to admit some personal secrets to him because she feels bad that their daughters couldn’t be honest with them.

Abby and John have driven to a gas station, but Harper finds them there since she also learned to track Abby with John’s help. She apologizes to Abby for everything she had to deal with and reaffirms her love for her. Abby forgives her and they kiss.

On Christmas morning, the twins apologize to Abby after admitting that they were the ones who put the necklace in her bag. Ted then comes downstairs to admit to his family that he also has secrets and insecurities because he was worried that his family wouldn’t be proud of him. They tell him that they are always proud of him regardless of the campaign. As the family continues to celebrate, Ted gets a call from Harry saying that she will help sponsor his campaign if he can get Harper to keep her private life out of the media, but Ted refuses and tells Tipper they will find someone else for help. Tipper then has John take the family picture for them, with Abby being included.

One year later on the next Christmas, the family gathers at a book store to see Jane reading from her new best-selling fantasy book. It is also shown that Abby and Harper have gotten engaged. Afterward, the family goes to the theater to watch “It’s a Wonderful Life”, where Abby and Harper look at each other lovingly.

During the credits, we see Tipper’s Instagram posts that reveal Ted won the campaign for mayor, and she has taken up karate lessons.


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Abby and Harper are a couple who deeply love each other, but when Abby joins Harper to visit her family for the holidays, Harper admits that she hasn't told her conservative family that she is gay and dating a woman. Abby is uncomfortable with having to hide their love but agrees to do it for Harper's sake, since her father Ted is running a campaign for mayor. Abby meets Ted and Harper's mom Tipper, as well as Harper's older sisters, Sloane and Jane.

Harper's family makes things hard for Abby since Sloane is dismissive of everyone else and her own kids get Abby in trouble at the mall when they sneak a necklace into her bag and get her accused of shoplifting. Harper's ex-boyfriend Connor also keeps popping up, while Abby starts to hang out with Harper's ex-girlfriend Riley.

During a White Elephant Christmas party, Abby is prepared to go home with her friend John until Harper tries to talk to her, and Sloane catches them in a romantic embrace. She prepares to tell their parents until Abby and Harper find Sloane's husband Eric having an affair with another woman since he and Sloane are already preparing for divorce. The sisters fight until Sloane outs Harper to the family, but Harper denies it, which breaks Abby's heart. After the party, Harper officially comes out to her parents, while Sloane admits to the divorce, and Jane expresses her feelings of being left out of the family. Ted and Tipper realize that they have put pressure on their kids over their own issues. Harper then goes to find Abby where they reconcile.

One year later, Jane has become a best-selling author, Ted wins his run for mayor, and Abby and Harper are engaged.