My Top Three This Week CHRISTMAS EDITION
Greetings to all my semi-constant readers. My favorite time of year and if you are like me, you need a little Christmas right this very minute. For the whole immersive experience check out all of my favorites so far and light the tree, get the spiked eggnog and soak it all up.
1) At the top of my list is Dash & Lily a clever limited series on Netflix directed by Fred Savage ( The Wonder Years) . New York features prominently in the story of Dash who finds a notebook at The Strand with a dare from a mysterious girl (Lily) This starts as a fun game as they write in the notebook and share their dreams and hopes and dare each other to step out of their comfort zones. They leave the notebook in various places around the city with clues about themselves. Did I mention that Lily loves Christmas and Dash is cynic about the holiday. This is such a well written series it could have taken place any time of year but Christmas just makes it better. The cast is great but Austin Abrams and Midori Francis are so engaging as Dash and Lily I could see a season two next Christmas.
2) Happiest Season a Hulu original is funny , heartbreaking and a refreshing change from the flood of cookie cutter holiday movies. Kristen Stewart's Abby is going home with her girlfriend Harper (Mackenzie Davis) to spend Christmas with her family. As they near the family home , Abby discovers that Harper has not come out as a lesbian to her family and asks Abby to hide their relationship. Abby soon finds out that Harper has a very dysfunctional family and ends up in a series of misunderstandings with the family and townspeople.Written and directed by Clea DuVall it feels like a real story and the cast is all-star. Mary Steenburgen, Victor Garber, Alison Brie, Aubrey Plaza , Jake McDorman and Ana Gasteyer. But Dan Levy as her best friend John is perfect "My Best Friend's Wedding" casting.
3) Holidate a Netflix Original is the kind of wacky Christmas concept that is a perfect rom com with a holiday flair. Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey as Sloane and Jackson ,two single disillusioned people who make a pact to be each other's holidates for a year at every event . It seems like the perfect idea as they become closer and closer and keep it light and easy. But eventually real feelings emerge and it becomes apparent that they might actually care for each other. Nobody does snark like Roberts and it is fun to see her in a holiday movie. Some favorites like Kristin Chenowith as her crazy aunt and Frances Fisher as her mom.
Christmas Bonus: Mariah is here to save 2020 with her HBO Max Christmas special on Apple+ TV- Mariah Carey's Magical Christmas Special. It is exactly what we needed right now. She has never looked or sounded better. Chock full of costume changes and quickly moving set changes there is never any down time. She has some great vocal moments and surprise guests like Billy Eichner and Snoop Dogg but the highlight is her fabulous performance of Oh Santa with Ariana Grande and Jennifer Hudson.
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