Deck the Walls

Synopsis:

Rose works as an interior designer in Chicago. When her brother, who is working on a project to renovate a house for the local council, faces budget cuts, he calls on Rose to help complete the project. Rose travels back home to Ohio to assist him, but this also means she has to work with her brother’s business partner, Brysen. And if that weren’t enough, she discovers that Brysen is living with her brother and aunt, meaning she also has to share a bathroom with him-a real challenge since she doesn’t like him at all. There’s a lot to handle, and not just the construction project.

Quick Thoughts:

At first glance, “Deck The Walls” was not on my radar for queer holiday films. However I’m starting to wonder if that was part intentional on Hallmark, because while it may not be the greatest addition to the queer holiday film oeuvre, this certainly is a queer Christmas film. The brother Sal is gay, although it’s not confirmed til the movie is almost over – about the same time that it’s revealed that video reporter Jake is also gay. The connection between these two guys is rather cute, even though we don’t even get a kiss out of what is clearly a budding potential relationship.

Taking a step back, I actually wonder if this is part intentional on Hallmark, in a means to almost disguise even more queer characters from marketing but sidelining the queer story and keeping it almost platonic in order to appease their rather religious and conservative audience. But whether intentional or not, “Deck The Walls” is a queer holiday film – and it’s not as cringeworthy as some of their other intentional queer films!