Hallmark’s “The Holiday Sitter” is what I wanted to see back when they announced their “first” gay holiday film: a holiday film that was mainly about a gay holiday romance. Even though it’s full of all the same holiday romcom cliches and storylines, THIS is what I wanted back in 2020. And while we had to wait another two years, it was absolutely worth it! “The Holiday Sitter” is one of my go-do queer holiday films each year. One that ticks all the boxes for what I expect AND it brings that perfect amount of queer holiday joy. Let’s break down why “The Holiday Sitter” is a success!
Synopsis of “The Holiday Sitter”
Sam Dalton is a successful but lonely business manager unsuccessful in romance, or even second dates. This year, he has booked a Hawaiian Christmas, his first holiday away from the craziness of New York City in years. His sister, Kathleen, on the other hand, is the “successful” sibling when it comes to romance and family. With a loving husband, their two children, Miles and Dania, and a beautiful home in a small-town city, they’re expecting another addition to the family. Except the birth mother of the child they’re adopting has gone into labour early! So four days before Christmas as Sam is packing for his summer holiday, his sister calls in a last-minute favor: babysit her kids!
Except Sam is not the “best” babysitter. The last time they asked him to babysit, he set the kitchen on fire! However despite his lack of understanding of suburbia or the desire to live there instead of the city, Sam gives in and agrees to watch his niece and nephew until their parent’s return with their new child. While Sam travels north to take on his gay uncle duties, Kathleen and Nate leave their neighbor Jason Devito to watch the kids until Sam arrives. And Kathleen has left strict instructions for Sam to follow to avoid any more catastrophes!
But Sam is not off to a great start. He oversleeps, and is unable to order vegan breakfast from the shop. So he calls in some extra help: Jason, who had offered to help out if needed thinking it would be something simple. But instead of helping Sam cook, Sam pays Jason to make the breakfast instead and a deal is struck. After all, with six siblings himself and uncle to eighteen nieces and nephews, Jason knew how to handle “uncle duties”! Impressed by how smoothly Jason handled everything and realising he’s already in over his head, Sam offers to hire Jason on as an “uncle consultant”. Of course, Jason agrees – and subtly makes a comment that makes Sam do a double take upon realizing that Jason is also gay!
Over the next few days, Jason helps Sam navigate through various hurdles with Miles and Dania. All while his Hawaiian trip keeps getting pushed further and further back. Meanwhile, Jason’s very nosey mother and family quickly catch on that there’s something brewing between the two boys! Slowly the unspoken attraction between Sam and Jason builds in their mock-family situation. It’s enough for Sam to seriously reconsider what he wants in life. However Jason isn’t quite sure that Sam is ready to commit, especially since Jason has already decided that he will be adopting by himself as he’s tired of waiting. It’s actually what led Jason to agree to be paid as a consultant.
Before long, Kathleen, Nate, and their father arrive back home with his newest niece late on Christmas Eve. However, since the agreement is now over, Jason leaves – leaving Sam rather heartbroken and in turmoil. When Christmas morning rolls around, Sam has finally accepted that not only does he really like Jason, be he likes him enough to want to be the type of guy Jason wants in a partner. And since this is a holiday romcom, Jason realizes that he cannot wait for Sam to get back from his holiday to confess that he likes Sam as well. Finally, with the entire families watching, Sam and Jason finally admit they like each other and share a romantic kiss to wrap up this festive queer holiday romcom!
The Not-So-Good
I actually have very little to say negatively about “The Holiday Sitter”. My biggest irk is the fact that Hallmark waited two entire years after announcing a gay holiday romcom before we got this wonderful film! And of course, if I really wanted to dig deep and break down things on surgical level, is this a “great” script? No. It’s certainly not an award-winning script. And because it’s a Hallmark film meant to be aired on TV with commercials, there are obvious commercial breaks built in that occasionally break the overall pace of the film.
But do I care? Absolutely not! I think that the positives in this first REAL gay holiday film from Hallmark are enough to easily overlook the clichés and issues of a TV movie.
The Good
I think the element I enjoy the most about “The Holiday Sitter” is the chemistry between Jonathan Bennett and George Krissa, Sam and Jason respectively. Both do an incredible job acting their roles. Jonathan is perfect as the sibling who cannot even manage to order out from a restaurant and is so inexperienced at cooking that he set the kitchen on fire. Of course he needs help, and he fully knows it! But that’s where George’s calm and calculated portrayal of Jason balances out the antics. Jason knows who he is and what he wants, and has even decided to adopt by himself because he’s tired of waiting for the perfect guy to create the happy family and home he envisions. Together, they make an incredible team and we get to watch a believable romance build on screen.
Another element that I quite enjoy is the underlying message about the importance of family. Of course that would be a key theme in any Hallmark film! This comes across in many ways. Kathleen and Nate are adopting another child (although we never learn why they have to adopt) to create an adopted family. Meanwhile the Devito’s are swarming with kids, nieces, nephews, partners and more! But there’s also a side story regarding Jason’s brother and how he’s trying to cope raising his daughter since losing her mother during the year. Even while it’s portrayed in various ways and settings, you truly get the message that family is important. And that being there for each other is part of what makes a loving family.
However what makes “The Holiday Sitter” so remarkable is that we finally get to watch Hallmark admit that yes, you can be gay and still have the same familial wants and ideals as the heterosexuals. Now, we don’t get anything more from our gay coupled other than a romantic first kiss at the end of the film, but that actually works best and leaves us on a positive and cheery note!
