Leah Meyer (Alook) loves Christmas with all her heart: the trees, the decorations, the eggnog. But being Jewish, she has only ever admired the festivities from afar. Though her family celebrates Hanukkah, Leah longs for a traditional Christmas. When her boyfriend, Graham (Roderick), invites her to spend the holidays with his quintessential Connecticut family, she enthusiastically accepts. You can watch this movie on Afdah Stream.
Leah is excited to enjoy the quintessential Christmas she has always dreamed of, but she quickly finds that fitting in with Graham's strict family and not-so-welcoming mother (Niven) is easier said than done. As Christmas traditions clash and awkward moments pile up, it's not quite the cozy Christmas she was hoping for.
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Leah and Graham are an inter-religious couple (gasp!) She is Jewish and loves Christmas, so the holiday is special because they get to know each other's families. Graham's youngest sister, Maddie, likes fish heads. She is also a lesbian, but the two are not interdependent. Maddie warns Leah that her parents are very fussy.
Leah brings Graham to her family's Hanukkah party and Graham helps her make latkes. Leah's mother is sad that her daughter won't be spending the holidays at home, but is willing to share Leah as long as she gets proposed to. (No pressure!!!!)
To prepare Leah for her parents and their demanding snobs, Graham asks Leah to write a letter to Santa Claus. She has no idea what she's getting herself into.
Barbara Niven plays the perfectionist mother who is ready to schedule and decorate. Mitchell is her doting husband, obsessed with apps (like phones). This is a good thing, since Leah is an app developer. Barbara distributes Christmas plans and Christmas pajamas. The family cringes as Leah furiously opens presents and tears the paper. Barb likes it when people open their presents neatly.
When it's time to decorate the tree, Barbara demands that the tree be cut into four equal parts and that the ornaments be spaced exactly four inches apart. Leah is hungry and needs something to eat, but there are no snacks in the house. When Barbara asks, her mother gives Leah some seaweed to snack on until dinner. She also tells Leah to dress better for dinner.