A dark rom-com using the winter holidays as a backdrop touching on some social taboos that are still relevant today. Sign me up!

This isn’t your Hallmark Channel holiday movie with a recycled storyline.  This one includes complexity of human relations, the mind and heart working in conflict, something that is lacking in many of the formulaic romantic comedies of the past 25 years.  (Netflix is helping to change things, though!)

Jack Lemmon (“Glengarry Glen Ross,” “Grumpy Old Men,” “Some Like it Hot”) leads as C.C. Baxter, a lovable push-around who rents an apartment close enough to his job where his company’s Veeps can carry on with their winter seasonal extramarital affairs. Baxter’s neighbors suspect him to be some sort of chauvinistic playboy, but nah. He’s merely playing the peacock role to assist people in positions of power who lead double lives and hurt others in he process. Doh! 🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️

Shirley MacLaine (one of my RVA boos who also stars in “Steel Magnolias,” “Terms of Endearment,” and “The Trouble with Harry”) stars as Fran Kubelik, an elevator operator in the busy  New York City office building where Baxter works.  Baxter’s taken a real liking to her over time and got up the nerve to ask her out. She rejects him, and then the folly ensues…

Technical stuff:

Masterful framing by the cinematographer and spot on editing, especially at the climax of the film—Kubelik pulls out the broken mirror for Baxter to adjust his new bowler hat in his office.

It’s incredible to see how societal norms have changed—for one, a doctor’s house call, depending on S.E.S. this is pretty much unheard of nowadays. #telemedicine #brickandmortaroffices Secondly, the remedy the doctor used to stabilize Kubelik would definitely be reported as abuse today. 

Also, there’s a culture of stark patriarchal, white collar male gaze and women being used as props at the whim of men throughout this film. Sort of like the three triplets fawning over Gaston in “The Beauty and the Beast” contrasted with Belle paying him absolutely no mind at all. That’s Kubelik compared to some of the other supporting female characters in the film.

There is some diversity in the strength and judgement calls of women characters: the secretary disclosing to her boss’ wife that he’s having an affair and subsequently leaving her position with pride for doing so; Kubelik coming to terms with her relationship with an adulterer and reflecting on her mental stability. MacLaine showcases Kubelik’s vulnerabilities in a powerful, compelling way.  It’s relatable and a constant reminder that the holidays really effing suck.