Here’s Where “Single All The Way” Rates In The Queer Holiday Movie Pantheon
On today's episode of BuzzFeed Daily, we broke down the top pop culture headlines AND discussed Single All the Way. You can listen below or scroll down to read more about the interview!
So let's dive right into it! Recently we talked to USA Today’s David Oliver about Netflix’s queer romcom Single All the Way. Here's an excerpt from our interview:
BuzzFeed Daily: So, David, you wrote a piece about Single All the Way for USA Today and we wanted to have you on to talk about it. In the last few years, Hollywood has finally started making some content created by and centered around queer people. This includes holiday movies like last year's Happiest Season and The Christmas House. In your opinion, how do you think Single All the Way stands out in the queer holiday pantheon?
David Oliver: This one feels like one of the first movies that's really geared toward and by queer people. I feel like watching this, I thought there were a lot of little jokes and little references and things that maybe weren't as common in other holiday films that we've seen. It was also way more joyful. While I think Happiest Season certainly had queer people behind it and starring in it, it definitely was more of a downer and still focused on this coming out story, where Single All the Way kind of erased that. We didn't have to go through that same kind of traumatic story again. We could just kind of have a cute little rom-com that wasn't trying to make a larger statement about anything beyond something more joyful.
BuzzFeed Daily: This movie is also special, because, according to The Hollywood Reporter, Philemon Chambers, who plays one of the leads, is the first Black actor to star in a queer holiday rom-com. Plus, all three gay male leads are played by gay men, and the movie was written by a gay man. While this might sound like a normal thing for a gay film, it's not that common. So how do you think that added to this film?
DO: I know, it's a shocking concept — actual queer people behind a queer movie. No, I think it definitely added to the sincerity behind the film and I think the authenticity was really there. That this is also the first Black person to star in the queer rom-com is obviously awful, too. The fact that we're having so many firsts right now is terrible. But I am glad that it's happening and that I thought everybody in this was really great and well-cast and it seemed to totally work. So, yeah, I'm really happy that it all happened.
BuzzFeed Daily: You actually got to speak to a few members of the cast about their experience working on the movie. Did they share any insight about what it meant to them to be able to tell this story?
![DO: I spoke to Philemon, Michael [Urie], and Kathy Najimy, who are all fantastic to speak with. Michael was talking about how he's done the coming out story before, and he's done stories about homophobia, and that while there's still a place for those, [he said] that it was nice to do something that was not about that, that it was by and for queer people. And that also he hopes that maybe a queer kid will be watching this at home and get some representation on screen that way. And Kathy Najimy, as someone who's done a lot of work for the LGBTQ community, I think it was really important and exciting for her to be a part of this as well. And that way. And for Philemon, obviously, he's new on the scene, but again, it's exciting for him to be a part of something really cool.](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/meU8rhGMDmJSw16c1Ja3.w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTQ3NA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/buzzfeed_articles_778/f133d4a5b144fc54f825857b7671c2d9)
DO: I spoke to Philemon, Michael [Urie], and Kathy Najimy, who are all fantastic to speak with. Michael was talking about how he's done the coming out story before, and he's done stories about homophobia, and that while there's still a place for those, [he said] that it was nice to do something that was not about that, that it was by and for queer people. And that also he hopes that maybe a queer kid will be watching this at home and get some representation on screen that way. And Kathy Najimy, as someone who's done a lot of work for the LGBTQ community, I think it was really important and exciting for her to be a part of this as well. And that way. And for Philemon, obviously, he's new on the scene, but again, it's exciting for him to be a part of something really cool.
BuzzFeed Daily: So it's time to talk about Jennifer Coolidge, who has been described as a gay icon. You know, the screenwriter Chad Hodge actually wrote the role of Sandy with her in mind. In my opinion, she was the best part of the film, but I am biased. I love her deeply. Did she become even more of a queer icon in your eyes because of this role?
DO: Definitely. I mean, she was already at such a level that it's hard to comprehend. I think I saw on Twitter somebody said that the line about Grindr in this movie really cemented her [status]. She's just so incredible to watch on screen. And, you know, Chad Hodge said that he never writes for a [specific] person and recommended people don't. But that with this, he broke his own rule and needed to include her, and he was right. Honestly, I don't think anybody else could have done what she did.
BuzzFeed Daily: I do think every gay screenwriter writes at least one role in the film for Jennifer Coolidge, and then it's just a matter of if she's available, right?
Netflix / Via tumgir.com
DO: Right, I feel like you kind of have to.
BuzzFeed Daily: All right, well, moving on, one of the big themes in your review is how this is a queer story that isn't about coming out or about not being accepted by your family or another kind of traumatic event. But rather it's just simply a rom-com about queer people. Do you think we're going to start to see even more TV and movies about queer stories that aren't traumatic?
DO: Yeah, generally I think that's where we're headed. I think that people are getting the message that this is sort of happening. I know Billy Eichner has this new movie coming out, Bros, which is exciting. There's a new Fire Island movie coming out, I believe with Bowen Yang, Matt Rogers, Joel Kim Booster, so many people, which I saw documented on Instagram, over the summer and was like, "Oh my God, I can't wait to see this."
So I think that it's definitely happening and more opportunities are coming. But I also don't think that we should all be resting on our laurels, either. I think that further talking about this and trying to make sure that we're also honoring people beyond just gay men, like queer women, trans people, non-binary. Someone told me this once, that there are so many letters and LGBTQ community that we have to make sure that we're honoring those as much as possible as well.