Single All the Way
Single All the Way
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Single All the Way is being called Netflix's first gay romantic comedy. The film has little sexual content or innuendo, but men kiss, one is discovered to be cheating on his wife with another man, and there are some topless male models. The LA gay community is a bit stereotyped in the way they interact with each other, but the film is also self aware in its humor ("Insta-gay," "don that gay apparel!"). Characters are racially diverse, including the main couple. Family is depicted as loving, supportive, and accepting. Lots of brand names are mentioned. Characters drink alcohol and one appears drunk in a scene. Language includes "crap," "damn," "screw him," "stupid," "Oh my God," "Jesus H. Christ," "fart," and "pee."
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Best Christmas movie of 2021. A real family with real people.
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What's the Story?
After yet another romantic break-up, Hollywood social media manager Peter (Michael Urie) talks housemate and best friend Nick (Philemon Chambers) into coming home with him for the holidays in SINGLE ALL THE WAY. Their plan to pretend to be a couple (to get Peter's family off his back) never takes off after Peter's mom (Kathy Najimy) announces she's set her son up on a blind date. Peter's surprised by what a catch the date, hunky trainer James (Luke Macfarlane), turns out to be, but his whole family starts scheming to get him and Nick together for real, once and for all.
Is It Any Good?
This romcom is pleasant, sweet, and wholesome, but also pretty immediately forgettable. Handsome, charismatic stars Michael Urie and Philemon Chambers play gay besties and housemates who discover they are actually in love in Single All the Way. There's a bit of funny snark at the film's opening, and some topical humor about the Homosexual Gay TV network (HGTV -- a "kind of" porn), or being an "Insta-gay," "guncle," and "FOMO-sexual." But once the men leave LA for small-town New Hampshire and Christmas holidays with their affluent and loving extended family, the film flattens out into formulaic blandness. It's like a Christmas cookie without the frosting.
Single All the Way looks and feels like other Netflix romcoms you've probably already seen, and the movie's poster is an unabashed copy of Love Actually's. It's probably a great sign that a gay romcom feels so conventional or familiar, and this one is decidedly targeted at a mainstream audience, but it could have been more. The ensemble cast has no shortage of gifted actors, led by Kathy Najimy as mom, Schitt's Creek alum Jennifer Robertson as big sis, Barry Bostwick as solid dad, and Jennifer Coolidge as the flamboyant "gays-love-me" aunt. Watch for a cameo by Najimy's hilarious singer-husband Dan Finnerty as well.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Single All the Way is similar to and different from other holiday-timed romantic comedies they've seen.
Did the characters in this film feel realistic? Why or why not?
Did you believe that the two male leads were deeply in love? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: December 2, 2021
- Cast: Michael Urie, Philomen Chambers, Kathy Najimy
- Director: Michael Mayer
- Studio: Netflix
- Genre: Romance
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters, Friendship, Holidays
- Run time: 101 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: February 28, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
-
Love Hard
Some mature themes and language in feel-good romcom.
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Holidate
Raunchy romcom has sex, heavy drinking, and language
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Love Actually
Romantic and entertaining -- for older teens.
For kids who love the holidays
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