A Clusterfunke Christmas
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A Clusterfunke Christmas
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that A Clusterfunke Christmas is a parody of typical Hallmark Christmas movies. Saturday Night Live stars Ana Gasteyer and Rachel Dratch wrote and star in the film, so there are certainly laughs to be had. Some of these laughs, however, will go over the heads of younger teens or other viewers who don't understand or value satire. This is especially important because the movie not only mocks the genre but includes jokes about diverse groups that may offend some. For example, an interracial couple in the small town of Yuletown own a business called Colorful Representations. There are other comedic references to the Me Too movement and gender identity. Parents can point out the elements of satire and make connections between A Clusterfunke Christmas and the movies it pokes fun at. Expect a few instances of iffy language, like "Grow a pair!" and "raging bitch," but the punny title is a hint about how serious it ever gets.
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What's the Story?
In A CLUSTERFUNKE CHRISTMAS, viewers meet Holly (Vella Lovell), a young businesswoman. She is sent to a small town called Yuletown by her boss to acquire the Clusterfunke Inn so that it can be turned into a mega resort. Upon arriving at the old-timey inn, she meets Hildy (Ana Gasteyer) and Marga (Rachel Dratch), the owners, and is immediately turned off by how old-fashioned and run-down the place is. She's even more turned off by their nephew, Frank (Cheyenne Jackson), who is committed to keeping the inn in the Clusterfunke family. Following the format of a typical holiday romantic comedy on the Hallmark Channel, tensions grow between the two before feelings begin to grow. Simple conflicts arise (like the unexplainable arrival of Holly's ex) that threaten the relationship. Ultimately, Holly falls in love with Yuletown and its residents. By the end, she must decide if she will continue to pursue the Clusterfunke Inn for work or if she'll give in to the spirit of Christmas and follow her heart.
Is It Any Good?
This hilarious parody makes viewers reassess why we ever liked those Hallmark Channel Christmas movies in the first place. A Clusterfunke Christmas is spot-on with the way it mocks the holiday rom-com genre. Everything from the mockery of in-your-face product placement to the satire of the low budgets these films often have will make viewers laugh out loud. Holly often talks to herself in a way that shares background information or moves the plot along -- very typical of characters in these kinds of films. The off-brand versions of classic Christmas songs will make viewers laugh as they think about similar soundtracks they've heard in low-budget movies before.
A Clusterfunke Christmas is good because it is so adept at mocking movies that are typically not good. Fans of Saturday Night Live and those who binge watch the Hallmark Channel's Countdown to Christmas will most likely enjoy watching. Many of the jokes will probably be missed by younger teens and those who don't realize they're watching a spoof. As with most comedy, it's probably not for those who are sensitive to jokes about sensitive issues. Overall, it will have older teens and adults laughing into the holidays.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the element of satire in A Clusterfunke Christmas. What made you laugh? What was not so funny?
Why does comedy tend to poke fun at real issues and topics that are serious? Are there settings where it is okay to joke/laugh about racial/gender identity or sexual orientation?
TV Details
- Premiere date: December 4, 2021
- Cast: Vella Lovell, Cheyenne Jackson, Ana Gasteyer, Rachel Dratch, Maya Rudolph, Aaron Douglas, Nils Hognestad, Michael Benyaer
- Network: Comedy Central
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Holidays
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: January 7, 2022
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