You are here:

Christmas on the Menu

Name: Christmas on the Menu
Director: Jake Helgren
Released: 2020
Duration: 80 min

Representation Score

3.4/10

Limited

2020

TV-PG

Director

Jake Helgren

Runtime

80 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Christmas on the Menu is a quintessential holiday romance that prioritizes genre familiarity over social subversion. While it gives the female lead professional authority through her role as a chef, the plot remains anchored in traditional romantic dynamics. The film relies heavily on Western seasonal clichés and a likely homogeneous setting, creating a cozy, predictable atmosphere but lacking the depth needed to challenge or expand beyond standard holiday storytelling conventions.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Christmas on the Menu have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The story focuses on a heterosexual romance between Josie and Tanner. It operates within a framework that assumes everyone is straight or cisgender, without presenting diverse sexual orientations or gender identities.

How does Christmas on the Menu portray gender?

Fair

Josie Jennings is portrayed as a professional chef who plays a significant role in driving the story. However, her emotional arc remains tied to a conventional romantic trajectory with a male lead.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Christmas on the Menu?

Limited

The setting suggests a traditional, likely homogeneous small-town aesthetic. The narrative lacks descriptions of a multi-ethnic ensemble or diverse casting.

How does Christmas on the Menu represent religion and culture?

Limited

The film centers on traditional Western holiday motifs and seasonal cuisine. It reinforces established values regarding family and community through a celebratory lens.

Does Christmas on the Menu include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no mention of characters with visible or invisible disabilities. The narrative does not address disability representation.

Present on Screen

The protagonist, Josie, is depicted as a celebrated professional with significant career expertise.
The film provides a comforting, traditional celebration of seasonal family and community values.

Limited or Absent

The narrative lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-cisgender perspectives.
The setting and cast appear to lean toward a homogeneous, Western-centric presentation.
The plot follows standard gendered romantic clichés rather than exploring more complex dynamics.

Official Synopsis

Josie Jennings a celebrated, romantic, 35-year old chef in the city heads home to spend the holidays at the quaint, magical bed and breakfast where she grew up, and where her mother Shannon has just opened a new restaurant. Famous food critic Tanner Rhodes, who has given Josie harsh reviews in the past, comes to town to review the new restaurant and Josie’s Christmas Cuisine. As the holidays unfold, Josie and Tanner get to know each other better, and a romance soon begins to blossom but will Tanner find a way to right his wrongs, write a rave review for the bistro’s delicious cuisine, and win Josie’s heart by Christmas Eve?

How are these scores produced? →