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The Holiday Dating Guide

Name: The Holiday Dating Guide
Director: Brian Herzlinger
Released: 2022
Duration: 90 min

Representation Score

2.5/10

Limited

2022

TV-PG

Director

Brian Herzlinger

Runtime

90 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The Holiday Dating Guide is a conventional romantic comedy that adheres strictly to established genre clichés. While it provides a female protagonist with professional ability to act, the story's core conflict revolves around traditional romantic conquest and seasonal familiarity. The film lacks depth in representing multiple aspects of diversity, offering little representation of LGBTQ+ identities, diverse racial backgrounds, or disability. It functions as a standard holiday narrative that prioritizes comfort and familiarity over social disruption or diverse perspectives.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Holiday Dating Guide have LGBTQ+ representation?

Limited

The film centers on a heterosexual relationship between Abigale and Michael. It does not include any non-binary or LGBTQ+ identities or challenge traditional relationship structures.

How does The Holiday Dating Guide portray gender?

Fair

Abigale Slater, a professional dating coach, plays a significant role in the story. However, the plot relies on traditional romantic dynamics and gendered expectations of emotional labor.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Holiday Dating Guide?

Limited

The film lacks a diverse cast and seems to follow the homogeneous casting conventions typical of holiday romance films.

How does The Holiday Dating Guide represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story uses classic Christmas motifs and traditional seasonal milestones. It prioritizes individual romantic success over any critique of Western or religious institutions.

Does The Holiday Dating Guide include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no mention of characters navigating physical, neurodivergent, or mental health conditions within the narrative.

Present on Screen

The film features a female protagonist, Abigale Slater, who plays a significant role as a dating coach and author.

Limited or Absent

The narrative lacks LGBTQ+ representation and non-binary identities.
The casting appears homogeneous, lacking visible racial and ethnic diversity.
The plot relies heavily on traditional gendered expectations and romantic clichés.
There is no representation of characters with physical or neurodivergent disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Dating coach and aspiring book author Abigale Slater is tasked by her publisher Jack to prove that her dating advice really works. With that, she decides to make a man fall for her by Christmas Eve in 12 days. When she Michael Ryan, her single-minded mission takes an unexpected turn.

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