Cup of Cheer ( 2020 )

A Hilariously Bad Good Time: Deconstructing Cup of Cheer (2020)

Cup of Cheer, released in 2020, stands as a monument to the intentional awfulness of Christmas parody movies. Directed by Jake Horowitz, this film takes direct aim at the ubiquitous Hallmark Christmas movie formula, exaggerating every trope, cliché, and saccharine sentiment to the point of absurdity. While critics largely panned it (predictably), Cup of Cheer has garnered a significant cult following for its commitment to being deliberately, and often successfully, terrible. This article delves into the film's plot, characters, humor, and overall impact, examining why, despite (or perhaps because of) its flaws, it has become a beloved example of so bad it's good cinema.

Plot: A Christmas Cliché Compendium

The plot of Cup of Cheer is, intentionally, a derivative amalgamation of nearly every Hallmark Christmas movie ever made. Chelsea, played with deadpan earnestness by Stormi Maya, is a cynical New York journalist assigned to write a puff piece about her quaint hometown, the absurdly-named Pine Mountain. Chelsea's jaded city persona immediately clashes with the town's overwhelming Christmas spirit and its residents' unwavering belief in holiday magic. The story unfolds as follows:

1. The Assignment: Chelsea reluctantly accepts the assignment from her demanding editor. The initial set-up establishes her cynicism and disdain for small-town life.
2. The Return Home: Upon arriving in Pine Mountain, Chelsea is bombarded with Christmas decorations, carolers, and overwhelmingly friendly townsfolk. The film immediately cranks the small-town charm dial up to eleven.
3. The Love Interest: Chelsea meets Jamie, a charming, handsome, and stereotypically good guy played by Alexander Gauthier. He embodies every cliché of the Hallmark romantic lead – kind, selfless, and deeply committed to his hometown.
4. The Family Business: Jamie runs his family's maple syrup business, which, naturally, is facing financial difficulties and is in danger of being taken over by a heartless corporation.
5. The Competition: A rival company, Mega Syrup, led by the equally stereotypically villainous and ruthless corporate executive, plots to destroy Jamie's business.
6. The Christmas Festival: Pine Mountain hosts an annual Christmas festival centered around a maple syrup contest, which serves as the climax of the film.
7. The Transformation: Throughout the film, Chelsea gradually sheds her cynicism and embraces the Christmas spirit. She falls in love with Jamie and helps him save his family's business.
8. The Happy Ending: In a predictable but satisfying conclusion (for viewers who enjoy this type of film), Chelsea chooses to stay in Pine Mountain, abandons her city life, and commits to a future with Jamie.

Each of these plot points is exaggerated and played for comedic effect. The dialogue is often stilted and unnatural, the acting is deliberately over-the-top, and the situations are so ridiculously contrived that they become absurdly funny.

Characters: Cardboard Cutouts Brought to Life

The characters in Cup of Cheer are intentionally one-dimensional, representing archetypes found in countless Hallmark Christmas movies. The film's humor derives largely from the actors' commitment to portraying these characters with unwavering sincerity, despite their obvious absurdity. Here's a closer look at some of the key players:

The performances in Cup of Cheer are crucial to its comedic success. The actors fully embrace the absurdity of their roles, delivering lines with a straight face and maintaining a sense of earnestness that heightens the humor. Stormi Maya's deadpan delivery as Chelsea is particularly effective, contrasting sharply with the over-the-top enthusiasm of the other characters.

Humor: Intentional Awfulness and Self-Aware Satire

The humor in Cup of Cheer is a unique blend of intentional awfulness and self-aware satire. The film relies on several comedic techniques to generate laughs:

• Exaggeration: Every trope and cliché of the Hallmark Christmas movie genre is exaggerated to the point of absurdity. The small-town charm is overdone, the romantic gestures are cheesy, and the conflicts are ridiculously contrived.
• Deadpan Delivery: The actors deliver their lines with a straight face, even when the dialogue is patently absurd. This deadpan delivery enhances the humor by creating a contrast between the sincerity of the performances and the ridiculousness of the situations.
• Physical Comedy: The film incorporates slapstick and physical humor, often involving the maple syrup. These moments add to the overall sense of silliness and absurdity.
• Meta-Humor: Cup of Cheer occasionally breaks the fourth wall and acknowledges its own absurdity. This meta-humor allows the film to poke fun at itself and the genre it is parodying.
• Awkwardness: Many scenes are deliberately awkward and uncomfortable, creating a sense of unease that is also funny. The stilted dialogue, unnatural interactions, and forced smiles contribute to this awkwardness.

The effectiveness of the humor in Cup of Cheer is subjective. Some viewers find it hilarious, while others find it grating and unfunny. However, the film's commitment to being deliberately terrible is undeniable, and its self-aware satire is often quite clever. The success of the humor depends on the viewer's willingness to embrace the film's absurdity and appreciate its commitment to being bad.

Production Value: Embracing the Low-Budget Aesthetic

The production value of Cup of Cheer is noticeably low-budget, which contributes to its overall charm. The sets are simple and unconvincing, the special effects are rudimentary, and the cinematography is unremarkable. However, these limitations are not necessarily a weakness. In fact, the film's low-budget aesthetic enhances its comedic effect by further exaggerating the cheapness and artificiality of the Hallmark Christmas movie genre.

The film's soundtrack is another example of its commitment to parody. The music is generic and repetitive, resembling the bland and saccharine scores found in many Hallmark movies. The use of Christmas carols is also overdone, creating a sense of overwhelming holiday cheer that becomes ironically funny.

Reception and Legacy: A Cult Classic of Bad Cinema

Upon its release, Cup of Cheer was met with overwhelmingly negative reviews from critics. Many critics derided the film's low production value, its deliberately bad acting, and its predictable plot. However, despite the negative reviews, Cup of Cheer has found a dedicated cult following among viewers who appreciate its commitment to being so bad it's good. The film's self-aware satire, its over-the-top performances, and its overall absurdity have resonated with audiences who enjoy intentionally bad movies.

The film's success can be attributed to several factors:

• Parody of a Popular Genre: Hallmark Christmas movies are a highly popular genre, but they are also often criticized for their predictability and formulaic plots. Cup of Cheer taps into this existing criticism by exaggerating the genre's flaws to comedic effect.
• Commitment to Absurdity: The film's commitment to being deliberately terrible is unwavering. This commitment allows viewers to embrace the film's absurdity and enjoy its unique brand of humor.
• Cult Following for Bad Cinema: There is a significant audience for so bad it's good movies. These viewers appreciate films that are unintentionally funny or that are so poorly made that they become entertaining.
• Word-of-Mouth: The film's cult following has grown largely through word-of-mouth and online communities. Viewers who enjoy the film often recommend it to others who they think might appreciate its unique charms.

Cup of Cheer is not a masterpiece of cinema, nor is it intended to be. It is a deliberately bad movie that aims to entertain through its absurdity and its self-aware satire. While it may not appeal to everyone, it has found a dedicated audience who appreciate its unique brand of humor and its commitment to being so bad it's good. As such, it has earned its place as a cult classic of bad cinema, a testament to the fact that sometimes, the most entertaining movies are the ones that don't take themselves too seriously.

Conclusion: Embracing the Cheerfully Terrible

In conclusion, Cup of Cheer (2020) is a brilliantly executed parody of the Hallmark Christmas movie genre. Its success lies in its unwavering commitment to absurdity, its self-aware satire, and its actors' dedication to portraying deliberately one-dimensional characters with straight faces. While critics may have panned it, the film has garnered a cult following for its so bad it's good charm, proving that sometimes, the most entertaining movies are the ones that embrace their own awfulness. If you're looking for a genuinely hilarious and intentionally terrible Christmas movie, Cup of Cheer is a must-watch.