This Time of Year

Through a holiday companion app, two strangers find an unexpected connection during the loneliest time of the year.

OK, so I’ll admit up front that I thought it was Darren Criss in this, then I realised that it was Nicholas Di Prima who was not shooting Versace but instead meeting a complete stranger for a date with a difference at Christmas. His new friend is “Noah” (Micah Cole Pittman). “Jordan” is an outwardly confident gay man, “Noah” a less confident straight one - so just what kind of an evening are they in for? Have you ever stood in front of one of these elaborate Christmas department store window displays and tried to imagine a scenario that could have created that scene. A comical one, a sad one, a messy one? Well that's how they start off and it proves quite an effective way of breaking the ice as the two gradually reveal their seasonal demons and explain to each other (and us) why they find themselves quite so emotionally exposed at this traditionally family time of year. Both of these men turn in something here that is actually quite touching without being remotely sentimental and in a relatively short period demonstrate the healing powers of friendship without strings. Some of their chat hits, some of it misses - just like any conversation you might have when you first encounter someone, and there is something engagingly honest about both performances. It was certainly not what I was expecting, but there is some thoughtful and considerate writing behind the dialogue here that helps this punch quite a bit above it’s weight.