Three Films That Give Thanksgiving Its Due

When it comes to films centered around holidays, Thanksgiving isn’t typically one that gets a lot of attention. There are plenty of animated specials and the parade is certainly a tradition, but as far as the film world goes, it gets overlooked in favor of Christmas. If you want something to watch that revolves around carving that turkey, here’s a few movies that could satisfy your appetite.

“National Lampoon’s Holiday Reunion”

Certainly not the best known (or even the best) title to come from National Lampoon, it’s nonetheless a film that’s centered around the Thanksgiving holiday. The film went straight to television and starred perpetual nice guy Judge Reinhold and pre-“Breaking Bad” Bryan Cranston as long-lost relatives who come together to have a reunion during Thanksgiving. It plays up the idea of family get-togethers to almost cartoonish proportions, presenting tension from clashing ideals and ways of life that practically everyone has experienced when it comes to gathering for holidays.

“Planes, Trains, and Automobiles”

This one is probably a no-brainer when it comes to this holiday. It’s a comedy classic that brings the legendary Steve Martin and John Candy together as mismatched travel buddies who are trying to work together as best they can while trying to get home for Thanksgiving.

It reminds us of the horrors of holiday travel and how nothing almost ever goes how you want it to when you’re on the open road. Granted, most probably don’t opt to share the burden with a complete stranger, but some people will do whatever they can just so they can get their helping of cranberry sauce.

“Pieces of April”

This indie gem boasts what might be the performance of Katie Holmes’s career. She stars as the black sheep of an estranged family who invites them all to her ramshackle apartment for Thanksgiving dinner.

Like “Holiday Reunion,” “Pieces of April” shows the tensions that can rise when families gather for the holiday, although it opts to go a much darker and far more realistic route. It opts to go less stupidly comedic, focusing more on just how stressful the situation can be, especially if you’re the odd one out. You want to make everything as perfect as possible and it doesn’t quite happen, but in the end it actually brings you closer together in a way.

It’s certainly not the easiest holiday to track down titles for, but if you have any more Thanksgiving films, feel free to share them and get them out there.

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