What Is the Right Thanksgiving Movie for You?
Thanksgiving is an important time of the year for movie releases. Last year’s big hit was a little film called “Frozen,’’ and this year will bring surefire hits like the new “Hunger Games’’ movie and “The Penguins of Madagascar.’’ But after eating too much turkey, leaving the house (and wearing clothing more demanding than sweatpants) isn’t always an ideal option.
With that in mind, here is a selection of the best Thanksgiving moments for you to enjoy at home, with or without your family.
For the comic book fan: “Spider-Man’’
It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without a bit of family feuding, but when Peter Parker’s relatives have dinner with his love interest Mary Jane, his best friend (who is dating Mary Jane), and his best friend’s father (who happens to be the Green Goblin), things go way too far.
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For the pugilistic family member: “Rocky’’ and “Rocky II’’
These movies are barely Thanksgiving related, but there is a classic scene in the first movie where Paulie throws Adrian’s turkey into the alley behind their house because he is unhappy with her dating Rocky. The next year went better for the Balboa clan: Rocky beat Apollo Creed to become the heavyweight champ on Thanksgiving.
For the weary traveler: “Planes, Trains and Automobiles’’
Steve Martin and John Candy play star-crossed travelers who are forced into taking the long way from New York City to Chicago in time for Thanksgiving in this John Hughes-directed comedy. Thanksgiving celebrators who spent any time delayed in an airport or stuck in traffic will no doubt find something to relate to with this movie, which can also kick off a fun session of “Six Degrees Of Kevin Bacon.’’
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For the music fan: “The Last Waltz’’
When the storied roots-rock outfit The Band announced that they were going to play a farewell concert on Thanksgiving 1976, after having spent 16 years on the road, Martin Scorsese decided to film the show for posterity. Circumstances cooprated: Not only was The Band in top form, rock legends like Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, and Eric Clapton stopped by to pay their respects. (If you’re in need of some dinner music, you can play the soundtrack.)
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For anyone in need of holiday-toast inspiration: “Funny People’’
In a Judd Apatow movie starring Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen, the last thing you expect is real emotional depth. But this film has it, thanks to the emotional speech given by Sandler’s character during a Thanksgiving feast.
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For the kids: “Free Birds’’
This star-studded animated film revolves around a couple of turkeys who time-travel back to 1621 in an attempt to save themselves from becoming some American’s eventual Thanksgiving dinner. Not eating turkey on the fourth Thursday of November seems pretty untraditional, but “Free Birds’’ serves as a reminder that your meal once had a personality:
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For the kids, but really for the adults: “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving’’
Charlie Brown, Peppermint Patty, football, and Snoopy and Woodstock snapping a wishbone—what do you expect? It’s great.
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