Everyone has the day off work, there's a big bird on the table, and relatives you haven't seen in awhile are sitting around watching the Lions lose their twelfth game of the season. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Now, obviously, Thanksgiving doesn't have quite the rich cinematic tradition that certain other holidays have enjoyed, but we've still watched the fourth Thursday in November unfold on the big screen enough times to be able to devote this week's Total Recall to our annual celebration of parades and good eats -- specifically, to some of the most noteworthy not-so-thankful Thanksgivings in movie history. We've gathered together an eclectic group for our list, including old favorites (Hannah and Her Sisters), indie upstarts (The House of Yes), and even a critical dud or two. Plus, as a special bonus, we've included the trailer for a movie that never was -- so tuck in your napkins, wait for Sis to say grace, and let's all dig in!
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10. Addams Family ValuesFor many, the Addams Family movies trigger memories of MC Hammer more than anything else, but 1993's Addams Family Values actually received better reviews than its predecessor -- and it's also noteworthy for containing one of the most hysterical Thanksgiving pageants in movie history, one which begins with turkeys singing "Eat me!" and culminates with Christina Ricci's Wednesday Addams, playing Pochahontas, departing from the script written by unctuous summer camp director Gary Granger (played by Peter MacNicol) to air a list of grievances against the pilgrims before directing her tribe to burn their village to the ground. It might read like a tryptophan-induced dream of Howard Zinn's, but it's actually very funny -- and certainly a big part of why the Chicago Reader's Jonathan Rosenbaum called Addams Family Values "one of the funniest, most mean-spirited satirical assaults on sunny American values since the salad days of W.C. Fields." |
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9. Alice's RestaurantOnly in the 1960s could an 18-minute talking blues song by a 19-year-old white kid from New England become such a big hit that it inspired a movie helmed by an A-list director like Arthur Penn, but that's exactly what happened with Arlo Guthrie's "Alice's Restaurant," the rambling tale of how it came to pass that a pair of Massachusetts hippies found themselves dragged to court for illegally dumping garbage on Thanksgiving Day -- only to watch the arresting officer break down in tears of frustration when he discovers that the presiding judge is blind and can't see the glossy color photos meticulously taken of the scene of the crime. And you thought you had it bad, watching the parade on your grandmother's couch! As a movie, Alice's Restaurant is arguably most interesting as a 1960s relic, or an early example of meta filmmaking (the real-life Alice makes a cameo, and officer William "Obie" Obanhein stars as himself), but critics have been generally kind to it; as Roger Ebert succinctly put it, the movie is "good work in a minor key.". |
(1-20 of 21 posts) | Reply
on Nov 26 2008 02:56 PM I was hoping the Eli Roth trailer would show up! That's just awesome (and truly disturbing). (Reply to this) |
on Nov 26 2008 03:08 PM No Charles. You're disgusting (Reply to this) |
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on Nov 26 2008 03:12 PM I'm with yo charles. Glad to see that one made the list! (Reply to this) |
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on Nov 26 2008 03:15 PM I will never look at a trampoline the same way. Brutal. As for the rest of the list, Not bad. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles was funny. (Reply to this) |
on Nov 26 2008 03:46 PM Loved the bj decapatation in Thanksgiving, and lovingly followed by Charlie Brown. Inspired. (Reply to this) |
on Nov 26 2008 04:26 PM Sadly, there aren't many Thanksgiving films, where said holiday is the actual premise. But this is a good list, and I like "Planes, Trains, and Autoobiles". (Reply to this) |
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on Nov 26 2008 08:39 PM So glad that "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" is number 1. Since it really is the only true Thanksgiving film! (Reply to this) |
on Nov 26 2008 09:28 PM Planes, Trains and Automobiles is a classic, i watch it every year with my family. I too was hoping that Eli Roth's Trailer would show up on here as well lol, it was the first thing i thought of after planes... -MIKE (Reply to this) |
on Nov 27 2008 12:05 AM 1:18 ON THE THANKSGIVING TRAILER OHHHH GOD HAHAHAH THAT WAS HORRIBLE !!!! AHHHH THAT WAS SICK AND PAINFUL HAHAHA (Reply to this) |
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on Nov 27 2008 09:20 AM Aw Planes, Trains, and Automobiles reeks of wonderful nostalgia. And I love it. Also kudos for Thanksgiving and the Peanuts clip! (Reply to this) |
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on Nov 27 2008 10:52 AM In reply to this comment (#2153907) hahaaha. thats exactly what i was looking for when i opened the list. thats the most "not-so-happy" thanksgiving i can think of. (Reply to this) |
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on Nov 27 2008 12:22 PM I can't believe that every film website forgot about THE best Thanksgiving film, bar none: WHAT'S COOKING? is an indie film by Gurinder Chandha (BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM), great character actors, and a twist ending that I never see in any holiday film. (Reply to this) |
on Nov 27 2008 02:47 PM Unless the ending of What's cooking involves cannabilism, I'll pass on that and take the gizzard gravy. (Reply to this) |
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on Nov 27 2008 08:09 PM In reply to this comment (#2153939) I'm amazed how every comment list deteriorates into childish negativity and name calling. You have set a record (Reply to this) |
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on Nov 28 2008 09:48 AM In reply to this comment (#2153939) Fargo_Viper, you are a genuine piece of **** not worthy of living in this **** hole of a world. Carleshinds87 had a good point. You are a dip-****, and should get off the boards if all you are going to do is add negative comments. I know I may sound like a hypocrite, but my negative comments are for the greater good because it is putting a dumb *** like you down. I hope you cry yourself to sleep tonight. P.S. I also saw the post you made about Jason Statham's top 5 movies. If those are horrible movies than you need to start cleaning guns in your mouth *******. Go jerk off to you House of 1,000 Corpses poster. I hope you fail out of college. (Reply to this) |
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on Nov 28 2008 10:11 AM It amazes me that somehow Barry Levinson's Avalon didn't make the cut for this list. Great movie with Thanksgiving used as a way to highlight the breakdown of the family over time. Not a Thanksgiving goes by in our house without someone in the family quoting, "You carved the turkey without us?" (Reply to this) |
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on Nov 28 2008 03:54 PM In reply to this comment (#2154716) No matter how many times I watch Grindhouse, i still cringe at the trampoline. (Reply to this) |
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on Nov 28 2008 06:24 PM aww i love brokeback mountain :) (Reply to this) |
on Nov 28 2008 08:33 PM Poor Snoopy, has Linus barking orders, uncooperative tennis tables, & possessed lawn chairs...Thanksgiving is a tough time for America's favorite beagle. Still, I must appauld Joe Cool's daring and radical thankgiving feast- popcorn, bread, jellybeans and pretzel sticks- hmmm, what a delicious meal. Oh, and kudos to Linus for delivering another beautiful holiday speech. (Reply to this) |
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on Nov 30 2008 07:26 AM My dad was on his high school football team with John Candy. Pity how things turned out. (Reply to this) |
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