Pieces of April

Critics Consensus

Pieces of April transcends its small-scale setting and budget with endearing performances, playful humor, and genuine sweetness, resulting in a touching holiday treat.

84%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 152

74%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 29,471
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Movie Info

April Burns is a wild, 21-year-old young woman with a very big problem. Against her own better judgment, she's invited her estranged, straight laced family for Thanksgiving dinner. Her boyfriend, Bobby, wants to help, but she banishes him from the apartment while she attempts to cook the meal. To make matters worse, she then discovers that her oven doesn't work. So, while April is forced to ask her eccentric neighbors for help in cooking her fifteen pound turkey, the Burns Family begins a reluctant journey from suburban Pennsylvania toward New York City's Lower East Side. April's Dad, Jim Burns tries to convince the family that the day will be beautiful. However, her mom, Joy, has her doubts and freely voices them. April's teenage sister and brother are squeezed between Grandma Dottie, and a bag of snacks in the back seat, as the Burns' family car hurtles toward Manhattan--and what will most likely be disaster.
  • Rating:
    PG-13 (for language, sensuality, drug content and images of nudity)
  • Genre:
    Comedy, Drama
  • Directed By:
    Peter Hedges
  • Written By:
    Peter Hedges
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Box Office:
    $2,400,000
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    United Artists

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Cast

Katie Holmes
as April Burns
Patricia Clarkson
as Joy Burns
Oliver Platt
as Jim Burns
Derek Luke
as Bobby
Sean Hayes
as Wayne
Alison Pill
as Beth Burns
John Gallagher Jr.
as Timmy Burns
Alice Drummond
as Grandma Dottie
Lillias White
as Evette
Isiah Whitlock Jr.
as Eugene
Sisqo
as Latrell
Armando Riesco
as Tyrone
Vitali Baganov
as Half Asleep Man
Adrian Martinez
as Man in Mohair Sweater
Susan Bruce
as Tish
Jamari Richardson
as Boy on Bicycle
Leila Danette
as Woman in Stairwell
Stephen Chen
as Lee Loung Tan
Sally Leung Bayer
as Lee Quong Tan
Marcus Lovett
as Parade Announcer
Jack Chen
as Lee Quong
Jacqueline Dai
as Lee Lang
Rosa Luo
as Lee Wai Yam
Birdie M. Hale
as Woman Outside Bodega
Christine Todino
as Waitress
Anney Giobbe
as Young Mother
Elizabeth Douglass
as Young Girl
Rusty Dewees
as Joy's Biker Guy
Vincent Roselli
as Timmy's Biker Guy
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Critic Reviews for Pieces of April

All Critics (152) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (128) | Rotten (24)

View All Critic Reviews (152)

Audience Reviews for Pieces of April

  • May 26, 2010
    A one part great movie and one part bad movie. The storylines of Derek Luke and Katie Holmes are perfect and extremely well done, while the scenes with the family are the same cliche seen over and over. I think what also works extremely well is the cinematography and documentary look. It feels like you're living in this apartment building and taking a look at a real place rather than fiction. Overall, it works. It's just not as good as it theoretically could have been.
    Conner R Super Reviewer
  • Oct 11, 2009
    A generous, heartfelt little motion picture that helps us remember that excellence doesn't exclude compact, unambitious projects like this one. Pieces of April speaks to the human nature, i.e. our unability to express the love buried somewhere inside ourselves, underneath long-lasting resentment and different values. Its short running time still doesn't prevent us from getting inside these complex minds, and backed by all-around superb performances (Holmes and Clarkson getting the top honors), the characters in Pieces of April really resonate and stick with the viewer. Add to that an almost completely naturalistic flow of great dialogue and solid, unpretentious directing from Hedges, and you've got yourself a real hidden gem. Don't miss out on this one...
    Laurence C Super Reviewer
  • Nov 28, 2008
    A chaotic and different type of thanks giving movie with a sweet ending, quite underrated.
    Matthew M Super Reviewer
  • Nov 25, 2007
    A decent quirky indie film about an imperfect daughter having her imperfect family over for thanksgiving dinner.
    Nicolas K Super Reviewer
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