A couple of weeks ago I hosted a movie night with one of my Indonesian friends who suggested that we watch Home for the Holidays, which happens to be one of her favorite holiday movies.
As I was watching it, I realized I was stepping into a cultural space that felt pretty different from my own as an Asian immigrant. This comedy-drama follows single mom Claudia Larson (Holly Hunter) as she reluctantly heads back to her family home for Thanksgiving after losing her job.
This Thanksgiving flick, focused on a white American family’s get-together explores the intricate relationships among family members, highlighting their struggles to connect and love one another. The tagline pretty much sums it up When you go home, do you wonder: Who are these people?
This 1995 film is directed by Jodie Foster from a script by W.D. Richter. It doesn’t follow a strict plot but instead presents a series of amusing moments set in just a few days in the Larson household. It boasts a great ensemble cast that includes Anne Bancroft, Robert Downey Jr., Charles Durning, Dylan McDermott, and even David Strathairn, Claire Danes, and Steve Guttenberg pop up in smaller roles.
Set within a few days of the Thanksgiving holiday, we’re thrown in a rollercoaster of family relationships which is funny, chaotic, sweet, but also heartbreaking. I could see why Claudia was reluctant to go home. She has to deal with her warmhearted but nagging parents (Bancroft and Durning) who are frustrated that she is still a single mom, her closeted gay brother Tommy (Downey Jr.) getting outed by her resentful older sister Joanne (Stevenson), plus her brother’s longtime family friend Leo (McDermott) harbors a crush on her. On top of it, she’s stressing out about losing her job and that her teenage daughter (Danes) is planning to finally ‘do it’ with her boyfriend while spending the holiday with his parents.
Some random thoughts about the movie:
So apparently Downey has admitted publicly he was using heroin during filming this, that could explain why he’s extra fidgety here but then again Tommy is pretty obnoxious. Meanwhile, his bestie Leo is undeniably dreamy, I wonder what happened to McDermott’s career as he’s definitely got star quality.
Dylan McDermott + Holly Hunter
So cute to see young David Strathairn as a furnace guy, it’s crazy how star-studded this movie is but this was 30 years ago. Geraldine Chaplin is hilarious as the eccentric auntie Glady who lets it rip on her past disappointments, while Cynthia Stevenson gets the short end of the stick as the bitter middle child.
The turkey scene is one of the most memorable scenes in the movie. If I had seen this movie years ago, I’d have included it in this list of memorable Thanksgiving scenes. It’s hilarious but also cringe-worthy. I kind of feel bad for Joanne as the movie made her the enemy because she’s conservative (that’s Hollywood for ya!)
…
This movie made me wonder ’Are all white American families as dysfunctional as the ones in this movie?’
Of course, movies are often exaggerated, but there are kernels of truths in there as familial relationships can be really tricky to navigate. I really think that this is a movie worth a watch with the whole family–ok maybe leave the young kids in the other room as it’s appropriately rated PG-13 for its mature themes and coarse language. I think for many, even those of us who don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, this movie offers a real and relatable take on what the holiday is all about. While we usually see Thanksgiving as a happy and grateful occasion, the film is honest and real that it can also be a really stressful time.
I find the movie pretty engaging as Foster skillfully mixes comedy, and awkwardness with heartfelt scenes, giving quite an honest, at-times-painful yet hopeful take on family gatherings. I think it embodies the spirit of Thanksgiving, reminding us to come together and cherish our loved ones, warts and all.
Geraldine Chaplin as Aunt Glady
On the flip side, as I watched this movie nearly three decades after its release date, it made me wish for more inclusive storytelling that represents the rich tapestry of stories within American culture. There’s definitely an ample opportunity for a Thanksgiving movie featuring characters from Asian/Hispanic/African/other ethnic backgrounds that capture the American immigrant experience.
In any case, I wrote this post two days before the Thanksgiving holiday, and I’m grateful that my hubby and I have the luxury of not having to travel anywhere this week, except for a few miles down the road to my bestie’s house (who’s also from Indonesia). It’s usually a small affair with just 5-6 of us, and I always enjoy the time catching up with her family. My heart goes out to those on the road today, traveling either by plane, trains, or automobiles, especially those who do it reluctantly like Claudia.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING…
to all who celebrate!
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I haven’t seen this one since it came out way back in 1995. When it came out, many people thought it could be another classic Thanksgiving film like Planes, Trains and Automobiles. But it didn’t do well at the box office and sort of became a cult classic throughout the years. I totally forgot that Downey Jr. was in this film! I think this is when his career was going down the toilet because of his drug use.
As for Dylan McDermott, you’re right, he has the big star quality but I think what hurt him was that he appeared in Eastwood’s In The Line of Fire in 1993 and his character was such a wimp and I think people just see him as this soft type of a person and he sort of been playing that character throughout his career.
Yeah, Planes, Trains and Automobiles is so funny and timeless, I love that movie! I enjoyed this one but it’s not something I’d likely watch again. I don’t really care for Downey’s obnoxious character and yeah this is when he was started doing drugs, apparently even Jodie Foster noticed it on set.
I even forgot McDermott was in The Line of Fire! I should rewatch that movie, I remember liking it years ago. I think McDermott isn’t a particularly versatile actor either so he’s easily typecast.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen this film as it is an underrated film. Holly Hunter and Robert Downey Jr. are great in this as is Charles Durning and Anne Bancroft. I need to revisit this as I do think it is one of these films that define the Thanksgiving film along with Planes, Trains, & Automobiles and Pieces of April. There needs to be a definitive list of great Thanksgiving films.
I adore Durning and Bancroft as a couple, they’re so cute! LOVE Planes, Trains, & Automobiles but still need to see Pieces of April.
There should be more Thanksgiving movies, especially with a diverse cast. As I mentioned in this post, there are plenty of opportunities for Thanksgiving films that tell stories of the immigrant experience.
And here’s something I just realized when you posted this that I forgot about. Geraldine Chaplin played her grandmother in Chaplin that Downey starred in as Chaplin. That’s wild.
Oh yeah, I did know about that. It’s wild indeed that she co-starred with a few years after that in this movie as his aunt!
I don’t think I’ve ever seen this, actually. I didn’t even realize Foster directed it.
Yeah I didn’t know about it either until my friend suggested we watched it a couple of week before Thanksgiving!
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I’ve got to say, Ruth, that clip is hysterical.
I haven’t experienced a Thanksgiving like this. The last few decades have been in Toronto, and the family here is small.
However, there have been dysfunctional family gatherings at Christmas and other celebrations that would make for hilarity, in retrospect.
Perhaps Canadian Thanksgiving (early-mid October) is not as stressful as American Thanksgiving. After all, there is no Black Friday the next day, and Christmas is still over 2 months away.
Yes, an amazing cast! Oh, and I did do a movie that starred Holly Hunter. She is a consummate professional, and method actor.
Thanks for the review!
Yeah it really was hysterical! I haven’t experienced Thanksgiving like that either, because as an immigrant I don’t really have a big family to go to during the holidays. But of course I have experienced a dysfunctional family gathering when I was still back in Indonesia, that’s what makes the movie so relatable.
Oh cool that you have worked with Holly Hunter as well, not surprised that she is a consummate pro, I get that vibe from her. But then again, so are you, Resa!
Ahh, Ruth, you make me smile!
I think my dysfunction is keeping my mouth shut and facial expressions normal when I watch the poor turkey being hacked up and eaten.
I feel sorry for the turkeys. I love being a vegetarian!
🕊🤍❦
Oh you’re a vegetarian! I’ve been doing more plant-based diet lately, as I LOVE tofu, I pretty much eat tofu 3-4 times a week. I still eat meat occasionally, mostly during breakfast. I do like chicken, but I’ve never been big into red meat.
Btw, I saw a few turkeys crossing the road a few times days before Thanksgiving as if trying to escape, poor birds!! 🦃🦃🦃
Yeah.. plant based works great!.
I had a pet turkey, once. His name was Turkey. Thanksgiving has never been the same.