MOVIE REVIEW: What to watch on Thanksgiving Day
The holidays are upon us again. But, if you’re like me, you don’t like to spend all day watching your family members gulp down food like a bunch of hungry crocodiles and then sit around with your Dad and uncles watching “the game.”
Thanksgiving is a time for great food, yes, but it can also be a time for fantastic movies. This Thanksgiving seems a bit sparse with movie releases ever since the postponement of the new Harry Potter flick. It was set to come out around Thanksgiving time this year, but has now been pushed to summer of ’09.
The two movies guaranteed to be at the top of a lot of people’s must see lists are “Twilight” and “Quantum of Solace.” Most of the fans will have seen these movies by the time Thanksgiving rolls around that will leave room for those casual watchers to get a peek.
Thanksgiving weekend we have a few releases opening. The one with the most promise, and guilty pleasure factor, is “Transporter 3.” Jason Statham is back as Frank Martin, the butt-kicking driver who always seems to get himself into one impossible predicament after another. The “Transporter” movies are like Bond movies on acid, but they definitely aren’t family fare.
Disney has the family friendly part covered with a new CGI (non-pixar) cartoon called “Bolt.” John Travolta is the voice of a cute puppy who thinks he’s an action hero because he plays one on TV. It’s sure to contain a lot of fart and poop humor for the kiddies.
It’s always a bad sign when a Christmas-themed movie comes out at Thanksgiving, because it usually won’t stay in theaters until Christmas. “Four Christmases” looks, well, just awful. Another dysfunctional family comedy that will probably contain more fart and poop jokes than “Bolt.”
With the somewhat sparse offerings at the theater this season, you may find yourself at home wanting to watch a festive show. A film that’s always at the top of my list is “National Lampoons: Christmas Vacation.” I know it’s not Christmas time yet, but watching this movie will be infinitely better than going to “Four Christmases.”
The holidays are also a perfect time for a movie marathon. If you’re as scared as I am to try your hand at shopping on Black Friday, then staying home watching a series of movies might be just the thing for you. It’s a great time to break out the classic trilogies like “Back to the Future,” “Indiana Jones,” or you can even have a turkey fueled marathon of the “Lord of the Rings” extended editions (caution such an experience may cause severe butt-numbness).
So just remember during your break, family and food are overrated. Film is forever.