The Thanksgiving table is filled with excitement each year. Good food, family, and friends all take center stage during the celebration. After dinner is over, many choose to turn their attention to the numerous college and professional football games that flood the television, choosing a side and sticking with the cheering section assigned to their favorite team. This year, if football is not on the agenda for the gathering, watching a few warm Thanksgiving movies instead will help the family maintain a relaxed holiday atmosphere. Plenty of holiday movies address the Thanksgiving theme in various ways. Whether the preferred movie genre is animation, comedy, or action, one of the following movie selections is sure to please the family at this year's gathering.
"Pocahontas" is an Oscar-winning animated favorite that was released in 1995 by Disney. The movie explores the love affair that sparks between a Native American chief's daughter, Pocahontas (Irene Bedhard), and an English soldier, Captain John Smith (Mel Gibson). The two are on the opposite side of an invasion by the English settlers. In the 1600s, the English land in Virginia, the homeland of Pocahontas. She stumbles upon their camp and a romance begins with Smith. The fairy tale love is disrupted by the greed of Governor Ratcliff; it is believed that Pocahontas's tribe is literally sitting on a gold mine.
As friction builds between the two groups, it is up to the two lovers to try and keep the peace. This animated film is engaging for older adults and filled with action to keep the attention of any teens who may be watching. This is a movie that captures the Native American-settler encounter in a way that is not too violent for young eyes, but accurate enough for the adults to refresh their American history. The soft song selections are enough to lull even the tiniest baby to sleep so that the rest of the crowd can enjoy the movie without interruption.
Every Thanksgiving, there is a channel that features the comedy "Dutch." A single mother (JoBeth Williams) tries to give a little love to her son, Doyle Standish (Ethan Embry), at Thanksgiving after her selfish ex-husband (Christopher McDonald) leaves her holding the bag again by cancelling his holiday time with his son. Her knight in shining armor, her new boyfriend Dutch (Ed O'Neill), volunteers to go to the boarding school her son attends and retrieve him for the holidays. They do not make it out of the dormitory before the bubble bursts. The two end up at each other's throats all along the road trip.
This film is a precursor to the "Are We There Yet?" series produced by Ice Cube; the good guy gets stuck on a bad road trip with his new love's kids. When the news of the new guy reaches her ex-husband, he mysteriously finds time in his busy schedule to try and further destroy her reputation with her son. This film is a roller coaster ride filled with some very funny interactions, but may be suited for a more mature audience. The film is rated PG-13, but if there is someone in the crowd who does not understand about the birds and the bees, he or she may be better off in the football room.
An all-time classic Thanksgiving movie must be included on this list of Thanksgiving favorites. "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" was released in 1973, but is still relevant to the families of today. Any adaptation of the comic strip series always brings laughter and cheer to viewers. This animated gem is the story of the Peanuts gang's celebration of Thanksgiving. Peppermint Patty (Christopher DeFaria) plans a dinner for her family and friends. As is the tradition of the series, Charlie Brown (Todd Barbee) always gets the short end of the stick, but remains as good as gold throughout the story. There is even a scene with a football, just in case viewers think they are missing out on something in the other room. One of the best scenes in the movie is the Thanksgiving prayer given by Linus. In his prayer, Linus relays the importance of the holiday by giving a bit of history surrounding the celebration.
The holiday season can be very stressful with the anticipation of guests, family interactions, and all of the preparation that goes into the festivities. To set the tone for the celebration, try a cool music selection, good food, and a good movie. Providing useful articles, reviews and writings on movies and films online.
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