Thanksgiving movies: Is there a reason the pickins are slim?

You knew it was coming, didn't you? I made such a big whoop-de-doo over movies during October that you probably guessed I'd trot out a list of Thanksgiving-themed flicks. (Just wait'll next month!)

It's interesting that in contrast to innocently scary Halloween films and overly-saccharine but can't-do-without Christmas ones, there just aren't a lot of Thanksgiving movies out there. And the ones that are - well, they're kinda edgy. Must be the pressure of getting the family together and just sharing a meal, as opposed to covering up the problems with a lot of presents and candy canes.

At any rate, I've gathered together - and not only to ask the Lord's blessing - the few Turkey Day offerings available. You'll need to ration them for yourself this month, since there aren't enough to last from now to the big feast day.

1. Home for the Holidays (1995) - Directed by Jodie Foster and starring a whole lot of cool people - Holly Hunter, Anne Bancroft, Robert Downey Jr., Charles Durning, Geraldine Chaplin, well the list goes on. Folks looking for a feel-good film do not like this one; believe me, it is not the Thanksgiving equivalent of White Christmas. Kate and I thought it was hilarious when we saw it ten years ago, and I still try to catch it when it runs on TV. The turkey mishap with prissy Cynthia Stevenson's character is memorable. It comes to mind whenever I'm wrestling the turkey (the family Thanksgiving's always at my house) into submission. The Home family is not at all like my own - we're disfunctional, but not at Thanksgiving as our mouths are too full and our belts too tight to fight about anything - but it's fun to watch other families implode. Hee-hee.

2. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987) - Steve Martin and John Candy have to share all sorts of things, including transportation and beds, just to make it home for Thanksgiving during a blizzard. You can see the jokes coming from a mile away, but so what? It's Steve and John. Just be thankful you're home safe and warm.

3. Pieces of April (2003) - I rather enjoyed this little independent film when I first saw it, but now with the creepy Katie Holmes/Tom Cruise thing happening I'm afraid it's ruined for me. Katie's character goes to great lengths to cook a Thanksgiving meal in her teeny apartment for her visiting family. Patricia Clarkson as the mom dying of cancer, is great - as always. Such an underrated actor, in my book. It's another disfunctional family movie. Anyway, if you can hold your nose on the Katie Holmes front, you can get through this one.

4. The Ice Storm (1997) - Wow! One of my favorite films, no matter the season. Ang Lee directs an incredible cast that includes Joan Allen (another vastly underrated actor), Kevin Kline (ditto), Sigourney Weaver, Tobey Maguire, Christina Ricci, Elijah Wood, and - wait for it - Katie Holmes. (I know - what's that about?) Ice Storm takes place during the 1973 Thanksgiving holidays. Ah, the good old days - key-exchange parties, funky clothes, power outages. Not a lot of turkey happenings, though - just a warning.

5. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (1973, just a different 1973 than The Ice Storm) - I know it's just a television show but too bad, I'm gonna keep including Charlie Brown movies on my holiday film lists. Lord, we have to have something uplifting on this list, don't we? The toast-and-popcorn feast is great (except for carb-haters). Grab a little cup of cider and settle in for 20 minutes or so of real Thanksgiving spirit.

There are other films that include Thanksgiving scenes in them, for example Holiday Inn and Miracle on 34th Street, among others.

But there's only one movie about the honest-to-goodness Pilgrims - The Plymouth Adventure, starring Spencer Tracy, Gene Tierney, and Van Johnson - that comes to mind. Wonder why? Why aren't there more Pilgrim movies? Ooooh - I smell a screenplay opportunity for somebody. A musical would be fun. All that maze . . .

Well, I guess Thanksgiving's really just about watching football and getting the jump on Christmas movies, rather than highlighting the day at hand. Still, you gotta wonder what film-makers have against Thanksgiving. Must have something to do with ingesting tryptophan and canned pumpkin. As always, feel free to add to the list.