Home for the Holidays (Widescreen): Amazon.ca: Holly Hunter, Anne Bancroft, Robert Downey Jr., Charles Durning, Dylan McDermott, Geraldine Chaplin, Steve Guttenberg, Cynthia Stevenson, Claire Danes, Emily Ann Lloyd, Zack Duhame, Austin Pendleton, Lajos Koltai, Jodie Foster, Lynzee Klingman, Peggy Rajski, Stuart Kleinman, Chris Radant, W.D. Richter: DVD

Product Description

From Amazon.com

Holly Hunter plays a Chicago-based single mom who--on the day before Thanksgiving--loses her job and is informed by her daughter of the latter's intention to surrender her virginity while on a weekend-long affair. If that's not enough, Hunter's character then has to fly to Baltimore to join her fractious family for another difficult Thanksgiving. Robert Downey Jr. is terrifically charming as her prankish, gay brother, and Anne Bancroft and Charles Durning show plenty of comic resilience during the predictably interesting Thanksgiving dinner scene. The script by W.D. Richter (Brubaker) avoids the usual clichés in family dramas--the deepest, darkest secret revealed here involves the painfully sweet revelation of a 40-year-old crush. Jodie Foster, directing her second feature, focuses instead on the inevitable softening of old grudges and disappointments with time. This is a wise as well as wonderfully fun movie. --Tom Keogh

Tag this product

(What's this?)

Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.

Customer Reviews

46 Reviews

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

Average Customer Review

4.2 out of 5 stars (46 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most helpful customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Movie!, Aug 4 2004

By

J. Woolmer (West Vancouver, British Columbia Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Home for the Holidays (Widescreen) (DVD)

This is one of my all time favorite movies,I think the previous reviews cover it all.A must have for any DVD collection.A timeless classic!

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

5.0 out of 5 stars One to Own, April 11 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Home for the Holidays (Widescreen) (DVD)

This movie is hysterical, painful, sad and joyous. The characters are real, the situations are all too familiar, and the humor is spot-on. We watch this movie at least twice a year and laugh just as hard each time.

Robert Downey Jr. steals the show and portrays his character with such honesty that it is (in my opinion) his best performance to date. Holly Hunter captures the helplessness of the annual Thanksgiving from Hell that is often the reality of all of our lives. However, it is not preachy, it doesn't wrap things up in a pretty bow, but it leaves you with the feeling that life is good just the way it is.

A must see.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

4.0 out of 5 stars Family Matters, Feb 27 2004

By

T. Lobascio (New Jersey United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Home for the Holidays (Widescreen) (DVD)

I have to say that I was a bit surprised at how much I liked Home For The Holidays. After all, a large family gathering for a major event, is certainly nothing new in film. There are plenty of dramadies like this--it's all in the execution--and that makes it work. I have to also disclose that I'm not the biggest fan of Holly Hunter's and perhaps that caused me to go into this, not expecting a whole lot.

In the span of a 36 hour period, Claudia Larson (Hunter) has managed to lose her job, make out with her boss and learn that her daughter (Claire Danes) is planning to "go all the way". But Claudia's fortunes actually take a turn for the worse when she flies home to endure an even more difficult hardship known as the family Thanksgiving. Beleagured, not ony by her neurotic mother (Anne Bancroft), a kooky father (Charles Durning), eccentric brother (Robert Downey Jr.) and compulsively "normal" sister (Cynthia Stevenson), Claudia struggles to maintain her sanity. But as the festivities roll along those prospects prove difficult. As sparks fly, tempers flare and issues are exposed, surprisingly, Claudia manages to discover things about herself and her family she never know.

The script from W.D. Richter is better than I expected. Coming from a large family of my own, there's plenty that I can identify with. Really anyone who has a family will find that to be the case for them as well. The script very well done. The drama is "real"-and not over the top or too melodramatic. The lighter moments are not too broad or cheap. Directed by Jodie Foster, the cast hits all the right marks--even Hunter. I had very few complaints. Foster, as well known actress herself, dives right in and isn't affraid of the limited setting.

The DVD boasts a solid audio commentary from Foster. Who, as she has on her other commentaries, provides for an engaging and insightful track. The only other extra on the DVD is your typical theatrical trailer. Participation from the cast would have made things a bit more comlete.

Home...works. Its problems are few...Recommended

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 46 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Want to see more reviews on this item?

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 137 reviews 4.5 out of 5 stars

Most recent customer reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars like fruitcake
Robert Downey Jr is a hoot. But no one else in this movie measures up. Direction is ploddding; chracterization, mawkish.

Published on Jan 21 2004 by Slava Kozlov

2.0 out of 5 stars A Holiday Classic--NOT!
I was dissapointed overall with this movie, it is far from a holiday classic! Yes, it has its funny and very funny moments, its serious (although tainted) moments and some brief... Read more

Published on Jan 17 2004 by skeezik

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Dialogue, characters and a GREAT Brother
What a find! I will definitely end up watching this every year. As it stands, I rented this DVD the night before Thanksgiving, and have watched at least pieces of it each night... Read more

Published on Nov 30 2003 by C. P. Gibbs

5.0 out of 5 stars Required Thanksgiving Holiday Video (no children please)
It's gotten so that Thanksgiving just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without the required viewing of "Home For The Holidays. Read more

Published on Nov 27 2003 by Angela Burton

5.0 out of 5 stars A modern holiday classic
This gem isn't your typical holiday movie that can be very heavy on sentiment. What Jodie delivers is a perfect slice of life film on how people deal with family traditions, e. Read more

Published on Nov 20 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow
Jody Foster must have had hidden cameras stashed in my house to get ideas for this gem. I'm 33 and, according to Jody's commentary, I fall right into the crowd that understands... Read more

Published on Oct 29 2003 by grizzlyfadams

5.0 out of 5 stars Reminds me of home
I'm a big Holly Hunter fan but regardless of that this movie was hilarious. The situations and family interactions were all too familiar to real life whether it was my family or... Read more

Published on Oct 9 2003 by B. Holliday

5.0 out of 5 stars Your Typical Family Get Together
Great movie, watched in a dozen times. It will stick in your mind.

Published on Aug 8 2003 by P. V. Holland

1.0 out of 5 stars Blech!
Lord, where to start...

Let's just say that when I decided to review this movie, and typed "Home for the Holidays" in the search box, I fully expected to see a solid one-star... Read more

Published on Aug 1 2003 by RajahDeux

5.0 out of 5 stars It Hit Home for Me!
If you grew up in a middle-class working family, especially on the east coast, then you'll absolutely love this film! Read more

Published on July 10 2003 by M. Ferrantino