What to Watch This Thanksgiving: Feasts, Family, and Festivities Films

It's Thanksgiving in America and families all over are gathering for big meals and awkward drama!  Here are some suggestions for Thanksgiving / Family related movies to entertain you in between the awkward small talk.  

The Humans (Theaters, Showtime)
Some interesting family drama around Thanksgiving time leads to some new secrets from a dysfunctional family, in this cinematic experience.  

A Christmas Feast / Feast of the Seven Fishes (Digital, Amazon Prime, Vudu, Tubi)
This wonderful holiday movie involves family, drama, and a big feast at the end.  Although it is Christmas related, it is a great choice to scratch that family feasting itch. For more information, check out our review!

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (Digital, AMC+)
The quintessential Thanksgiving movie, this classic follows someone trying to get home to the family for Thanksgiving, and all the roadblocks and obstacles that happen along the way.  It is available to stream on Amazon Prime with AMC+, which has a 30-day free trial if you just want to watch this today!

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (Apple TV+)
A classic kids Thanksgiving film that you can stream for free on Apple TV+.  This is another classic and one for the kids to enjoy while you are putting the finishing touches on your Thanksgiving meal.

The Binge (Hulu)
On a night when families eat excessive amounts of food, a movie about excessive indulgences seems fitting.  It also is a very funny film that should raise your spirits on a somewhat lonelier Thanksgiving!  For more information, check out our review!

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2 (Netflix)
A movie about giant, alive food seems like a fitting way to celebrate Thanksgiving. It helps that it is a surprisingly good movie for kids and adults to enjoy!  For more information, check out our review!

Spirited Away (HBO Max)
One of the best animated films of all time also starts with a massive feast and has several prominent instances of gluttony.  It is also an imaginative and heartfelt journey that will rekindle your sense of wonder. 

Broil (Amazon Prime, Vudu, YouTube)
A film about a large meal and family issues, with a decidedly darker take on it all, Broil is the perfect Thanksgiving movie for someone looking for a more horror-themed night.  It also has some wonderful performances, great music, and some delicious food.  For more information, check out our review!

What to Watch This Thanksgiving: Feast of the Seven Fishes, Planes Trains and Automobiles, Charlie Brown, The Binge, Cloudy 2, Broil

 

It's Thanksgiving in America and this will be a different one due to the COVID epidemic.  With many people not traveling or opting for smaller gatherings, here is a list of movies to give you the Thanksgiving family spirit without the non-socially distanced interactions!

A Christmas Feast / Feast of the Seven Fishes (Digital, Amazon Prime, Tubi)
This wonderful holiday movie involves family, drama, and a big feast at the end.  Although it is Christmas related, it is a great choice to scratch that family feasting itch. For more information, check out our review!

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (Digital, Amazon Prime)
The quintessential Thanksgiving movie, this classic follows someone trying to get home to the family for Thanksgiving, and all the roadblocks and obstacles that happen along the way.  It is available to stream on Amazon Prime with AMC+, which has a 30-day free trial if you just want to watch this today!

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (Apple TV+)
A classic kids Thanksgiving film that you can stream for free on Apple TV+.  This is another classic and one for the kids to enjoy while you are putting the finishing touches on your Thanksgiving meal.

The Binge (Hulu)
On a night when families eat excessive amounts of food, a movie about excessive indulgences seems fitting.  It also is a very funny film that should raise your spirits on a somewhat lonelier Thanksgiving!  For more information, check out our review!

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2 (Netflix)
A movie about giant, alive food seems like a fitting way to celebrate Thanksgiving. It helps that it is a surprisingly good movie for kids and adults to enjoy!  For more information, check out our review!

Broil (Digital)
A film about a large meal and family issues, with a decidedly darker take on it all, Broil is the perfect Thanksgiving movie for someone looking for a more horror-themed night.  It also has some wonderful performances, great music, and some delicious food.  For more information, check out our review!

The Binge (Hulu Original Movie) Interview With Jeremy Garelick and Jordan VanDina (Spoiler Free)

Watch or Pass Interview with director Jeremy Garelick and writer Jordan VanDina, of Hulu's all new original movie The Binge. We discuss the movie's inspiration, making the movie, and working with Vince Vaughn. We also have an EXCLUSIVE reveal of a present that Jeremy gives to Jordan. So give it a watch and if you haven't already seen the film, it is available on Hulu on August 28. Stay tuned to this channel as the spoiler version of the interview will also go up on August 28! Please subscribe to be updated on the latest videos: https://bit.ly/3ajxSle The film stars Skyler Gisondo, Dexter Darden, Eduardo Franco, Vince Vaughn, Grace Van Dien, Tony Cavalero, Zainne Saleh , Marta Piekarz, Esteban Benito, Brittany Garms, Natalie Goldberg, Affion Crockett, Elon Gold, Jessica Kirson, Godfrey and Eileen Galindo. THE BINGE is directed by Jeremy Garelick and written by Jordan VanDina. The film is produced by Jeremy Garelick, Will Phelps, Mickey Liddell, Pete Shilaimon, Nicole Stojkovich, Ryan Bennett and Michael Schade. Chris Bongirne and Michael Glassman serve as executive producers. THE BINGE is produced by American High and LD Entertainment. Set in a time where all drugs and alcohol are illegal, the only day anyone can participate in the "fun" is on Binge day. Friends Griffin (Gisondo) and Hags (Darden) have been dreaming of their first Binge--which you are allowed to participate in if you are over 18--for years. Hags has been planning to make this an epic night, the best of their lives. He also wants the glory of winning "The Gauntlet," an event that takes place at a wild party involving a grueling series of challenges to test the drug tolerance of all involved. Griffin is also concerned with making sure his future isn't affected by this night, both because of his desire to go to Brown next year, and his desire to ask his longtime crush and friend to prom. The pair are joined by Andrew (Franco) out of necessity, and the trio start on a long adventure of drugs, escapades, and ridiculousness.

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What to Watch This Weekend: August 28, 2020 - Bill & Ted, Get Duked!, The Binge, The 24th, Some Great Black Films, and Documentaries

For The Dark Comedy Fan - Get Duked! (Amazon)

Get Duked! has a dark comedic style, quirky characters, and story that puts them all to great use with plenty of ridiculousness and laugh out loud moments!  For more information, check out our review!

A Historical Story About Racial Injustice That Feels All Too Familiar - The 24th (Digital)

The 24th tells an incredibly powerful and timely true story that will spark emotions with its fantastic performances and focus on issues that we as a nation are still confronting.  For more information, check out our review!

For The Thrillseeker - Class Action Park (HBO Max)

Class Action Park tells an unbelievable story with fantastic archival footage and first-hand accounts by those most affected by this fun and dangerous abusement park.  For more information, check out our review!

For the World Traveler - Through Greenland (Topic)

Through Greenland lets you follow along Nikolaj Coster-Waldau's journey of self discovery, giving an intimate look at the people and places that make this such a special land.  For more information, check out our review!

For Those Wanting A Night Out - The Binge (Hulu)

The Binge is a fun, ridiculous Purge-like movie with good camaraderie, ridiculous situations, a good group of friends and Vince Vaughn being his Vince Vaughniest.   For more information, check out our review!

For The Fan of Most Excellent Adventures - Bill & Ted Face The Music (Digital)

It's been a long time, but Bill and Ted are back and this sequel / reboot is better than ever.  It has the characters and humor that made the original films so great, but has been updated for our modern times.  

For the Spike Lee Fan - BlackKKlansman (Free to rent on streaming platforms)

Spike Lee has been one of the most outspoken and influential black movie voices of our time.  BlackkKlansman tells a compelling historical story with an amazing cast, biting commentary, and a lot of humor.  And it is free to rent on various streaming platforms so now is a great time to experience it.

For the Action or Keannu Fan - John Wick 3: Parabellum (HBO)

Tick tock Mr. Wick.  The latest John Wick film leaves HBO this month, so make sure to check it out.  It has John Wick's trademark flair, brutal and imaginative action, and continues the assassin's story against ever increasing odds.  For more information, check out our review!

For Those Living Their Best Life - The King of Staten Island (Redbox)

The King of Staten Island was one of the first films to go direct to on demand, and Pete Davidson's semi-autobiographical comedy-drama received rave reviews for Davidson's fantastic performance.  

The Binge Review: A Coming of Age Story With A Lot of Craziness

Release date: August 28, 2020
Running time: 98 minutes
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Skyler Gisondo, Dexter Darden, Eduardo Franco

Set in a time where all drugs and alcohol are illegal, the only day anyone can participate in the "fun" is on Binge day.  Friends Griffin (Gisondo) and Hags (Darden) have been dreaming of their first Binge--which you are allowed to participate in if you are over 18--for years.  Hags has been planning to make this an epic night, the best of their lives.  He also wants the glory of winning "The Gauntlet," an event that takes place at a wild party involving a grueling series of challenges to test the drug tolerance of all involved.  Griffin is also concerned with making sure his future isn't affected by this night, both because of his desire to go to Brown next year, and his desire to ask his longtime crush and friend to prom.  The pair are joined by Andrew (Franco) out of necessity, and the trio start on a long adventure of drugs, escapades, and ridiculousness.

If the premise of this film sounds familiar, it should.  The film is a play on the idea in the Purge, but with decidedly more hilarious and less murderous results.  The concept of a one night alcohol and drug bender is an intriguing one, and one that could lead to all sorts of hilarity.  And this does allow for many wild scenarios throughout the night, as the trio try to make their way to the party of their lives.  The friends are fun to watch and each brings something to the overall adventure.  Griffin is more practical and driven, the consummate voice of reason in the group.  Hags is more focused on the big picture, trying to make sure that they have the time of their lives.  And Andrew is a wild card, doing and saying random things to help or hurt the situation.  And it was also appreciated that the cast itself is a diverse group of friends.  But as entertaining as the cast was, Vince Vaughn is the star of the show.  He is a literal and figurative man among boys, showing his talent for humor throughout the film.  As is his custom, when Vaughn is on screen he elevates everything around him, making the jokes funnier and the situations crazier.  And the whole scenario does allow for some fun and crazy situations throughout this wild night.

However, the Binge is less about the alcohol fueled bender, and more about the journey to get there.  It is similar to a lot of coming of age teenage / young adult stories--such as the phenomenal Booksmart--where the journey itself and not the destination are the thrust of the film.  And although this format does allow for a lot of ridiculousness, it does make you feel like there is a certain amount of time wasting as the trio try and try again to make it to the party.  However, the journey there has plenty of funny moments and there is a very hilarious pivot that occurs towards the end of the movie that is absolutely phenomenal.  In fact, the whole movie picks up towards the end, as some very ridiculous situations occur and several plot threads finally intertwine.  This movie has a strong start, and a phenomenal finish.  And along the way, you get to see a lot of ridiculousness and hilarity, while also relating back to some of your own high school times.  

In the end, The Binge is a fun, ridiculous Purge-like movie with good camaraderie, ridiculous situations, a good group of friends and Vince Vaughn being his Vince Vaughniest. 

Watch it.

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