Home for the Holidays

Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: 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 this material. My wife and I thought this movie was hilarious. Charles Durning plays my father to a T! This movie does a magnificent job of depicting the hell and hilarity that is "The Holiday Season".

Rating:
Summary: Reminds me of home
Review: 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 a friends. It is a bit on the depressing side at times, but over all you get a good feeling from watching it. Highly recommend it

Rating:
Summary: Your Typical Family Get Together
Review: Great movie, watched in a dozen times. It will stick in your mind.

Rating:
Summary: Blech!
Review: 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 cumulative rating. I nearly fell over at the high marks this movie received.

I had huge expectations for the movie. The cast is brilliant, and the movie sounded funny and interesting. I even dragged my mom and sister to it at the theaters when it came out. They still haven't forgiven me.

I was deeply disappointed. I like a good dysfunctional family story. Hell, I grew up in a dysfunctional family (who didn't?). This, however, was a BAD dysfunctional family story. People endlessly droning on about their problems, with no point in sight - and these people, by the way, are whiny, miserable freaks.

The movie is peppered with title screens that are supposed to give context to the upcoming sequence of events. Hypothetically, a title screen of "The Dog" would let the viewer know that the next sequence is, in fact, about a dog, or the dog, or something at least dog-oriented. Likewise, a title screen of "The Point," which actually does appear in the movie near the end, would make the viewer believe that his two hours were not completely wasted, because something meaningful was actually going to happen. This title screen, though, was ultimately pointless. Just like the rest of the whole damn movie.

If you're thinking about renting or buying this movie because it will help you laugh at your own dysfunctional family situation, you should save your cash and shell it out for therapy instead.

Rating:
Summary: It Hit Home for Me!
Review: If you grew up in a middle-class working family, especially on the east coast, then you'll absolutely love this film! Home for the Holidays will make you laugh and ask yourself: "how in the world did I ever escape my upbringing - or did I?" The performances are almost too real - and the direction is perfect.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Hysterical
Review: I hade no idea. This movie is one that makes you laugh outloud. It is really very funny; I was so pleasantly surprised.

Rating:
Summary: Charming, lovely little movie
Review: I really needed a comedy, and rented HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS with some misgiving. The cover makes it look all a little too pat, but this is really a fantastic film that deserves a couple of watchings. The script is well-done, and does not overdo all of the possibilities for dysfunction. Also, the sentimentality, while very much there (and very much appreciated), isn't overdone as well, with some reconciliations left unattained and issue unresolved. The comedy is deft and charming. Robert Downey Jr. is just a great actor, playing the gay brother. All of the actors, especially Charles Durning as the father (the scene with the hose, anyone?), are great.

The best part of this movie, of course, is Holly Hunter. Whatever she does, whatever she says, is food for the soul.

This is a special movie that most of us can easily appreciate.

Rating:
Summary: A funny, honest movie and the hell that is the Holidays
Review: Let's face it, you pick your friends, but your relatives are issued to you by some cosmic joker. No matter how far away you move, they are still lurking there, ready to haul out their neuroses just in time for the holiday season. This movie is a hoot!

Rating:
Summary: I usually watch this movie every holiday season
Review: It is so funny and it always helps me get through the holidays.

Rating:
Summary: Hysterical Family Fun
Review: Welcome to the most underrated holiday film ever. This movie has a vast array of laugh out loud characters from the clueless father right down to the spoiled brats that are their grandchildren. Jodie Foster directed this film and never got any kind of praise for it. I guarantee that you will have many laughs with this movie and will watch it for years to come.