1993-Comedy-Plot: Sweet home town girl meets Shore her freshman year at college in the big city. She's changed fast & wants to go home for Thanksgiving showing of her new image with Shore in tow. It does deal with coming home for Thanksgiving from the big city. This is one of the few Pauly Shore movies I can stand thanks to an awesome 90's fashion makeover, the charming Carla Gugino, and the occasionally sweet Shore.
1997 Dark ComedyPlot: An estranged brother returns home for Thanksgiving with a surprise fiance, much to the chagrin of his mother & crazy Jackie O obsessed twin sister.
Parker Posey at her best. Intelligent, hilarious & inappropriate with an amazing cast. Even Tori Spelling is amazing.
2003 ComedyPlot: The bad seed of the family (Holmes) wants to prove her new found adulthood by cooking her family Thanksgiving meal. Everything goes wrong.
This is the oft rare indie comedy without a depressing ending.
1997 DramaPlot: Set in 1970's suburbia, 2 dysfunctional families decide to have Thanksgiving together and all their secrets come out.
This is a haunting, beautifully acted film directed by the acclaimed Ang Lee. Sometimes hard to watch, but ultimately thought-provoking and sometimes inappropriately funny.
1993 ComedyADDAMS FAMILY VALUES.
Plot: Morticia gets pregnant and Uncle Fester marries a black widow.
Black Widow (Joan Cusack) sends Pugsley & Wed off to summer camp to get rid of them. My favorite scene of this surprisingly superior sequel is the Thanksgiving pageant, where Wednesday Addams (Christina Ricci) plays a vengeful Native American who decides to go off script. Won't give anything away.
2001Plot: Depressed man (Keanu Reeves) is referred to a very special woman (Charlize Theron) who takes a month to "nurse" anyone back to mental health. This is November.
Super sappy, but somehow I remember liking it.
1973 AnimatedPlot: Join Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang for this Thanksgiving double feature. In A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, Chuck tries to host a traditional holiday feast. In the Mayflower Voyagers, the Peanuts reenact the first Thanksgiving. In the Emmy-winning first feature, dinner turns into a disaster when clueless Snoopy and Woodstock serve toast and popcorn as the main dish, but Marcie steps in and saves the holiday.
I love the Peanuts & I love Snoopy. Nuff said.
2011 ComedyTower Heist follows Josh (Ben Stiller), Charlie (Casey Affleck) and Enrique Dev'reaux (Michael Peña), employees of an exclusive apartment building who lose their pensions in the Ponzi scheme of Wall Street businessman Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda). The group enlist the aid of criminal Slide (Eddie Murphy), bankrupt businessman Mr. Fitzhugh (Matthew Broderick) and another employee of the apartment building, Odessa (Gabourey Sidibe), to break into Shaw's apartment and steal back their money while avoiding the FBI agent in charge of his case, Claire Denham (Téa Leoni). So why is this a Thanksgiving movie? Because a court hearing for Shaw has been scheduled for Thanksgiving during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to avoid publicity, and Shaw will go free. Josh and his team decide to break into Shaw's apartment during the parade.
Foodie Films & TV
2007 Animated Plot: With dreams of becoming a chef, a culinary genius in the form of a rat, makes an unusual alliance with a young kitchen worker at a famed restaurant.
Stars: Brad Garrett, Patton Oswalt, Ian Holm, Peter O'Toole, Janenae Garofalo
This Oscar winning animated film had culinary moments so appetizing looking, I wanted to jump in the screen and eat, Paris looked stunning, & it had some of the best voice over work by big name actors & not voice over artists I've heard in quite awhile.
This Oscar winning animated film had culinary moments so appetizing looking, I wanted to jump in the screen and eat, Paris looked stunning, & it had some of the best voice over work by big name actors & not voice over artists I've heard in quite awhile.
2009 BiopicPlot: Julia Child's story of her start in the cooking profession is intertwined with blogger Julie Powell's 2002 challenge to cook all the recipes in Child's first book.
Director: Nora Ephron
Stars: Amy Adams, Meryl Streep, Chris Messina, Stanley Tucci
Amazing Frensh food & memorable kitchen moments & meltdowns.
Amazing Frensh food & memorable kitchen moments & meltdowns.
200 Romantic Comedy-
Plot: A woman and her daughter open a chocolate shop in a small French village that shakes up the community.
Director: Lasse Hallström
Stars: Juliette Binoche, Judi Dench, Alfred Molina, Carrie-Anne Moss
I've heard it takes 40lbs of chocolate to re-create to euphoric feeling of love. Since that would probably kill you, why don't you watch this film & the chocolate in it do that instead.
I've heard it takes 40lbs of chocolate to re-create to euphoric feeling of love. Since that would probably kill you, why don't you watch this film & the chocolate in it do that instead.
2009 Animated
Plot: The most delicious event since macaroni met cheese. Inspired by the beloved children's book, the film focuses on a town where food falls from the sky like rain.
Director: Phil Lord, Chris Miller
Stars: Anna Faris, Bill Hader, Bruce Campbell, James Caan
So this was my absolute favorite book when I was a kid. Could it possibly live up to my expectations? Yes, actually it did. Yes there's a sequel now, but it looks stupid. Mutant animal food hybrids? Really?
So this was my absolute favorite book when I was a kid. Could it possibly live up to my expectations? Yes, actually it did. Yes there's a sequel now, but it looks stupid. Mutant animal food hybrids? Really?
1999 Romantic Comedy
Plot: A terrible chef (Gellar) trying to keep her late mother's restaurant afloat, suddenly obtains the magical ability to put her feelings into her food and becomes a culinary gem.
Director: Mark Tarlov
Stars: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Sean Patrick Flanery, Patricia Clarkson,Dylan Baker
Ok so a lot of people bag this movie, but I think this movie is adorable. And the eclair scene with Clarkson & Baker is a standout.
Ok so a lot of people bag this movie, but I think this movie is adorable. And the eclair scene with Clarkson & Baker is a standout.
1991 Drama
Plot: A housewife who is unhappy with her life befriends an old lady in a nursing home and is enthralled by the tales she tells of people she used to know.
Director: Jon Avnet
Stars: Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy, Mary Stuart Masterson, Mary-Louise Parker
This movie centers around different characters that work and patronize the Whistle Stop Cafe where the "secrets in the sauce". This foodie film will have you wondering what the heck are fried green tomatoes?
Director: Jon Avnet
Stars: Kathy Bates, Jessica Tandy, Mary Stuart Masterson, Mary-Louise Parker
This movie centers around different characters that work and patronize the Whistle Stop Cafe where the "secrets in the sauce". This foodie film will have you wondering what the heck are fried green tomatoes?
2007 Comedy
Plot: Jenna is a pregnant, unhappily married waitress in the deep south. What does make her happy is making pies in the diner she works in, and makes every kinda pie for every kind of life-event or feeling imaginable.
Director: Adrienne Shelly
Stars: Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Jeremy Sisto, Cheryl Hines
Director: Adrienne Shelly
Stars: Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Jeremy Sisto, Cheryl Hines
2011 Comedy Series
Plot: Two young women waitressing at a greasy spoon diner strike up an unlikely friendship in the hopes of launching a successful business - if only they can raise the cash.
Stars: Kat Dennings, Beth Behrs, Garrett Morris, Jonathan Kite
This business in question is a cupcake shop with the baking skills of Dennings & the business savvy of Behrs.
This business in question is a cupcake shop with the baking skills of Dennings & the business savvy of Behrs.
1971 Musical
Plot: A poor boy wins the opportunity to tour the most eccentric and wonderful candy factory of all.
Director: Mel Stuart
Stars: Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson, Peter Ostrum, Roy Kinnear
Please at all costs avoid the remake with Johhny Depp. It's creepy and stupid. This original had so much heart and sooo much candy. I'm having a hankering for a giant gummy bear right about now.
Please at all costs avoid the remake with Johhny Depp. It's creepy and stupid. This original had so much heart and sooo much candy. I'm having a hankering for a giant gummy bear right about now.
2005 Comedy
Plot: Young employees at Shenaniganz restaurant collectively stave off boredom and adulthood with their antics.
Director: Rob McKittrick
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Anna Faris, John Francis Daley, Justin Long
This movie might turn you off to food, especially after seeing what happens to patrons who send their food back. You've been warned.
This movie might turn you off to food, especially after seeing what happens to patrons who send their food back. You've been warned.
2002 Comedy
Plot: A young Greek woman falls in love with a non-Greek and struggles to get her family to accept him while she comes to terms with her heritage and cultural identity.
Director: Joel Zwick
Stars: Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Michael Constantine, Christina Eleusiniotis
The Greek culture like all cultures revolves so much around food. Food quote: "He don't eat no meat? He don't eat no meat? It's ok. I make lamb."
The Greek culture like all cultures revolves so much around food. Food quote: "He don't eat no meat? He don't eat no meat? It's ok. I make lamb."
1997 Romantic ComedyPlot: Jules (Julia Roberts) tries to stop the upcoming nuptials of her best guy friend before he marries preppy Kimberly (Cameron Diaz)
Wedding movies always have food, there's the cake, the drunken karaoke bar sequences, the singing lobsters at the brunch. You know, the usual. This movie also happens to have the main character as a food critic. Oh should I ever be so blessed?
2000 Romance
Plot: A man who falls in love with the woman who received his wife's heart must decide which woman it is who holds his heart.
Director: Bonnie Hunt
Stars: David Duchovny, Minnie Driver, Carroll O'Connor, Robert Loggia
Minnie Driver and all the adorbale old men in her life all revolve around the family run O'Reilly's Italian Resturant.
Minnie Driver and all the adorbale old men in her life all revolve around the family run O'Reilly's Italian Resturant.
2003 Romantic Comedy
Plot: A writer impulsively buys a villa in Tuscany in order to change her life.
Director: Audrey Wells
Stars: Diane Lane, Raoul Bova, Sandra Oh, Lindsay Duncan
According to this movie grapes taste purple, teenagers fall in love picking olives from olive trees, and people are brought together with food. This is my go-to feel good movie when I need a pick-me-up.
According to this movie grapes taste purple, teenagers fall in love picking olives from olive trees, and people are brought together with food. This is my go-to feel good movie when I need a pick-me-up.
1995 Dark Comedy
A group of idealistic, but frustrated, liberals succumb to the temptation of murdering right wing pundits for their political beliefs.
Director: Stacy Title
Stars: Cameron Diaz, Ron Eldard, Annabeth Gish, Jonathan Penner
Politics aside, this movie is funny and everyone's head goes face first into their food. I know I've done that for different reasons.
Politics aside, this movie is funny and everyone's head goes face first into their food. I know I've done that for different reasons.
1997 Romantic Comedy
Daniel, Sam(antha) and Peter are three old friends living together in a Los Angeles loft. Being gifted with a great cooking skill and good looks Daniel uses his talent to bring home one beauty after another. As he gives public cooking lessons, there is enough female supply for his wishes. One day, a TV-Producer takes part in one of his courses and watches him work. Then, she offers him his own show, "Cooking for Two". Daniel is more than happy and accepts gratefully. The three friends promise to each other that not even money can bring them apart.
Director: Felix O. Adlon
Stars: Christian Oliver, Pamela Adlon, Laura San Giacomo, John Craig
This is one of those great under-dog movies where the cute, quirky but imperfect girl (I used to see myself in all those characters. Heck I still do but I got the guy to watch them with now) where the she gets the hot guy in the end and he can cook.
This is one of those great under-dog movies where the cute, quirky but imperfect girl (I used to see myself in all those characters. Heck I still do but I got the guy to watch them with now) where the she gets the hot guy in the end and he can cook.
2004 Documentary
Plot: While examining the influence of the fast food industry, Morgan Spurlock personally explores the consequences on his health of a diet of solely McDonald's food for one month. (100 mins.)
Director: Morgan Spurlock
Stars: Morgan Spurlock, Daryl Isaacs, Lisa Ganjhu, Stephen Siegel
Guaranteed to make you vomit in your mouth a little every time you so much as see those double arches. That is, if you haven't already. This documentary is funny, informative, and makes you think more about what you put into your body and how that can effect your life. I must confess though-I still go to McD's for the coffee, sweet tea, and an occasional parfait or even ahem Bic Mac. It's my McD weakness. I'm sorry. It's the secret sauce (thousand island dressing I know). But I can cut up onions that tiny. It's those too. Damn you Big Mac.
Guaranteed to make you vomit in your mouth a little every time you so much as see those double arches. That is, if you haven't already. This documentary is funny, informative, and makes you think more about what you put into your body and how that can effect your life. I must confess though-I still go to McD's for the coffee, sweet tea, and an occasional parfait or even ahem Bic Mac. It's my McD weakness. I'm sorry. It's the secret sauce (thousand island dressing I know). But I can cut up onions that tiny. It's those too. Damn you Big Mac.
Reality Cooking Competition Series
Top Chef
Plot: Professional chefs from around the country from all types of backgrounds and walks of life compete to win the title of Top Chef which usually includes $100,000, a feature in Food & Wine magazine, and a showcase at the annual Aspen Food & Wine Classic. Each episode has a Quick Fire challenge & an Elimination challenge.
Plot: Professional chefs from around the country from all types of backgrounds and walks of life compete to win the title of Top Chef which usually includes $100,000, a feature in Food & Wine magazine, and a showcase at the annual Aspen Food & Wine Classic. Each episode has a Quick Fire challenge & an Elimination challenge.
Stars: Tom Colicchio, Padma Lakshmi, Gail Simmons,
I love this show! Each season is in a different state with each challenge highlighting different food facts/culture, etc of that state. There in my childhood favorite and a huge part of my life growing up: New Orleans, LA.
I love this show! Each season is in a different state with each challenge highlighting different food facts/culture, etc of that state. There in my childhood favorite and a huge part of my life growing up: New Orleans, LA.
Thanksgiving & Foodie Films Currently in theaters
2013 Animated
I can't vouch for this one yet, but why a computer-animated Thanksgiving movie has taken this long to be made is kind of shocking. Let's hope it's not a turkey. Word play - yes!
Foodie Movies Recently Released on DVD
2013 Dark Comedy
An obsessive chef Heather Graham) befriends an anorexic former child star (Carrie-Anne Moss) living in the apartment next door, sparking a fiery battle of wills.
2013 Drama
One individual's actions impact the lives of many in this urban tale of religious conspiracy and interconnected lives.
This movie is pretty incredible. It also revolves around a convenience store and a bag of candy.
Other Thanksgiving and Foodie Films that I haven't seen yet so I can't attest to if they;re good, but I want to see them.
The Mistress of Spices 2005 Romance
Cast:
Dylan McDermott, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Padma Lakshmi
After leaving India and moving to the United States, Tilo sets up shop in San Francisco as the proprietor of an exotic spice store and helps her customers -- including a handsome American -- change their lives with just the right amount of seasoning.
Scent of a Woman 1992 Drama
Cast:
Al Pacino, Chris O'Donnell, James Rebhorn, Gabrielle Anwar, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bradley Whitford, Frances Conroy.
Hoping to earn some extra cash during the Thanksgiving holiday, a poor prep-school student agrees to look after a blind and cantankerous retired colonel. Though the two are mismatched, their relationship grows during a string of wild escapades.
My Girlfriend's Boyfriend 2010 Romantic Comedy
Cast:
Alyssa Milano, Christopher Gorham, Michael Landes, Beau Bridges, Tom Lenk, Carol Kane
Jesse Young, a girl who already has everything, finds herself falling for two seemingly perfect guys: sexy but struggling writer Ethan and button-down advertising executive Troy. Can she find true love with two men at the same time? Milano Plays a waitress in this film & 2 characters first meet cute at the cafe where she works.
Big Night 1996 Drama
Despite its superb cuisine, an Italian restaurant run by immigrant brothers verges on bankruptcy. But the siblings risk it all to save their bistro when they get the chance to cook up a feast for bandleader Louis Prima.
Diner 1982 Drama
In 1959 Baltimore, former school chums facing adulthood find solace at the local diner, where the banter between groom-to-be Eddie (Guttenberg), best man Billy (Daly), womanizer Boogie (Rourke), married Shrevie (Stern) and quirky Modell (Reiser) ranges from girls to growing old. Oscar nod for Best Screenplay.
In the Weeds 200o Romantic Comedy
Cast:
Joshua Leonard, Molly Ringwald, Ellen Pompeo
Struggling to find success in New York City, Adam (Joshua Leonard) and Chloe (Molly Ringwald) are a waiter and waitress in a swanky restaurant, surrounded by eccentric co-workers who hash out their personal lives while trying to make ends meet.
"Kitchen Confidential" 2005 Comedy
Inspired by the best-selling book of the same title, this sitcom follows the antics of once-famous chef Jack -- played by Bradley Cooper -- whose hard-partying ways nearly derail him. When a second chance presents itself, will Jack be able to act?
A Private Function 1984 Satire
Cast:
Maggie Smith, Pete Postlethwaite
Set during the lean years after World War II, this comedy follows the schemes of a malcontent wife who goads her placid husband into stealing a pig that their country village -- contrary to food rationing laws -- is fattening for slaughter.
Soul Food 1997 Drama
Cast:
Vanessa Williams, Vivica A. Fox, Nia Long, Mekhi Phifer
Traditional Sunday dinners at Mama Joe's turn sour when three sisters start bringing their problems to the dinner table. When tragedy strikes, it's up to grandson Ahmad to pull the family together and put the soul back into the weekly gatherings.
The Slammin' Salmon 2009 Comedy
Cast:
Michael Clarke Duncan, Lance Henriksen, Olivia Munn, Vivica A. Fox, Morgan Fairchild
When a boxer turned restaurateur announces a contest to his staff, the good news is that the winner will get a $10,000 bonus. The bad news? The loser will be on the receiving end of a heavy duty smack-down at the hands of the boss.
The Myth of Fingerprints' (1997) Drama
Cast:
Noah Wyle, Blythe Danner, Hope Davis, James Le Gros, Michael Vartan, Julianne Moore, Roy Scheider.
Warren (Wyle) returns home after a three-year absence and soon falls into the rhythms of his childhood: bickering with his siblings, hanging out with his stoner buddies and avoiding his strange, cold father. But when his ex-girlfriend reappears, she becomes the catalyst for a Thanksgiving that changes everything.
What's Cooking? 2000 Drama
Plot: In LA's Fairfax district, where ethnic groups abound, four households celebrate Thanksgiving amidst family tensions
Starring: Julianna Marguiles & Alfre Woodard
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