Home for the Holidays (1995)

After losing her job, making out with her soon-to-be former boss, and finding out that her daughter plans to spend Thanksgiving with her boyfriend, Claudia Larson faces spending the holiday with her family.

Director:

Jodie Foster

Writers:

Chris Radant (short story), W.D. Richter (screenplay)

Stars:

Holly Hunter, Anne Bancroft, Robert Downey Jr.

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Holly Hunter	...	Claudia Larson
Robert Downey Jr.	...	Tommy Larson
Anne Bancroft	...	Adele Larson
Charles Durning	...	Henry Larson
Dylan McDermott	...	Leo Fish
Geraldine Chaplin	...	Aunt Glady
Steve Guttenberg	...	Walter Wedman
Cynthia Stevenson	...	Joanne Wedman
Claire Danes	...	Kitt
Emily Ann Lloyd	...	Brittany Lace
Zack Duhame	...	Walter Wedman Jr.
Austin Pendleton	...	Peter Arnold
David Strathairn	...	Russell Terziak
Amy Yasbeck	...	Ginny Johnson Drewer
James Lecesne	...	Ron Drewer

Storyline

After losing her job, making out with her soon to be ex-boss, and finding out that her daughter plans to spend Thanksgiving with her boyfriend, Claudia Larson has to face spending the holiday with her family. She wonders if she can survive their crazy antics.

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Plot Keywords:

title directed by woman | thanksgiving | gay sibling | female protagonist | dysfunctional family | 

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Taglines:

We'll do it every year..until we get it right

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic material, language and brief drug use

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 November 1995 (USA)

Also Known As:

Feriados en familia

Filming Locations:

Maryland, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$17,518,220

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures,Polygram Filmed Entertainment,Egg Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Robert Downey Jr., who played Charles Chaplin, plays along side the daughter of Chaplin, Geraldine Chaplin (as Aunt Glady), just as he did in Chaplin (1992).

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Goofs

When Russell has finished fixing the family's furnace, he turned to Tommy and said, "How about those Panthers?". Since this film is set in Baltimore, this would be considered an odd statement, even by Tommy. The city had lost the Colts and the film was released a year before Baltimore obtained the Ravens. Baltimoreans wouldn't have rooted for a team in North Carolina. "Redskins" would have been more appropriate.

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Quotes

Aunt Gladys: How fast can you go Tommy?
Tommy: Like the wind, honey.

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Connections

References Shaft (1971)

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Soundtracks

That's Life
Written by Kelly Gordon and Dean Kay

User Reviews

Funny, sad, thoughtful

I won't bother going into too many plot details about "Home for the Holidays." That seems to be the basis of too many other reviews. Besides, the basic plot is revealed in the title!

Instead of the plot, I'd prefer to talk about the emotions generated by this movie. Don't fool yourself into thinking this is some mindless screwball comedy. Even the first few minutes of the movie lulls you into thinking it will be an evening of high-jinks. Then, somewhere along the way, you will find that your laughter has become bittersweet. This is a movie that has its viewers relive painful family memories so common in today's society.

Do yourself a favor. Watch this movie. It will stay with you. You will find yourself going back to it occasionally, just like you find yourself every few years going home for the holidays.