Preparation for the journey home: A Thanksgiving must-read

Please, no, don't let it be that time of year already!
There are flurries in the air, the muzak in the mall has started playing Christmas carols, and my next door neighbor just finished stringing lights along his balcony. Obviously, it that means that Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Yes, Thanksgiving, that wonderful time of year that allows us to give thanks for not having to see our family for eleven months out of the year.

I've got to prepare
But how do we prepare for that horrible venture back into the arms of those that love us the most and drive us the most crazy? Well, in my opinion, the best option is to rent Home for the Holidays and wallow in someone else's misery for a couple of hours.

What's it about?
Home for the Holidays is a wonderful movie that allows us to thank our lucky stars that we are better off than the main character, Claudia. (who is wonderfully played by Holly Hunter) Claudia isn't having a good week. She's just been laid off, she attempted to throw herself at her sixty year old boss in the hopes of keeping her job, she's got a terrible job, and her sixteen year old daughter just informed her she plans to lose her virginity this weekend. And to top it all off, she's going "home for the holidays."

A typical American family?
Okay, Claudia's family isn't anymore dysfunctional than the typical American family. Her mother sheds advice at every opportunity, most of which she picked up from Dear Abby. Her father, recently retired, drives her mother crazy by washing all the cars in the neighborhood (despite the fact that it's November) and playing on his new organ. Aunt Glady, the old maid schoolteacher, has a habit of giving away her lamps. Little brother Tommy still acts like a typical little brother, harassing his sisters constantly. And Claudia's sister Joanne, who stayed in town and raised a "normal" family, is tired of dealing with them all, and isn't afraid to show it.

Why it's so good
The best part of the film is the natural interactions between the characters. The dialogue and the direction make it seem very real-to-life. The casting is excellent, especially Robert Downey Jr. as the pesky little brother who comes home just to cheer up his older sister by bringing her his handsome friend Leo, played by Dylan McDermott.

Thank you, I feel better now
I just love this movie. It makes me feel a little more sane just knowing that everyone is in the same boat I'm in. I hope it will do the same for you.