With Halloween out of the way, most people now decorate and prepare for the end-of-the-year holiday season.
Part of getting into the festive spirit is watching film favorites that center on such holidays.
Though Thanksgiving may not have much, there are a few.
“A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving”: A comedic family animated short that follows Charlie Brown’s struggle to prepare a Thanksgiving feast after Peppermint Patty invites everyone from class to his house to celebrate. The main issue is that his family plans to leave town to celebrate. In fear of letting everyone down, he works with Linus, Snoopy, and Woodstock to organize.
“Free Birds”: A family comedy that centers on a turkey named Reggie who realizes the purpose turkeys serve on Thanksgiving. Luckily, after being pardoned by the president, he lives a carefree lifestyle. However, fellow fowl Jake recruits him for a time-travel mission back to 1621, just before the first Thanksgiving, to prevent turkeys from becoming holiday dinners.
“Plains, Trains & Automobiles”: a comedy road trip film centered on control freak Neal Page, hoping to get home to Chicago on time to spend Thanksgiving with his wife and kids. A snowstorm gets his flight rerouted to a distant city in Kansas, causing him immense distress. Also adding to his annoyance is when he has to bunk with chatty Del Griffith. Nevertheless, together, they overcome the intensity of holiday travel.
Of course, there are many Christmas movies to view.
“Miracle on 34th Street”: a festive dramedy of an old man going by the name of Kris Kringle. After working the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, he is hired at the chain’s main store in midtown Manhattan. To everyone’s surprise, Kringle believes he is the real Santa Claus. Nonetheless, his endearing personality makes it easy for him to become friends. To undermine his hard work leads to a court case to determine his mental health and, most of all, his authenticity.
“It’s a Wonderful Life”: a dramedy based in a more religious spirit that focuses on George Bailey, who contemplates the end of his life due to stress and problems. After the angels discuss his life, portrayed through flashbacks, a guardian is sent down to stop him and show George what his town would have looked like if it had not been for all his good deeds.
“The Santa Clause”: a family-comedy-filled franchise that focuses on a cynical divorced father who unwillingly dons the responsibility of becoming the next Santa Claus. As his adventures progress, we see him accept his role, reconcile strained relationships, save the North Pole, and converse with other legendary figures.
“Elf”: a comedy that tells the tale of Buddy, a human orphan raised among Santa’s elves. After learning he is not an elf, he travels to New York in full elf uniform, searching for his birth father. Ironically, his father is a cynical businessman who lacks the Christmas spirit. As he works to become a coherent member of the human world, his childlike manners lead to increasingly chaotic results.
And yes, there are some centered on New Year’s as well.
“Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne”: Yet another adventure featuring the Peanuts gang. This time, it focuses on two characters, Lucy and Charlie Brown. After learning her granny will not be visiting for Christmas, Lucy cheers herself up by throwing the greatest New Year’s Eve party. Meanwhile, Charlie Brown tries to accomplish at least one of his resolutions for the year before starting the next.
“Are We There Yet?”: a comedy, road trip film centered on Nick (Ice Cube) driving two children to their mother in Canada before New Year’s Day in hopes of starting a new relationship. However, the kids are determined to keep their single mom from dating anyone but their dad.