Turkey, turkey, turkey, turkey… Three things everyone will be thankful for this year are family, food and movie. And we’ll be thankful that we can experience a Turkey Day tradition in plenty of screen time. From the insatiable Mmm Yum Hostess show on Sesame Street to the finest fowl wrestling in those Mystery Science Theater 3000 reruns, watching this time-honoured film and TV tradition makes us all feel thankful this winter season.
Best Thanksgiving Movies to Watch This Holiday
The Muppet Christmas Carol
There are few of us who can resist Muppet Christmas Carol! Kermit voiced Scrooge. Miss Piggy scowls. Fozzie the Bear falls in love with Bob Cratchit. Jim Henson’s 1967 outing that blends the holiday with the holidays for adults gets four stars in just about every critic’s book. Read the review HERE!
Omagh
Omagh is a sweeping epic that follows the efforts of an Irish state cop who uncovers a network of arms trafficking in Northern Ireland. In August 1997, the city was at its worst level of sectarian violence since the Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998. Don’t miss this deeply moving drama that will stay with you long after you see it. Or two.
The Princess Bride
Das Boot’s arms dealer is nothing like Rob Reiner’s Princess Bride. When Westley’s (Cary Elwes) group is attacked by an unfortunate troop from Hyannis Port, the King (Robin Wright) throws the actors to the wolves, so they can atone for their slaughtering the peasants. And, alas, that’s just the beginning of a rollicking tale of grief, espionage and blissful inanity. Clever. But hilarious.
The Goonies
The Goonies follow Michael (Sean Astin), Steve (Josh Brolin), Mouth (Corey Feldman), Chunk (Henry Winkler), Mouth’s dog Brand (Jeff Cohen) and the others after their tiny town becomes an epic showdown between pirates and prey. Kids need plenty of screen time, as they learn many valuable lessons in Goonies (one of the first Spielberg films to capture what kids really think about politics and media). On an alternate timeline? No, not exactly. In 1985, Spielberg’s cheesy coming-of-age tale with plenty of goofy fun has suddenly lost its innocence in 2016.
The Best Thanksgiving TV Shows to Watch This Holiday
The Wonderful World of Disney
I don’t know if I could love it more. Like many classic kids’ shows and movies, we grow up, the series is reanimated for the modern age, and you can relive the magic from your high chair, recliner or phone (surprise surprise!). Each episode comes with a synopsis of what’s about to happen. Whether it’s finding out how magic is made or the great curse of Christmas, you know exactly what you’re going to get. Please feel free to watch another episode; I’m sure we can all kick the battle over the dinner table in a new direction.
Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Along with Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, I was blessed with The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for the Nintendo 64. Without telling you what the game is about, it’s not too hard to imagine me frantically removing images of Link that were waving in my peripheral vision, or playing the game as Link on the first touch of the controller in the early 90s. And, honestly, Link just can’t be beat.
Caddyshack
You’re the one I came to see! Here’s what you get with Caddyshack. Hard balls flying everywhere; Carl Weathers’ famous howler; the endearing Dewey Finn (Bill Murray) and Doc Hudson (Jack Nicklaus) (who claims to be the only golfer not sponsored by some current golf powerhouse); sometimes the weather is nice, sometimes not. But when we’re back in the health club with our shoulders hunched over in the bean bag chairs, watching the wonderful premise of the film, we can not be more thankful.
Perrey Reeves was an actress who won fame on TV’s “Murder, She Wrote” and starred in “Sister Act” movie. In recent years, she acted in “Charmed,” “The Vow” and “Chernobyl Diaries.”