Feast Films

‘Home for the Holidays’ and 6 other movies to gay up your family holiday

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving weekend is here, and let's face it: Everyone needs a break.

You are stuck in rural Iowa, staying in your childhood bedroom. Grindr is dead, and you miss your fave bars back home in the big gay city. It's the day after you devoured way too much stuffing and pumpkin pie (not to mention that jug of wine) Uncle Joe is still bragging about Trump's odious migrant policy, while Aunt Sally goes on about her Black Friday Walmart excursions. It's enough to make any sane gay boy lose his mind.

In the event entertainment goes from a want to a need, we've assembled these marvelously entertaining (and gay) films for all the time killing and tension diffusing the holiday inevitably requires.

So pour another glass of wine, settle in, and give more thanks. After all, Thanksgiving means Christmas is just around the corner.

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[tps_header] [caption id="attachment_604673" align="alignnone" width="640"] A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving[/caption]

Thanksgiving weekend is here, and let’s face it: Everyone needs a break.

You are stuck in rural Iowa, staying in your childhood bedroom. Grindr is dead, and you miss your fave bars back home in the big gay city. It’s the day after you devoured way too much stuffing and pumpkin pie (not to mention that jug of wine) Uncle Joe is still bragging about Trump’s odious migrant policy, while Aunt Sally goes on about her Black Friday Walmart excursions. It’s enough to make any sane gay boy lose his mind.

In the event entertainment goes from a want to a need, we’ve assembled these marvelously entertaining (and gay) films for all the time killing and tension diffusing the holiday inevitably requires.

So pour another glass of wine, settle in, and give more thanks. After all, Thanksgiving means Christmas is just around the corner.

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Home for the Holidays

Jodie Foster made an auspicious directing debut with this comedy about family love and dysfunction. The impressive cast includes Holly Hunter, Anne Bancroft, Charles Durning, and Robert Downey Jr. as Hunter’s gay brother, giving one of his best performances.

Streams on YouTube, Amazon & Vudu.

The Family Stone

Another story of familial insanity, The Family Stone also boasts an all-star cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Diane Keaton, Craig T. Nelson, Rachel McAdams and Luke Wilson. Our favorite: the happy gay couple of Thad (Ty Giordano) and Patrick (Brian White), who seem the only sane members of the bunch.

Streams on Amazon, YouTube, Vudu & iTunes.

Lez Bomb

Writer/director/star Jenna Lorenzo crafted this coming-out-at-Thanksgiving screwball comedy which plays with sincerity and sensitivity. The veteran cast is good all around, though Bruce Dern and Cloris Leachman, as Lorenzo’s grandparents, steal the movie.

Streams on Amazon.

Related: ‘Lez Bomb’ is the queer family Thanksgiving comedy we’ve been waiting for

Other People

Jesse Plemons and Molly Shannon headline this dramedy which takes place—at least in part—during the holiday season. Plemmons plays David, a recently dumped young gay man forced to return to his parents suburban home to care for his Mom as she battles cancer. By turns funny and moving, the blandest thing about the film is its title.

Streams on Netflix, YouTube, Vudu, Amazon & iTunes.

What’s Cooking

This overlooked gem about four families coping with Thanksgiving insanity features a diverse cast including Joan Chen, Alfrie Woodard, and Mercedes Ruehl. Our favorites, of course, are Kyra Sedgwick and Juliana Margulies as an adorable lesbian couple putting up with their less-than-enlightened parents.

Streams on YouTube, Vudu, Amazon & iTunes.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

The Peanuts gang will forever hold a spot in our hearts for their holiday outings, and Thanksgiving marks no exception. Though not overtly queer, we can’t help but overlook that Peppermint Patty and Marcie probably date. Since Peanuts creator Charles Schultz has said he based Marcie on gay icon Billie Jean King, that doesn’t seem like a stretch.

Streams on Amazon.

Addams Family Values

This cult sequel benefits from the screenwriting gifts of gay writer Paul Rudnick who pads out the dialogue with some very funny zingers, not to mention the twisted, black humor of the First Family of Goth. The welcome addition of Joan Cusack’s psycho killer bridezilla seals the deal.

Streams on Amazon, YouTube, Vudu & iTunes.

Friendsgiving

Writer/actress Nicol Paone makes an auspicious directorial debut with this holiday-themed screwball comedy, which also features a healthy dose of queerness. Friendsgiving stars Malin Akerman & Kat Dennings as a pair of best friends—one straight, one gay—both trying to get over some nasty breakups. Quite simply, Friendsgiving knocked us out with some very big laughs. Akerman & Dennings both have comic gifts, and a talented supporting cast that includes Aisha Tyler, Margaret Cho, Wanda Sykes, and Christine Taylor keeps the laughs coming. The movie, however, belongs to actress Jane Seymour (yes, Jane Seymour) as Molly’s horned-up boozy mom in one of her best performances, and Donnelly’s naked body, which should get a screen credit of its own. In other words, this feast has something for everybody.

Streams on Amazon, YouTube & VUDU.

Note: This article contains portions of other articles previously posted here on Queerty.

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