Une sacrée famille

As with everything, I'm about a month behind on this! I should have watched it on thanksgiving, or at least in Thanksgiving month! But yet here I am watching it now, so expect me to be watching Christmas stuff in January haha!

My reason for watching this is my love for Mary Tyler Moore though, and she's good all year round. And I must declare, 1980 / 1990s Mary is the best Mary to me! There was something about the combination of her maturity with the style of movies that were being made at the time that just fit perfectly together. She's definitely one of my top 15 actresses - always a joy to watch.

This movie is not what you would expect from an old TV movie called Thanksgiving Day. Not the precious, saccharin film that I think people are used to in terms of holiday movies. This is more like a National Lampoon's film.

I really enjoyed the movie. The interaction between actors Mary Tyler Moore and Jonathon Brandmeier was the highlight of the movie for me. Brandmeier's comedic energy comes off as well on screen as any new actor I've seen in years.

Excellent direction with a subtle sardonic touch by Mr. Tanasescu. Mary Tyler Moore does her stuff as the consummate comedic pro that she is.

Tony Curtis somewhat walks through with that jaunting twinkle in his eye as seen in prior comedic ventures.

Joe Balogna does a masterful turn as the "heavy" playing it with nuanced smirk that lies bubbling just below the surface and never drowns you with the cliche.

Tom Hensley's Danny Elfmanesque-like score adds just the right tone to the wacky proceedings.

All in all, an enjoyable romp through the up down and up life of a uncommon dysfunctional family.