‘Thanksgiving, Again?!’ Review – Thanksgiving Meets Groundhog Day To Hilarious And Heartfelt Results

Thanksgiving at the movies is far from a cornucopia of offerings. A stocking-full of Christmas films exists, and Halloween has its own franchise, but Turkey Day is about as untouched a subgenre as green bean casserole. So, when it does appear at the proverbial movie table, I am more than willing to indulge and hopefully savor it like a piece of pumpkin pie, topped with a dollop of whipped cream. This brings me to Thanksgiving, Again?!, an indie film by director Jeff Macolino that is, as you would imagine, Groundhog Day but at Thanksgiving. Now, this stuffing is a little sparse, so do not go in expecting a similar romp to the Bill Murray classic. But it is both charming and earnest. For all its shortcomings, this one is worth saving a seat at the Thanksgiving dinner table.

Holiday hijinks are on the menu when Tori (Samantha Cevasco) agrees to host her husband Joseph’s (Michael Girgenti) rambunctious, colorful Italian family for Thanksgiving. Family dynamics and holiday headaches are on the menu, and Tori gets stuck in a strange time loop when she wakes up and relives Turkey Day over and over again. Endearing family drama and endless rounds of relatives coming and going, Tori hopes to carve more than turkey, but a slice of sanity and, hopefully, an exit from this loop of harvest replay.

A holiday time loop film is nothing new. Thanksgiving, Again?! does not shy away from its Groundhog Day influences, much like the Jessica Rothe slasher spin Happy Death Day or the forgotten Bess Armstrong TV-movie holiday flick Christmas Every Day, which embrace creative time-loop framing. Now, that of course doesn’t mean this movie is on the same level as the Bill Murray one, or even the brilliant and adorable imitators, but it is still a timely, family-friendly exploit.

While there are shenanigans afoot and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, it is a story about the people in our lives and why they matter. The gathering at the annual Thanksgiving table is, of course, a time to stuff ourselves silly and watch that holiday weight rack up. Still, the reason for the gathering — and for enduring all the family dynamics — is simply the love of family.

The script is sharp and carves out a moment or two for each ensemble member to shine. However, the focus is on Tori, the character enduring the never-ending loop of turkey, pumpkin pies, and family overload. Writer/director Jeff Macolino embraces the indie vibe and lets creativity unfurl once the family is good and seated. Anyone who has ever been to a large family gathering will no doubt relate to the pitfalls Tori endures at her never-ending Thanksgiving. She and Joseph’s marriage is borderline crumbling. There is the relative who counts calories. And of course, the in-law who brings their own creative baggage and nonsensical charm.

The humor comes less from pratfalls or the staging and more from the pressure of entertaining. There is a heartfelt, sincere reality to the pressures of preparing a meal and enduring family time, all while one’s personal life crumbles. So much goes into the perfect meal and serving it that what is important goes right out the window.

At first, the story mirrors the time it takes to roast the bird: it gives time to establish the characters and family dynamics, but at times it feels like exposition overload. As a result, Tori feels more static and passive rather than active in the story. This may have been a structural choice, because once the set is established, she becomes the film’s dominant force and delivers her lines quickly with comedic chops.

Reinventing the wheel in a time-loop movie is difficult. So, I was pleasantly surprised by a few ways the story plays with the tropes and framing. Here is a Thanksgiving film to raise a glass to and enjoy. While this is no Planes, Trains and Automobiles, it also isn’t pretending to be. In a sub-genre that resembles more of the kiddie table when it comes to holiday movies, Thanksgiving, Again?! weaves in its humor with a relatable main character and a poignant story that is timely 365 days a year.   

Thanksgiving, Again?! is currently streaming on Fawesome and Plex. 

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