Watch Home for the Holidays

Home for the Holidays is a 1995 American family comedy-drama film directed by Jodie Foster and starring Holly Hunter, Anne Bancroft, Robert Downey Jr., Charles Durning, Dylan McDermott, Geraldine Chaplin, Steve Guttenberg, Cynthia Stevenson, Claire Danes, Austin Pendleton, and David Strathairn. The film follows the chaotic Thanksgiving holiday of a single mother Claudia Larson (Holly Hunter) who flies home to Baltimore to spend the holiday with her dysfunctional family.

Claudia Larson is a struggling artist who has recently lost her job and is dealing with the aftermath of a messy breakup. She decides to fly home to Baltimore to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with her parents and siblings. As soon as she arrives, she is struck by the chaos that ensues in her family. Her mother, Adele (Anne Bancroft), is a controlling and overbearing perfectionist who constantly criticizes Claudia about her life choices. Her father, Henry (Charles Durning), is a gentle soul who is constantly caught in the middle of the family's endless arguments. And her brother, Tommy (Robert Downey Jr.), is a wild and unpredictable character who stirs up trouble wherever he goes.

As the holiday progresses, Claudia gets caught up in a series of mishaps and misunderstandings with her family members. She also reconnects with her high school crush Leo Fish (Dylan McDermott) and experiences some unexpected sparks with her brother's friend, Leo's brother Kitt (David Strathairn). Meanwhile, her teenage daughter, Kitt (Claire Danes), is dealing with her own set of issues, including a problematic relationship with her boyfriend.

The film is a hilarious and heartwarming depiction of a dysfunctional family coming together for the holidays. Jodie Foster's direction captures the chaotic energy of family gatherings, balancing the humor with the touching moments that emerge between characters. The film is driven by a strong ensemble cast, with Holly Hunter delivering a standout performance as the beleaguered Claudia. Anne Bancroft is also excellent as the domineering matriarch, bringing both humor and pathos to her character.

The film is also noteworthy for its portrayal of a single mother trying to balance her personal and professional life. Claudia's struggles with her career and her love life are relatable and grounded in a realistic depiction of modern womanhood. At the same time, the film tackles larger themes of family, forgiveness, and the redemptive power of love.

Overall, Home for the Holidays is a delightful and poignant film that captures the joys and challenges of family life. Its universal themes and relatable characters make it an enduring classic of the holiday movie genre.

Home for the Holidays is a 1995 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 43 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6 and a MetaScore of 56.