Home for the Holidays **** (1995, Holly Hunter, Anne Bancroft, Robert Downey Jr, Charles Durning, Dylan McDermott, Geraldine Chaplin, Steve Guttenberg, Claire Danes) – Classic Movie Review 432

Holly Hunter stars as a sacked art gallery worker Claudia Larson, a single mom with a teenage daughter Kitt (Claire Danes), who joins her family for Thanksgiving and quickly regrets it. She’s had a really bad day, after being fired from her job, being told by her daughter she’s going to have sex, losing her coat and making out with her boss. But things are going to get worse…

Based on the short story by Chris Radant, with a screenplay by W D Richter, director Jodie Foster’s heartfelt 1995 comedy is a timely reminder of why we return to holiday hell.

With an acerbic, witty script and a formidable cast on great form, including Geraldine Chaplin as a dotty aunt, it’s surprisingly funny and engaging.

Hunter holds the centre firm in a skilled, appealing performance, the brilliant Anne Bancroft and Charles Durning have a way over-energetic field day as Hunter’s parents, and Robert Downey Jr hits the spot as her brother Tommy, who arrives with Leo Fish (Dylan McDermott), who may or may not be his new partner. Steve Guttenberg, David Strathairn, Amy Yasbeck and Austin Pendleton are also in the striking cast of this special little gem of a movie.

This was Foster’s second film as director, after Little Man Tate (1991), but we had to wait till 2011 for the next, The Beaver (2011).

Jodie Foster married her girlfriend, photographer Alexandra Hedison, over the Easter weekend in April 2014.

© Derek Winnert 2013 Classic Movie Review 432

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