Co-Writer/Director/Actor Jeff Macolino gives us the 2025 comedy film; Thanksgiving Again?! It is basically: Zen and the art of happy. Or, as one character succinctly puts it, (sic) “I’ll Bill Murray the sh*t out of this.” *Writing credit is shared between Jeff, Joseph and Victoria. So, essentially, the family that writes together… You get the idea. Right?*
Thanksgiving Again?! Story
Tori and Joseph are hosting Thanksgiving in their house this year. Repeatedly. Tori takes this whole thing far too seriously and Joseph rides the other end of that scale. Jeffrey is clearly a bad influence on Tori’s hubby in the lack of seriousness. Meanwhile, the famiglia and an interesting “plus one,” all descend upon the young couple’s casa. Oh, and the couple are trying to “get pregnant.”
Thanksgiving Again?! Main Cast
Samantha Cevasco is Tori.
Michael Girgenti is Joseph.
Jeff Macolino is Jeffrey.
Mary Skinner is Vincenza.
John Maciag is Jasper.
Megan Schulz is Christina.
Madeleine Carstens is Nicole.
Shaun Grant is Chase.
Isabella Macolino is Grace.
James Macolino is Pasquale.
Gabrielle Leonore is Jessica.
Cast is King/Queen
Everyone here is perfectly cast. *Although, truth be told, I initially had a hard time warming up to Samantha Cevasco as Tori. Then further along into the film I realised that , “Duh!” Character growth! Even a critic as old as I am forgets to watch the film.* A point of clarification here, everyone gets a generous dose of character growth. Pretty doggone satisfying.
*Side Note: Shaun Grant as the football mad Chase is listed as “stunts” in the 2012 sci fi film Looper; a personal favorite. That film also deals with “time loops, aka: time travel. I thought it interesting enough to point that out. Sorry, I’ll head back to reviewing this film now.*
Let’s Talk Thanksgiving Again?!
In terms of lessons being learned by just about everyone in the cast; this film works beautifully. As Tori repeatedly re-lives her Thanksgiving meal from Hades, every character gets a little more screen time. We learn, oh so slowly, about everyone’s heretofore hidden side. Even “fun-time” Jeffrey, a sort of modern millenium “Dean Martin archetype” whose idea of fun is getting boozed and drugged up, has another more serious side. *And before someone brings it up, “Yes we know that the “boozer” Dino was an act. Thanks.”
Make no mistake, Jeffrey, aka; Jeff Macolino, effortlessly pulls off his party-time pal role, and much later, his “more morose “other” self. All the actors pull this off with varying degrees of success. All helped, no doubt, by this cracking almost “meta” script. After watching the depressing drudgery of a Richard Bachman adaptation, (Stephen King’s alter nom de plume.) this film has the effect of a bit of filmic ginger to cleanse the palate. I enjoyed the plot device and the story a lot.
It all Works
DP/Editor Jeremiah Lacoolio makes this digitally shot film look brilliant. The lighting is spot on and the tight frames are just gorgeous. Overall, the 99 minute film is well paced and the effect of each Thanksgiving day “rewinding” in black and white works beautifully.
The device of Tori believing that she must get everyone’s day “right” is also effective. It is rare that each character is given such an impressive amount of depth. This, along with the storyline, makes Thanksgiving Again?! a real treat.
The Verdict
The film earns an easy 5 out of 5 stars. The urge to penalise a half star for the sheer amount of “time loop” films on offer this year was ignored. TA?! has an entertaining enough concept that, despite there being a fair few time loop films to choose from, it still manages to score the full Monty. This award winning film leaves the viewer feeling quite satisfied by the time the end credits roll. We do not know when Thanksgiving Again?! will be available to watch outside of the film festival circuit but when we find out, this information will be passed on to you. In the meantime, check out this trailer and see what you think.
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