What to Watch on Your Turkey Day Weekend

Have visions of turkey and chestnut stuffing started dancing in your head? Thanksgiving is almost upon us, and we’re already talking nonstop about brining vs. grilling the big bird. And while we can’t stop dreaming about the luxurious four-day vacation, we have no plans to do anything after the dishes are cleared.

What do you do with your family and loved ones once all the food is gone? If your family is anything like mine, chances are you’ll head out to the movies — and you’ll have strong opinions about what to see. Since being forewarned is forearmed, you might want to keep an eye on what’s out there. Here are my suggestions:

For the whole family: The Fantastic Mr. Fox
Kids will enjoy the classic look of the stop-motion animation and the funny, furry protagonists, and teens and young adults will love the aesthetic that hip director Wes Anderson brings to the story.

For the adults: Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
As I mentioned last week, this little indie film is getting lots of attention — and lots of box-office dollars — for its inspiring story and powerful performances.

For the ’tweens: The Twilight Saga: New Moon
If you don’t know what this is already, you don’t have a ’tween in the house and just won’t get it.

To shock you out of the tryptophan coma: 2012
If all of the holiday activity makes your brain melt to the point where you don’t want to invest in characters and plots, this end-of-the-world tale is full of mindless special effects and spectacular action sequences to get your heart beating again.

To fill the void after the football game: The Blind Side
Based on the book by Michael Lewis, this movie will attract sports fans and sideliners alike with its combination of human drama and football action.

For the ladies: Broken Embraces
Nobody writes better roles for women than Pedro Almodóvar, director of All About My Mother and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.

For the men: Ninja Assassin
The title just says it all, doesn’t it?

For families with members serving in the military: The Messenger
This indie may be harder to find, but the film — about a pair of army officers on “bereavement notification” detail — has racked up some pretty positive reviews.

For those who want to jump the gun a little: A Christmas Carol
If you’re the type of person that isn’t totally irritated by the Christmas music in department stores the day after Halloween, Robert Zemeckis’ motion-capture animation is a promising and faithful adaptation of the Dickens tale.