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Parents' Guide to

Friendsgiving

By Tara McNamara, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Raunchy Thanksgiving comedy is a turkey; drinking, language.

Movie R 2020 95 minutes
Friendsgiving Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

age 18+

Based on 1 parent review

age 18+

Funny-ish but not (at all) for Kids

We watched this with my 15 year old daughter. It got embarrassing fast. Both my husband and my daughter took turns leaving the room until my daughter left for good after about 20 minutes. The opening scene is of a couple engaging in bondage. There was also a lot of drinking and drug use; characters simulating sex; adults behaving badly. It’s a comedy that has funny moments but is more for college age young adults than kids or families. Long time actress Jane Seymour was the highlight of the movie, playing an aged vamp/mother to Malin Ackerman. Also several other actors were good. The movie was just hard to enjoy because it was so full of vulgar language, sexual innuendo and people behaving badly that it was hard to relate to and had no subtlety or even much of a story arc or plot.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (1 ):

There are surprisingly few movies about Thanksgiving, and one about friends celebrating together seems like it should be promising, but think twice before queuing up this crass, chaotic comedy. It boasts a cast full of comedic talent, is loosely based on a true story, and was executive-produced by comedy giant Ben Stiller, but it doesn't feel good to laugh at the misery of women in their 30s trying to navigate life.

It's hard to feel a sympathetic connection to any of these characters. Of the three "real" women, only one has the capability to be relatable: Abby, who only recently realized she was gay and is grappling with her loneliness. She has no children or significant other and lives far away from her family. So she envisioned a perfect holiday with her lifelong best friend, Molly, who just happens to be a movie star. Third wheel Lauren, meanwhile, seems to have the perfect life -- and despite getting schnockered by drinking too much, she really has no other dimension. The other characters are unbelievable over-the-top sketch comedy creations who don't offer insights or depth; they just get in the way of the core duo/trio and create noise. And the way the friends dish about their sexual experiences in crude terms and gestures might be funny in real life, but it could also be offensive to many viewers. In other words, in a multigenerational setting, your family will probably be grateful if you skip this film.

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