Funny Thing About Love

There are a few funny things about this family romcom, but the least of them is its comedy. The biggest question is the casting: Why put Jon Heder, a proven comedic leading man, in a small supporting role when he'd clearly be better used as one of the romantic leads -- especially since one is supposed to be a stand-up comic? The production suffers a great deal by sidelining Heder and giving the bulk of the dialogue to three less experienced actors. The script is nothing special, but it's elevated when Heder and veteran comedic actor Barry Corbin ("Grandpa Joe") are on-screen. They deliver almost all of Funny Thing About Love's laugh-out-loud moments.

Another curiosity is the fact that this is a Thanksgiving film that doesn't focus on gratitude. It's easy to see that the Banks are a family who have it all, and they do have an annual tradition of serving the holiday meal at a shelter for the unhoused. But other than the patriarch's Thanksgiving dinner speech, where he raises a glass to his blessings, there's not a lot of verbal acknowledgment of their privilege. And that's relevant because Samantha has to make a big decision by Thanksgiving day: sell her company for a big payout or keep running it herself and face an unknown financial future. But Sam is beautiful, successful, and White and comes from an upper-middle-class background, so the stakes never feel that high. She's going to be fine no matter which decision she makes. Ultimately, Funny Thing About Love serves up a multigenerational Thanksgiving romcom that won't leave a bad taste in your mouth, although it may put you to sleep.