The portmanteau word “friendsgiving” has been in the popular American lexicon for over a decade now, though the institution it describes is far, far older. Surely for as long as families have been gathering to bond, feast and drive each other gradually crazy over Thanksgiving, the option of a less fractious holiday spent with kith rather than kin has been on the table. Yet the takeaway, such as it is, from Nicol Paone’s sketchy, loose-knit ensemble comedy “Friendsgiving” is that there ultimately isn’t much difference between the two: Turkey Day, it seems, is a recipe for conflict with or without blood relatives in attendance.
It’s a premise that “Friendsgiving” contrives by clumping together a pick-and-mix of mismatched, eccentric characters whom you can’t imagine ever willingly hanging out in the first place; whatever history or chemistry binds them is largely lost in the boozy haze of a slender screenplay.
It’s a premise that “Friendsgiving” contrives by clumping together a pick-and-mix of mismatched, eccentric characters whom you can’t imagine ever willingly hanging out in the first place; whatever history or chemistry binds them is largely lost in the boozy haze of a slender screenplay.
- 10/22/2020
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
Zany holidays have long been a staple of cinematic comedies. That being said, it’s almost always Christmas that gets the attention, leaving Thanksgiving largely in the dust. It’s a missed opportunity, too, as Thanksgiving dinners are notoriously full of awkward conversations, unfortunate political debates with a crazy relative, and the like. So, it makes sense to focus a film on the holiday. What’s more, the non-family gathering version, where friends come together to celebrate, has just as much potential. Unfortunately, Friendsgiving is a real missed opportunity to craft something hilarious. There are sporadically amusing moments, but mostly, it’s a disappointment and a waste of a very solid cast. The movie is a comedy, centered around a Thanksgiving dinner/party. It’s been a tough year for Abby (Kat Dennings) and Molly (Malin Ackerman), with relationships coming to an end. Abby is looking forward to a laid-back Thanksgiving with her best friend,...
- 10/21/2020
- by Joey Magidson
- Hollywoodnews.com
The organization that administers the Peabody Awards has established an East Coast board of directors as it looks to raise its profile in the broader media landscape.
The 18 board members include Katie Couric, Vice Media CEO Nancy Dubuc, PBS president-ceo Paula Kerger of PBS and MTV Documentary Films president Sheila Nevins. The board of directors will be tasked with expanding the Peabody Awards’ media visibility with nonprofits, policy makers, and the public. The board is separate from the jurors who determine the winners of Peabody Awards every year.
“This new board serves as a complement to our existing West Coast board and brings the totality of what we do into focus,” said Peabody executive director Jeffrey Jones. “Their collective experience in journalism, documentary filmmaking, radio and podcasting, nonprofit management, and issue-conscious work reflects the diverse constituencies we partner with and promote. We welcome their participation, and appreciate the board’s...
The 18 board members include Katie Couric, Vice Media CEO Nancy Dubuc, PBS president-ceo Paula Kerger of PBS and MTV Documentary Films president Sheila Nevins. The board of directors will be tasked with expanding the Peabody Awards’ media visibility with nonprofits, policy makers, and the public. The board is separate from the jurors who determine the winners of Peabody Awards every year.
“This new board serves as a complement to our existing West Coast board and brings the totality of what we do into focus,” said Peabody executive director Jeffrey Jones. “Their collective experience in journalism, documentary filmmaking, radio and podcasting, nonprofit management, and issue-conscious work reflects the diverse constituencies we partner with and promote. We welcome their participation, and appreciate the board’s...
- 5/29/2019
- by Mackenzie Nichols
- Variety Film + TV
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