Shubhabrata Dutta
For decades, movies have been entertaining us, and this is especially applicable when speaking of celebrations. There is hardly any occasion or festival across the different cultures of the world that hasn’t been showcased in movies. However, while earlier we had to wait for a certain movie to be televised on a particular occasion, which might turn out to be the wrong one, thereby breaking our hearts, the advent of OTT platforms has taken away that sadness. They provide us with a plethora of movies to choose from based on our choices, and Hulu has some of the most heartwarming movies in its catalog.
7. Pilgrim (2019)
A horror film directed by Marcus Dunstan, ‘Pilgrim’ shows what happens after a woman invites a group of Pilgrim reenactors for Thanksgiving so that her family can get to know more about the occasion and its significance. However, what she doesn’t know is that the “pilgrims” have objectives of their own that they slowly start to reveal, much to the horror of the family. The cast includes Reign Edwards, Elyse Levesque, Peter Giles, Beth Curry, Kerr Smith, and Antonio Raul Corbo. You can watch the movie here.
6. Deck the Halls (2006)
Starring Danny DeVito and Matthew Broderick, ‘Deck the Halls’ is all about two neighbors trying to prove themselves as Mr. Christmas by decorating their respective houses better than the other. Steve Finch is the self-proclaimed Mr. Christmas, but that soon changes after Buddy Hall moves in with his family next door. As Buddy decorates his house so it can be seen from space, Steve finds his position threatened, thereby setting off a war of decorations. While the story is predictable, DeVito and Broderick add charm to it, allowing you to enjoy it with your friends and family over Thanksgiving dinner as you, too, plan for Christmas. Directed by John Whitesell, ‘Deck the Halls’ can be streamed here.
5. The Binge (2020)
This film is a parody of ‘The Purge’ (2013). While in ‘The Purge,’ criminal activities were legal for a 12-hour period, in this one, all drugs and alcohol are legal for one night every year, i.e., 12 hours to be precise. We follow three 18-year-olds, the reluctant Griffin (Skyler Gisondo), the very eager Hags (Dexter Darden), and the recluse Andrew (Eduardo Franco), as they try to make the most of their first “Binge.” We also have Principal Carlsen (Vince Vaughn), the overprotective father of Lena (Grace Van Dien), Griffin’s crush. As the young adults set to enjoy the pleasures of being high, a string of events take the viewers on a ride filled with ridiculous motives and occurrences, underscored by the warmth of an evolving friendship. Directed by Jeremy Garelick, ‘The Binge’ can be streamed here.
4. Son in Law (1993)
A cult classic by Steve Rash, ‘Son in Law’ is a quintessential 90s whacky comedy that goes no-holds-barred regarding humor. It follows country girl Rebecca (Carla Gugino), whose introduction to modern university culture in Los Angeles would have gone haywire had it not been for party animal Fred “Crawl” Weasel (Pauly Shore), who helps her cope.
In return, she brings him home to South Dakota for Thanksgiving, and unforeseen events lead Crawl to declare himself Rebecca’s fiancé to her family. How he tries to prove himself “worthy” to Rebecca’s family leads to a string of hilarious incidents that have earned the film its cult classic status. A whacky take on culture clash, ‘Son in Law’ is a thoroughly entertaining flick that you can watch right here.
3. Gigi & Nate (2022)
Directed by Nick Hamm, ‘Gigi & Nate’ explores the relationship between a quadriplegic man and a monkey. Nate Gibson develops bacterial meningitis that leaves him quadriplegic. He tries to kill himself out of depression. That’s when his mother reaches out to a service animal organization and brings home a capuchin monkey named Gigi. This is so that Nate can spend time with her and thus stop having negative thoughts. In other words, Gigi will help Nate cope with his illness. A coming-of-age drama with a sweet twist, the cast of ‘Gigi & Nate’ includes Charlie Rowe, Zoe Colletti, Josephine Langford, and Marcia Gay Harden. You can explore this unusual relationship here.
2. Happiest Season (2020)
Starring Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis in the leads, along with Aubrey Plaza, Mary Holland, Alison Brie, Dan Levy, Victor Garber, and Mary Steenburgen. The rom-com follows Harper (Davis), who decides to bring her partner Abby (Stewart) to her home to celebrate the holidays. However, Abby’s plan to propose to Harper on Christmas morning goes down the drain when she finds out that Harper hasn’t come out in front of her parents, let alone mention Abby. Now, she has to pretend to be Harper’s heterosexual roommate. For how long she is able to do this and how are what we see in the film You can watch it here.
1. Dakota (2022)
‘Dakota,’ directed by Kirk Harris, centers on widowed mom Kate and her daughter Alex, who live on their farm. As tough as it is for Kate to manage the farm as well as run the volunteer fire department, the arrival of Dakota, Kate’s husband’s combat dog, makes things even tougher. Meanwhile, the local Sheriff has set his eyes on the farm and intends to take over the land by any means necessary. How Kate, Alex, and Dakota protect the farm and thus showcase the true spirit of home and family is what we see in the movie. The cast of ‘Dakota’ includes Abbie Cornish, Lola Sultan, Patrick Muldoon, and William Baldwin. You can watch the movie here.
Read More: Best Kids Movies on Paramount+
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