Thanksgiving Weekend Movie Guide: 'House Of Gucci' And More

This Thanksgiving weekend, the highly anticipated "House of Gucci" comes to life on the big screen starring Lady Gaga and Adam Driver as a pair of ill-fated lovers.

Also headed to theaters is Walt Disney's 60th animated feature, "Encanto," in which John Leguizamo and Stephanie Beatriz play an uncle-niece duo trying to solve a puzzling mystery.

In the mood for an engaging family-dinner dramedy? Look no further than "The Humans," in which Beanie Feldstein, June Squibb, Steven Yeun, Richard Jenkins, Jayne Houdyshell and Amy Schumer play a dysfunctional family gathering one evening for a Thanksgiving dinner.

Last but not least, if you're looking for a very engaging sports biopic, "King Richard" will surely win you over. The film stars Will Smith as the hard-driving father of tennis megastars Venus and Serena Williams.

Here's what to see and skip this weekend.

Movies Out This Weekend

“House of Gucci” — Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Jared Leto; directed by Ridley Scott

Ridley Scott opens the doors of the Gucci dynasty and takes audiences to a tragic tour of glamour, greed, betrayal, revenge — and ultimately murder.

“House of Gucci,” based on Sara Gay Forden’s 2001 bestseller, chronicles the life of the dysfunctional family behind the fashion empire over the course of nearly two decades from the 1970s into the mid-90s.

At the center of the soap opera is Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga), a young woman who works at her father’s trucking business. Ambitious and determined as she is, she sets her sights on the handsome Maurizio (Adam Driver) after learning that he is the heir to half of the Gucci fortune.

The lower-class Patrizia eventually wins Maurizio’s love and affection. However, Maurizio’s father, Rodolfo (Jeremy Irons), is not totally convinced that she is genuine, warning his son that she is only after his money.

Much to Rodolfo’s dismay, the couple gets married nevertheless, leaving the family patriarch no other recourse but to disown his son and write him out of the will.

Enter Rodolfo’s brother, the ebullient Aldo (Al Pacino), who owns the other half of the Gucci business. He, on the other hand, approves of Patrizia, setting in motion her grand scheme to reunite Maurizio with the Gucci family — especially after Rodolfo’s untimely death.

But Aldo’s son, Paolo (Jared Leto), will not just sit idle and silent. His seething resentment and jealousy will send tremors of betrayal within the walls of the vast Gucci empire.

In the end, the family’s legacy unravels as web of deceit and rage leads to murder.

See it. Scott has managed to make an entertaining film that is soft on the eyes, anchored by Lady Gaga’s blazing display of bravura and Adam Driver’s nuanced steeliness — though the 157-minute film feels way too long.

Watch the trailer.

“Encanto” — Stephanie Beatriz, María Cecilia Botero, John Leguizamo; directed by Jared Bush, Byron Howard and Charise Castro Smith

What if every single member of your family were blessed with a specific magical power at birth — except you yourself? That is the premise of “Encanto,” Walt Disney’s 60th animated feature, a fairy tale about finding one’s true magic in life.

For the young Mirabel (voiced by Stephanie Beatriz), this is her reality. Every member of her entire Madrigal family is gifted at birth with a singular magic, ranging from super strength and super hearing to energy projection and molecular manipulation. Much to Mirabel’s disappointment, the 15-year-old teenager is the only one who did not receive any magical powers. Still, she bears no grudges whatsoever.

Decades ago, family matriarch Abuela Alma (voiced by María Cecilia Botero) and her husband tried to escape the village along with their newborn triplets. He was captured, but luckily, he left Alma a candle, which saved her and their children from harm. Apparently, the candle also created the enchanted house where the whole Madrigal clan now resides. Their magical town is called Encanto, a small village tucked away inside the misty green mountains of Colombia.

Everything in the Madrigals’ lives is seemingly perfect — that is, until when the candle begins to flicker, and their magical house starts breaking into cracks and fissures.

Suddenly, family members also start to lose their magic, as well as their self-esteem and confidence. The Madrigals’ emotional scars and their fractured relationships also begin to unravel before their very eyes.

Perhaps Mirabel’s uncle Bruno (John Leguizamo) holds the key to the mystery. After all, he has the magical power to see the future. Or can Maribel help find everyone’s true magic?

See it. “Encanto” dazzles with a vibrant naturalistic glow, further elevated by Lin-Manuel Miranda’s original stack of eight infectious songs. It is a lively and beautiful film for the whole family to enjoy.

Watch the trailer.

“King Richard” — Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis; directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green

Reinaldo Marcus Green’s latest outing is a sports biopic, introducing the man behind Venus and Serena Williams’ stellar trajectory to worldwide dominance in the sport of tennis. That man is none other than the Williams sisters’ father, Richard Williams.

Set in South Central Los Angeles in the 1990s, the film depicts how Richard’s 78-page plan and vision made it all happen — of course, not an overnight success by any measure. But to understand the crux of it all, one must delve into the remarkable life of Richard Williams, who had a tough upbringing. So it’s not surprising that audiences won’t get to see the Williams sisters’ tennis aces until about 40 minutes into the film.

Will Smith delivers the performance of his life as the hard-driving monarchical figure who helps steer his daughters’ career path to greatness against all odds.

For the role, Smith sports a grizzled beard and adopts a folksy Louisiana drawl along with a noticeable gait and dynamic posture that exude resilience and determination.

In the film, Venus (Saniyya Sidney) and Serena (Demi Singleton) are still teenagers dreaming of Wimbledon, while their mom, Brandy (Aunjanue Ellis), serves as the voice of reason in the family, one that Richard truly respects and listens.

Indeed, the girls have their eyes on the prize. However, for them to become tennis greats, Richard must get his family out of their tough Compton neighborhood. It won’t be an easy feat, but Richard eventually finds a way.

In the end, what emerges is a portrait of one father’s unwavering devotion to his daughters as he showers them with unconditional love and constant positive affirmations to keep believing in themselves.

See it. Smith is on fire, delivering an Oscar-caliber performance. Plus, the film is a crowd-pleaser with a stirring tribute to the power of hard work and determination.

Watch the trailer.

“The Humans” — Beanie Feldstein, June Squibb, Steven Yeun; directed by Stephen Karam

Nearly five years since “The Humans” opened on Broadway, a silver-screen take on the famed Tony-winning one-act play finally makes its cinematic debut in Stephen Karam’s family dinner dramedy about aging, fear and disappointment.

Taking place in one single location ensemble piece, Karam’s film adaptation of his original play conjures up a compelling stagey atmosphere where we get to spend one evening with the dysfunctional Blake family and learn about what makes them tick.

As it turns out, they have gathered for Thanksgiving at youngest daughter Brigid’s (Beanie Feldstein) newly rented space with her beau Richard (Steven Yeun). The place is a dilapidated pre-war Manhattan apartment that looks cramped and dreary, so much so that wheelchair-bound granny Momo (June Squibb), who suffers from dementia, can hardly maneuver through the hallways.

Also present are Brigid’s parents, Irish Catholics Erik (Richard Jenkins) and Deirdre (Jayne Houdyshell), as well as her older sister Aimee (Amy Schumer), a corporate lawyer in the throes of a recent breakup and a serious intestinal disorder.

As the evening progresses, family members immediately settle into their usual disposition, replete with gossips, insults, resentments and revelations. Suddenly, it feels as though the pleasantries had come and gone in the blink of an eye. What emerges is a family in crisis mode over Thanksgiving dinner.

But wait! Did we tell you that “The Humans” also has a sinister side? Just listen to the creaks in the floors. Notice the room gets darker and darker as the lights mysteriously go out one by one. Also observe that certain objects inexplicably fall. Is this a haunted place?

See it. Karam’s feature directorial debut deftly captures the essence and genius of his Tony-winning play. It’s delightfully edgy and bold. Plus, Houdyshell reprises her Tony-winning role with supreme verve.

Watch the trailer.

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