If anyone is looking for a sweet, seasonal movie, I just got back from seeing Pieces of April and it fits the bill.

This movie stars Katie Holmes in her pre-Tom Cruise-scary-body-takeover days and she is excellent as the misfit, ne’er-do-well daughter looking to give her family a Thanksgiving they won’t forget. The problem? The family has already had too many moments with April they don’t want to remember. Especially Mom (played by Patricia Clarkson, who has been in any number of movies I’ve meant to see but haven’t yet), who is seriously ill and who seems like she might have been a real grump even before she got sick.

The movie splits its time between April (as she battles the standard and extraordinary of what can go wrong when you’re trying to make your first fancy meal for a group of people who don’t really want to come see you) and her family driving up to New York City from their home in New Jersey or Pennsylvania.

The characters in the film are well-rounded, the dialogue believable, and the plot predictable — and sweet without being sentimental.

I recommend it as a video rental — particularly if you’re hosting the family this year.