Celebrity Flashback: Katie Holmes

It’s amazing how much can change in a small handful of years. These days Katie Holmes is bringing back the fashions of the ’80s (tight-rolled jeans, Dirty Dancing shorts) as she graces every tabloid and website, works on stage, and hangs with Tom and Suri. But she used to be pretty busy with the holiday that is Thanksgiving. Just five years ago — Katie Holmes’ hair was red, she was young and spunky, and she was starring in Pieces of April. (The trailer is above.)

Usually, holiday-centric films just get the basics — turkey, family, matriarch in the kitchen. They don’t focus on young, punky girls who are determined to bring together estranged family members and make a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Yes, April definitely has the obligatory family trauma to make the drama we have all come to expect, but it also shows just how far and wide tradition can reach, and that not all the cooks in the kitchen are smiling moms in aprons.

Go back a few more years, and you can find a second Thanksgiving-themed film. Change her name to Libbitz, make her the object of Tobey Maguire’s affections, and you’ve got The Ice Storm. Personally, I prefer the latter, but it all boils down to what you’re looking for — the possibility of bringing a family together and lots of food, or retro dysfunction laced with black humor.