Cold Turkey

Dark comedies revolving around dysfunctional families are my milieu; the peanut butter to my proverbial jelly, if you will. If you throw a holiday into the mix, I consider it a bonus. Despite my enthusiasm for a peek into another family’s insanity, “Cold Turkey,” wades in drama but neglects the fascinating antics of familial chaos that captivates.

Directed and written by Will Slocombe, “Cold Turkey,” revolves around the Turner family as they gather together at their Dad, Poppy’s, (Peter Bogdanovich) home for Thanksgiving.

The performances aren’t lacking any spice or talent, but suffer from a rather stale script, where the offspring predictably try to pump good old Poppy for some cold, hard cash and air each other’s dirty laundry over the big turkey dinner. It has the garden variety family dysfunction but neglects the the idiosyncrasies that make holidays with the family relatable and charming. If you love Peter Bogdanovich and the rest of the cast, like myself, their performances are worth watching, but if you’re in the mood for that sweet family insanity, you might be disappointed.