MovieChat Forums > Home for the Holidays (1995) Discussion > Joanne

Joanne

posted 12 years ago by insaneado
2 replies | jump to latest

At first I felt sorry for her because the turkey fell in her lap and ruined a dress she obviously cared about but on the other hand, there are reasons and instances that we see why she is such a bitch. I think bieng the oldest has made her feel that she needs to be the one to care for her parents. I think too that she doesn't fit in with the rest of the family. Her father, mother, sister and brother obviously have a sense of humor and don't take life too seriously. But Joanne is the sensitive serious one. I think that is why tommy tells her she was switched as a baby bieng a baboon. The first thing that happens when she arrives is flips when tommy tells her they already ate. She brings her own turkey and pretty much takes over cooking the dinner. Her husband seems to be just as serious as her with cash is king speech and getting a kiss from his daughter almost expecting it. The same with the football game. He takes it too seriously getting in a fight when they bend the rules. The daughter is the same screaming your ruined my mommy. The son seems too take after the rest of the family. I also didn't feel bad when after the mother was trying to help her she was rude to her. Then when Claudia tried to help her, she was rude to her too. I feel like she has struggled to be her own person that she resents them even when they are trying to care for her.

[–] rustyd5150 12 years ago

I think that Joanne and her husband are "rule" people. So much so, that they can't stand when they see other people bending or ignoring rules. Rules, for them are the way they define their lives and to deviate from a strict standard really sends them into a tailspin. Her husbands job indicates that he is a person that has to have everything in its place and accounted for (banker).

As far as her bringing her own "bird" to the dinner--this is very understandable to me. She wants to make her own Thanksgiving dinner for her family but is duty-bound to go to her parents' house. She feels that ONLY she can make a healthy, nourishing meal for her family and doesn't want anyone else-including her own mother-to undermine this.

She is embarassed by her younger siblings who obviously (to her) were spoiled and never made to conform. She thinks that the best thing they can do is to hide their "non-conformities" such as being gay and being an unmarried mother.

Truthfully, Joanne has the mental hang-ups that she thinks they have.

Just my opinion and I really like this movie until the last 1/2 hour.

[–] StrandedinLaLaLand 12 years ago

You completely got it. Also, Joanne's jealous of the freedoms that her siblings gave themselves (e.g. being themselves). She's stuck to a tightwad (e.g. money, personality) and she wishes she could get out of it. But, instead of being an adult, she pushes her siblings away (that last speech she gives Claudia is so mean).

I love this movie and catch it each year; but, Joanne and her family along with that last statement she gave her sister in the basement of Joanne's house are intentionally dreadful.

I must warn you. I'm very susceptible to flattery.