The April in April is quite a piece of work. Katie Holmes is the grungy punk who lives in a rundown section of New York City with her b-f (Derek Luke). They're poor but happy and are about to play host to April's ultra-suburban family for a Thanksgiving dinner which is supposed to mend fences broken long ago. A bulk of this twisted comedy jumps between April's precarious preparations and her family's long, often hellish drive into the city.
Once the dysfunctional family comes together, director Peter Hedges offers several sharp scenes--and characters--that nearly anyone can relate to, as well as acerbic wit and some sincere heart. The constant storyline flip-flops are disruptive, but the concluding montage is guaranteed to get your tear ducts working overtime. Overall, a cute Pieces of work.