My Rating: 3.73/4 (aka Worth your time)

One line summary: A cranky history teacher stays on campus at a boarding school during the holidays.

The Deets: It’s nice to see an Alexander Payne picture again. I have seen “Sideways” more times than I can count, and this one has a very similar melancholic tone; of course it also stars the always enigmatic and distinct Paul Giamatti, which is a nice throwback to his 2004 work (when they didn’t even have iPhones yet!). But it’s been a minute. I didn’t see his “Downsizing” (did anyone?), so this one is a true treat, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph is totally deserving of her Oscar in a supporting role (if you had any doubts). You have to want to trudge through the literal and metaphorical New England snow in this one – full of solid laughs, squirmy humor, awkward adolescence, and genuine human warmth in the payoff. We don’t get a lot of character-driven dramedies like this very often, so if you’re down for that, then this is just the stuffing you desire (see what I did there?).

Perfect for: If you like Giamatti, and especially if you like him in Payne’s work, which is a very particular brand of witty and wise humor, and those wild, darting eyes.

Where to watch: Best of all it’s included with Amazon Prime, so get it before it’s gone!

Food pairing: A classic: post-Thanksgiving, freshly carved turkey sandwich.