Thanksgiving Weekend Movie Guide: Spend the Holiday with Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard

There's a film for everyone to be thankful for this week — and a few that are better left alone. Get the verdict on "Moana," "Allied," "Bad Santa 2," "Miss Sloane" and more.

Find out what to see and what to skip, plus check out the trailers.

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Opening This Weekend

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"Moana" — Auli'i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Jemaine Clement, directed by Ron Clements

Heavily steeped in Polynesian mythology, the animated "Moana" finds the most refreshing of characters at its center: a young, independent female heroine tasked with saving not just her people but the whole world. Dwayne Johnson, Hollywood's most bankable actor, continues his streak with charming voice work as the Maori legend Maui, and newcomer Auli'i Cravalho shines as Moana.

The verdict: See it. Pixar's latest film will be a touching Thanksgiving treat for the whole family.

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"Allied" — Brad Pitt, Marion Cotillard, Jared Harris, directed by Robert Zemeckis

Robert Zemeckis ("Forrest Gump" and "Cast Away") furthers his reputation as one of America's most underrated film directors with "Allied." In this spy thriller, Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard play a romantically linked intelligence officer and French resistance fighter during World War II. Star chemistry and arresting visuals from Zemeckis are definitely worth a ticket.

The verdict: See it. Anytime the director of "Back to the Future" steps up to the plate, take note!

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"Bad Santa 2" — Billy Bob Thornton, Kathy Bates, Tony Cox, directed by Mark Waters

After getting irrationally excited for "Dumb and Dumber To," I found out the hard way sequels to beloved properties are dangerous affairs. I won't make the same mistake here. "Bad Santa 2" will try to capitalize on the crass charm of a very funny first film, but with an uninspired new director in Mark Waters, this one should be skipped in theaters and saved for a rainy day.

The verdict: : Skip it. The gags seem to copy the formula of the original.

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"Miss Sloane" (Limited) — Jessica Chastain, Mark Strong, Michael Stuhlbarg, directed by John Madden

Years of turbulent politics make any film with the D.C. lobbyist culture as its centerpiece a risky bet. "Sloane" stars the great Jessica Chastain as a skilled lobbyist who finds no challenge too great. A laundry list of Oscar-worthy actors fills out the cast, but it's not enough to recommend "Sloane" when we're all still recovering from a real-life political drama.

The verdict: Skip it. Head to the theater this week for a break from the election drama, not a reminder.

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Quick Cuts

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"Hell or High Water" (Home Video) — Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine, Ben Foster, Katy Mixon, directed by David Mackenzie

See it: This truly excellent modern Western stars Jeff Bridges as a grizzled sheriff staving off late-life ennui and a pair of sibling bank robbers (Pine and Foster) whose motivations are more honorable than expected.

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"Kubo and the Two Strings" (Home Video) — Art Parkinson, Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, directed by Travis Knight

Skip it: A stop-motion animation from the folks that brought you "Coraline," "Kubo" features incredible visuals, but it bombed at the box-office due to poor word-of-mouth. Bypass renting this and take the kids to "Moana" instead.

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Watch the trailer for "Allied"

Watch the trailer for "Moana"

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Photo credit Indie & Foreign Films via YouTube