It is perfectly cast and soundly constructed, and all else flows naturally. That's why the comedy, which begins securely planted in the twin genres of the road movie and the buddy picture, is able to reveal so much heart and truth.
Some movies are obviously great.
Others gradually thrust their greatness upon us. But the movie continued to live in my memory. This is the only movie our family watches as a custom, most every Thanksgiving. The story is familiar. He is very tall, very large, and covered in layers of mismatched shirts, sweaters, vests, sport coats and parkas.