The Thanksgiving Promise (1986)

A young boy (Jordan Bridges) agrees to raise a gosling for a neighbor (Lloyd Bridges) that will eventually end up as Thanksgiving dinner at the neighbor's table. But as the gosling grows into a goose, the boy becomes attached to the bird and the idea that his "pet" will be killed for a Thanksgiving supper becomes difficult to accept. Based on the novel CHESTER I LOVE YOU by Brenton Yorgason and directed by Beau Bridges (who plays the boy's father). This is the kind of "family" movie that gives Disney a bad reputation. Films about children and their attachment to their animals have provided movie fodder for decades but sentimental twaddle like this is far from the artistry of a THE BLACK STALLION or THE YEARLING. As long as the movie focuses on the boy and the goose, it's tolerable but too much time is spent on extraneous subplots. Still, one would have to be very cold hearted not to get a lump in your throat at the very end. Three generations of Bridges are in the movie (Jeff Bridges is in it too) but it doesn't appear that young Jordan inherited any of the family talent. With Millie Perkins, Jason Bateman, Ed Lauter, Anne Haney and Courtney Thorne Smith.