In a very poor zone of New York, April Burns (Katie Holmes) and her boyfriend, the Afro-American Bobby, are preparing to receive April's family for a thanksgiving dinner. While Bobby tries to borrow a suit for him, April realizes that her stove is broken and she tries desperately to find a neighbor that can let her cook the turkey, since she does not want to fail (again) with her family. Meanwhile, in a suburb of Pennsylvania, her dysfunctional family is preparing to travel to New York. While driving in the road, the relationship btw the Burns and the black-sheep April is disclosed through the conversations btw her father Jim, her resented mother Joy, her brother, her sister and her grandmother.

(Near Union Square) 4th Avenue and East 14th Street, Manhattan.

Broadway and West 26th Street, Manhattan.

otsoNY Comments: This scene followed the previous scene, where Bobby was riding his scooter along Broadway and has just crossed West 26th Street, and now Bobby has somehow moved backwards and is now passing number 1145 Broadway with West 26th Street ahead of him.

Broadway (btw West 26th Street and 27th Street) Manhattan.

otsoNY Comments: Two apartments in New York were used for filming, one for shots of hallways and stairs and one for the inside of apartments. Some original residents of the apartments were used as extras. Filming was often challenging as the spaces to work in were small.

otsoNY Comments: Shot in just 16 days, the movie was filmed digitally with hand-held cameras, and almost exclusively used close and medium shots due to limitations in resolution in wide digital shots at the time. Many scenes were filmed with two cameras at the same time, allowing them to be filmed in one take.

otsoNY Comments: The original fire escape remains intact and continues to serve its purpose. This historic structure, a testament to the building's past, has withstood the test of time and is still actively used for its intended function.

otsoNY Comments: The exterior of the building in 2003 was rundown and partly covered in graffiti.

April's Apartment, 141 Ridge Street and Stanton Street, Manhattan.