Christmas with the Kranks (2004)Starring: Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Aykroyd
Directed by: Joe Roth
And now, I celebrate Christmastime with a truly polarizing holiday film from this millennium. People either really enjoy this film, really hate this film, or have completely forgotten about it. Christmas with the Kranks was written by Chris Columbus (director of the first two Home Alone movies, the first two Harry Potter movies, and Mrs. Doubtfire) and stars Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Dan Aykroyd. I remember seeing this one in the movie theater with my grandmother 11 years ago and really being happy that we saw it. Being a big fan of most things Tim Allen, I also find it refreshing to see him in a Christmas movie where he's NOT playing Santa Claus, so what do I think of the film with a fresh pair of eyes? I in no way think this is a GOOD film. I understand it's clunky and uninspired in many ways, but it also has a handful of really good decisions and ideas thrown into it. So is all really lost in a Christmas movie that is mostly forgotten if it has a number of things that are worth checking out?
Let's start by analyzing the main characters Luther and Nora Krank, played by Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis. Tim Allen does a fun job of playing Luther as a greedy and selfish grump, while also bringing enough of his trademark humor to the table to make him a likable character. You get that he's thinking of doing something fun and cost effective for Christmas instead of the usual thing, but gets so lost in it that he's unable to salvage any form of sanity for himself. As for Jamie's performance, I'm convinced they sold this to her as a horror movie. Look at the way she reacts and screams at nearly everything, and you'll be convinced that she thought she was returning to the big screen as the "Scream Queen" moniker she had in the '80s. The chemistry these two share is actually realistic to a real couple and that's what I think makes the film's humor work for the most part. They have great comedic timing with each other, so I don't feel like I'm watching two great actors play roles, but instead see an actual bickering married couple.Christmas with the Kranks also has a good supporting cast, but they're playing a lot of recycled character types that we've seen a million times. Generic cops, generic neighbors, generic bratty kids. There's nothing that really sticks out. Even Dan Aykroyd seems like he's just phoning it in playing neighborhood leader Vic Frohmeyer. There's great talent in the cast, but I think Chris Columbus could've done better at making these characters more memorable or important. The guy has history working with developing and establishing beloved characters (again, Harry Potter, Home Alone, and Mrs. Doubtfire), but I think it works better with him in the director's chair than the writer's table.
While the general public has probably forgotten about Christmas with the Kranks because of the recycled and lazy humor that is thrown at us, we shouldn't forget about a lot of the underrated good ideas that it offers. There's a lot of characters that are thrown our way and we get to know a few more than others. There's a great older character, played by M. Emmet Walsh, who likes to pick on Luther, and we find out his wife has cancer and it may very well be her last Christmas. That's a pretty heavy idea thrown in for a family comedy. The film also features a strong showing of community forgiveness, as well as generosity. We learn that true value isn't measured in money, but in the amount of friends and family that you can spend your time in. Are these customs new to us with Christmas films? Absolutely not, but that doesn't mean that they aren't little nuggets of positive filmmaking that can be found between the scenes making fun of Botox and spray tanning.Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
If you like a cheaper brand of humor, as long as it's tied together with heartwarming themes and a happy ending, you may very much enjoy watching Christmas with the Kranks. It's by no means a holiday classic, but it's a fun enough family movie that could remind you at least once in your lifetime why it's a bad idea to try skipping Christmas.
Christmas with the Kranks and movie images are copyrighted by Columbia Pictures
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