Christmas with the Kranks (2004)
Runtime: 1 hr 39 mins
Theatrical Release: Nov 24, 2004 Wide
Box Office: $73,701,902
Synopsis: The Kranks have always celebrated a picture-perfect Christmas. But with their only daughter, Blair (Julie Gonzalo), away from home on her Peace Corps assignment, Nora (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Luther (Tim Allen) are suffering from empty nest syndrome and decide to skip Christmas in favor of a... The Kranks have always celebrated a picture-perfect Christmas. But with their only daughter, Blair (Julie Gonzalo), away from home on her Peace Corps assignment, Nora (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Luther (Tim Allen) are suffering from empty nest syndrome and decide to skip Christmas in favor of a Caribbean cruise. But their neighbors, led by Vic Frohmeyer (Dan Akroyd), take Christmas very seriously and are none too happy about the Kranks' boycott. In this neighborhood where every house is decorated to the hilt and has a Frosty on the roof, skipping Christmas is virtually a crime. And just as the Kranks are preparing for their Christmas Day departure, they get a call from their daughter who announces that she is coming home for Christmas after all. Suddenly, all systems are go for their annual Christmas Eve party and a normal--highly festive--holiday. Will the Kranks be able to pull together a perfect Christmas for Blair in just a few hours, or will she discover their plan to skip Christmas? Directed by Joe Roth (AMERICA'S SWEETHEARTS) and based on a John Grisham novel, this film also features appearances by Cheech Marin, Caroline Rhea, and Felicity Huffman. [More]
Genre: Comedies
Starring: Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Aykroyd, Erik Per Sullivan, Cheech Marin
Screenwriter: Chris Columbus
Producer: Chris Columbus, Mark Radcliffe, Michael Barnathan
Composer: John Debney
DVD Info
Release:
Nov 8, 2005
DVD Features:
- Full Frame - 1.33
- Anamorphic Widescreen - 2.40
Audio:
- Dolby Digital 5.1 - English, French
- Subtitles - English - Closed Captioning
- Subtitles - English, French, Chinese, Thai - Optional
Buy It On DVD
Reviews
Some pathetically predictable plot twists and syrupy sentimentality, which could only amuse a five year-old, lead the Kranks back to their materialistic senses in time for a Kodak moment which shouts a rather shallow Merry Capitalism to all!
A more sweet than sour satire that sets its sight on nasty but lavishly honey coated underpinnings of the holiday season.
In any normal year this dire comedy would be the undisputed lump of coal in our psychic stocking, but coming on the heels of Surviving Christmas, it's a close second.
With clumsy sight gags the only humour on offer, the temptation to mutter 'Bah humbug' is overwhelming.
[A] comedy so broad it barely dents its targets and a patronising moral conclusion that goes against everything its protagonists originally stood for.
What better way is there to get into a festive spirit than having it crammed down your throat?
...almost had me convinced to convert to Judaism to avoid having to go through anything ever again that even remotely resembles this movie.
This holiday comedy depicts suburbia as a place where all true individualists are treated with a nastiness not in tune with the Christmas spirit.
Makes the colossal mistake of making Luther's obsession seem almost a valid protest against conformity -- then lets the neighbors not only win but claim the moral high ground.
See Joe Roth's movie and you'll understand the true demeaning of Christmas.
Contains momentum-halting continuity errors and clownish antics from hammy performers that will have Santa scribbling furiously on next year’s “Naughty” list.
Below average comedy that remains watchable thanks to a likeable cast but is very low on laughs.
Imagine someone telling you the joke about the chicken crossing the road repeatedly for 98 minutes. You have now imagined this film.
Christmas with the Kranks is a lackluster holiday comedy that can't shake the ghosts of past Christmas films.
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by: rottenmatter 12/6/04
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Christmas with the Kranks at IGN
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