Christmas with the Kranks

Ultimately something of a softball satire, its climactic evocation of the "true meaning" of the holidays is surprisingly touching.

A Christmas comedy where laughs and even Christmas joy are in short supply.

It's hard to discern exactly whom this holiday tripe is for.

Hard not to pelt the screen with rotten fruit when confronted with a film like Christmas With The Kranks.

A loud, coarse and witless family comedy.

Everyone in the film is mean-spirited, manipulative and repulsive, and I'm only talking about the women! The men are much worse, particularly Dan Aykroyd.

When is a holiday stocking more like a smelly gym sock? When it's the malodorous Christmas With the Kranks, a so-called comedy stuffed with bigotry, intolerance and bullying.

I really found this quite an amusing movie, when I caught it on TV the other day. I do like Tim Allen, at least I was quite a big Home Improvement fan and I also enjoyed Jame Lee Curtis in the remake of Freaky Friday (alongside Lindsay Lohan, that movie remake I thought wasn't bad at all, much unlike the Herbie remake which I've just recently done a review on as well), plus it was nice to see Dan Akroyd pop up in this movie too as the somewhat overly 'Christmas-sy' Vic Frohmeyer, who seems to control alot of things in the Kranks' neighbourhood. I was a massive Ghostbusters (the cartoon show and the movies) fan as a child and whenever I see him in a movie, I immediately think back to those movies fondly, so anyway I was quite happy with the cast in this movie, apart from the story and every other aspect of the movie. So anyway, apart from the actors present and not meaning to seem totally biased about the movie based solely on who appeared on it, I really did think it was quite amusing. The comedy is fairly slapstick at points and it is quite silly but I think its not so much so that adults should be overly bored or think its entirely stupid and it would, or should, also entertain a younger audience to a certain extent to, so its got a fairly wide appeal to it, which is always good with a Christmas movie. I thought (perhaps this says more about my sense of humour but all the same) one scene or part of the movie that was particularly amusing was when this large choir of Christmas carol singers surrounded the Kranks' house and sung very loudly, with Nora and Luther inside trying to ignore them, until Nora turned around and saw someone right at the window next to her, giving her a fright! Yes it is rather silly but then again, its a Christmas movie and its an American Christmas movie, so, that says it all really, right? lol... I thought the story was quite interesting. I think that given the financial crisis and everything, some people may well be able to relate to the Kranks' this year, perhaps some families really are attempting to boycott Christmas(?) (boooo! lol), who knows but it did feel a little poignant when I thought about it. I sometimes think that there are too many American (or of any origin) Christmas movies that are too similar, with far too sugary sweet obvious storylines and although this movie is a bit predictable and the ending may disappoint some to an extent, the main idea or story behind it, is a bit different and I didn't feel that it was a story that had been done to death really, unlike some others, as I say. I think that this movie does well to illustrate just how over the top some people (particularly Americans - as if we had no idea already - hah, anyone seen Home Alone with the lights/decorations on the houses in that street? that says it all!) take Christmas, the reaction of the local community and how they communicated with the Kranks' was quite funny and somewhat interesting as well, though its not really meant to be taken too seriously of course. It may not be totally without cheese but it is, for the most part (until closer to the end of the movie), a different take for a Christmas movie and it is quite funny and so im giving it quite a high rating. Yes I'd recommend this. I enjoyed it, I thought it was quite amusing, like I say the story/concept was somewhat slightly different, I didn't think it was a story that had been done to death too much (apart from at the end perhaps) and I enjoyed it and found it funny and entertaining. It is a bit predictable as it comes to the end but otherwise its amusing enough and its inoffensive enough to work well as a family movie, suitable for children of about 10 years and up as a rough estimate. It doesn't go on and on for hours, at just under one hour and 40 minutes, I didn't feel that it got at all boring at any point in the movie and it didn't feel too predictable or cheesy until after mid way into the movie, if that acts as an advantage/positive. Hey its an American Christmas movie, its not perfect and of course it has to be a little cheesy but for what it is, its quite good and again yes, I would recommend it. Both kids and adults should get at least a few laughs from this.

As far as Christmas comedies the Kranks leave us a little disappointed. It's a perfectly acceptable watch, but when so many of it's jokes land with a thud it's not hard to notice the better alternatives out there. Some more laughs would have gone a long way to give it the extra needed Christmas magic. For starters the biggest problem is Tim Allen himself. He's just not playing a likable character. His crotchety demeanor gives a sour tone to the film. Perhaps that was intentional, but it does nothing to bolster the laughs or plot so I don't see the point. The rest of the cast is talented and fairly amusing. It's just a shame they aren't given some genuinely good comedic gags. Long story short if you enjoyed Tim Allen as Santa and are hoping he will deliver more holiday entertainment then you'll be left wanting. It's missing the charm and sweetness of that movie. That's not to say this movie is all "Bah humbug!" In fact near the end it throws out some of the old Christmas spirit by dishing out some of what the holiday is actually about. It's not a real heart-warmer, but it's enough to let you know that this movie's heart isn't made of ice. As far as the actual humor goes it could have been a lot funnier. So much of it seems subdued. Things only really start to pick up in the final third of the film. As things get crazier for the characters it gets more amusing. Up until then we are left with a few noteworthy gags scattered around. It makes the movie feels longer than it actually is. It's slow paced with it's laughs and ultimately I was left wanting more. Yet, this is far from the most offensive movie to watch during the Christmas season. In fact I wouldn't really say it's bad. A perfectly acceptable if not completely worthwhile holiday flick to catch on TV while you're wrapping presents or something. It's watchable and has some good bits, but it's not one I'd gather the gather the family around the TV to watch on Christmas Eve. I give my stay with the Kranks this Christmas a 6.6/10

Festive on the surface but hollow underneath. Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis try to sell the comedy, but the tone is uneven and the laughs feel forced. It wants to be both satire and sentimental, but doesn’t quite pull off either. Middling holiday fare at best.

Christmas with the Kranks is a treacherous family farce. It's undeveloped characters are was thwarting its plan to be entertaining.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]