Parents Television Council Reviews

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Christmas with the Kranks
By J. Byron Dean 

Release Date: November 24, 2004
MPAA Rating: PG - for brief language and suggestive content
Starring: Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Cheech Marin, Jake Busey, M. Emmet Walsh, Dan Aykroyd
Directed by: Joe Roth
Genre: Comedy

We've probably all been there at one time or another... just wanting to be able to ‘not do Christmas.'  It can be expensive and time consuming and we all know we could find other ways to spend that money.  But tradition is tradition, right?  Well, this year The Kranks decide to cast tradition out the snow-covered window and take a tropical cruise vacation instead.  Who would have thought that everyone from Luther Krank's fellow employees to his neighbors would object?

Luther Krank (Tim Allen) and wife, Nora (Jamie Lee Curtis) are going to spend Christmas without their daughter Blair (Julie Gonzalo) for the first time in 23 years.  Blair has joined the Peace Corps and will be in Peru.  Luther calculates that the cruise he'd like to take his wife on will save them half of what they normally spend on Christmas and besides, it's not going to be much of a holiday without Blair.

At first Nora is completely against the idea ... "Skip Christmas?!"  She just can't fathom the idea.  They always decorate the house, always put Frosty (a huge plastic snowman) on the roof, always send the most beautiful Christmas cards and they are famous for their Christmas Eve party.  How can they just skip Christmas?

But Luther is not giving up.  Handing out a memo to all his co-workers that he will not be joining in on the Christmas gift-giving or holiday party this year elicits "Bah, Humbugs" and "Good morning, Mr. Scrooge."  And when the neighborhood finds out - it's as if a blizzard hit their tiny, close-knit Hemlock Street.  Headed by Vic Frohmeyer (Dan Aykroyd), self appointed block leader, the entire neighborhood takes umbrage at the fact that The Kranks will be the only ones not joining in on the traditional celebrations.

Nora, left home to fend against Frohmeyer and the neighbor's demands that Frosty be put up has her hiding in the corner of her bedroom as she calls Luther for help.  Directed to get in the car and meet him at the mall has all the makings of a subversive mission as Nora, bundled up in a hooded parka, tries to make her get-away down Hemlock Street amidst her neighbors busy decorating their homes.

Despite the protests, the Kranks finally settle in on the idea that their dream vacation will take place and nothing is going to stop them.  Nothing until they get a phone call from Blair on Christmas Eve saying that she's flown back to celebrate Christmas at home ... and she has her fiancé (René Lavan) with her!

Now it's a mad dash to create the usual Christmas Holiday as if nothing had been abandoned.  With only hours away to complete the task, Nora and Luther are up against some pretty high odds that they can pull it off.  Will their neighbors pitch in and help or turn a cold shoulder and leave them lumps of coal for being naughty?  And will Luther learn the true meaning of Christmas ... that it is better to give than to receive? 

"Christmas with the Kranks" is full of laughs, sight gags and typical Tim Allen sarcastic humor.  Some bits are predictable but the cast and writing makes for an enjoyable holiday romp.  Tim Allen has one scene with Jamie Lee Curtis where he has had Botox injections done and the numbness makes it impossible to eat.  This sight gag, alone, will have you rolling in the aisles with sidesplitting laughter.  And Dan Aykroyd gives us a bit of a Blues Brothers' Christmas as he breaks out an accordion and sings some holiday tunes.

This film is rated PG for one swear word (damn) and two scenes of adult sexual reference.  There is no nudity.

For more information on this film, visit the official website at: www.thekranks.com

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