Christmas with the Kranks : What a disgraceful piece of garbage

So last night I'm wrapping Christmas presents and I turn to FX on the TV.

"Oh, Christmas with the Kranks. I've never seen this," I think. "Maybe I'll give it a look. After all, I heard it was based on a John Grisham novel."

Two hours later I almost ripped up all my wrapping and returned the gifts to the store. I was that angry. I wasn't angry at the horrible quality of the film, or the fact that it wasn't funny. This is, after all, a modern family holiday comedy they're a dime a dozen and they're almost universally awful. I knew to expect that much.

My rage was directed at the message this movie sends. In the film, conformity is not only celebrated, but strictly enforced. Societal pressure turns what seems like a perfectly rational idea from Luther, skipping Christmas, into some kind of fiendish, selfish plot to spite others and ruin everyone's holiday.

Until I saw this movie, the worst Christmas movie I knew was "Jingle All the Way," which, though basically about crass Christmas commercialism, at least slightly redeemed itself in the end when the young boy rejected that notion in favor of his family. Now, the worst Christmas movie I've is "Christmas with the Kranks." Congratulations on "topping" yourself again, Hollywood.

But why should anyone be surprised? This movie is part of the big machine that tries to convince you that you are a terrible human being if you don't shell out thousands of dollars every December, not only by buying flat-screen TVs for your teenagers and baking 600 cookies for everyone you know, but by being forcibly extorted by a dozen different charities pushing the idea that somehow, causes are more needy at Christmas time than any other time in the year. Never got the logic in that.

Frankly, I thought Luther was a HERO for his idea and I was expecting the movie to go in an entirely different direction. I was mildly enjoying it (even though it wasn't funny), thinking that it would be nice to see the resolution where Luther and his wife gave their neighbors proper comeuppance by having a fantastic cruise and thereby showing that Christmas isn't about rote tradition. Boy, did I fail to call where the film was going. Even as all the insane party preparation was taking place at the end, I kept thinking, "this is a joke, right? This is going to turn around in the end, and they will say 'screw you' to all these self-righteous neighbors (not to mention the spoiled brat of a daughter) and leave on their cruise! They HAVE to!!!" No such luck.

For a movie that wanted to reinforce the traditionalism of Christmas, it made me feel the exact opposite. It made me want to skip Christmas out of protest.

Afterward, I kept thinking about the movie's turning point, when spoiled-brat Blaire called to force herself, her fiance that the parents barely know, and HER idea of a traditional Christmas down the Kranks' throats. This is what I would have said:

"Honey, I hate to tell you this, but your father and I decided not to do a traditional Christmas this year. We're going on a cruise on Christmas day. We haven't done any decorating or the traditions you were used to in your childhood. You see, we did many of those things FOR you, because we wanted you to have holiday memories filled with joy, just as we devoted most of the last two decades of our lives to your happiness and well-being.

"We decided that we wanted to do something different and fun, for ourselves, to celebrate this year. Sweetheart, I'm sorry if this disappoints you, but to be frank it was irresponsible of your to call 24 hours before Christmas and expect everything to be the way that you remember it after you left. Your father and I love you, and will always welcome you into our home, but you are an adult now, and you need to expect our independence as much as we respected yours when we let you get into PeaceCorps. This means things won't always be exactly the way you remember them at home. You can't make those assumptions anymore. Your father and I are human beings and we change just like you. Now that it's just the two of us at home again, we've moved on to a new stage in our lives.

"We look forward to seeing Enrique again and we're so happy for you. We'll be glad to let you stay at our place while we're gone. But we aren't going to change our plans at the drop of a hat without warning. Next year we will be happy to show Enrique an amazing traditional American Christmas."

None of this was selfish. It was simply nonconformist. And I guess this movie is a good showcase of just how well Americans can handle nonconformity.

I'm pretty sure that 99% of the population would've told Blaire the truth and gone on the cruise, even we conformist folk who get all excited over every little yearly tradition. But, then there wouldn't have been any reason for Nora to chase a canned ham through the parking lot or for Luther to get botox injections and try to eat canned fruit, etc.

I didn't think Blaire was demanding that her parents throw the party, she just assumed it was going on as usual and was excited to share it with her boyfriend. If her mom wasn't a nut and had just told her the truth, she probably would've accepted it just fine.

Sorry it annoyed you so much, I think it's a silly & cute Christmas movie (and like most comedies, not a realistic depiction of something that would happen in real life). Actually, to me it was a fantasy tale right off the bat when he figured that they spent SIX THOUSAND dollars on Christmas! Gaah!

jingle all the way was effing awesome


gtfo

What a strange comment by benbigwighe/she nailed the thematic elements of this story quite well, but still concluded that it was supposed to be a comedy that supported the traditional American notion of what Christmas is supposed to be.

I haven't read the book, so I could be entirely wrong about this, but would a writer like Grisham write such a story and still expect that kind of conclusion to be drawn about it? I wouldn't think so.

I also found this film to be troubling & disturbing, but I believe that is exactly what it is supposed to bethat was the intent of the filmmakers. Watching some of the neighborhood scenes in this film was like watching "Invasion of the Body Snatchers". Creepy stuff!

If I lived in a neighborhood populated with people like that, I'd have gotten one-way tickets to Peru and never been seen again.

tl;dr but jeez chill out. It's a fun Christmas movie, not a How-to Guide to Living a Moral Life.

I have just watched it and was not impressed, there was only one likeable character and that was Tim Allens character!


I would explain more on why i did not like this rubbish, but i am about to watch It's a Wonderful Life :)

Yeah, no doubt you didn't read the post. 'Not a how-to guide to living a moral life' has literally nothing to do with anything OP said. Within the context of this thread, the reply you wrote is random non-sense. How come you felt the need to reply to OP even though you didn't read what was said? Why would you tell the OP to 'chill out' based on something which wasn't even said/written?

I have a Mom who is a LOT like Nora Krank. My birthday is three days before Christmas, but every year, my mom would insist that we go see a movie on my birthday. Like Luther did in the movie, he would grumble, but go along with my mom's wishes because he knew that it made her happy to give me a birthday. Even later years when I told the it was just fine to rent a movie I like and watch it as a family, Mom would say "Nope, you love movies and we're going to see a movie on your birthday." That's just how she was. She wanted to make our birthdays, Christmas or whatever else we were celebrating to be the best she could make it.

I think that is why I enjoyed this movie as much as I did. Nora reminded me so much of my mom. Sure, most rational people would have told Blair to forget itwe're going on a cruise and we'll see you when we get back. Nora, however, loved her daughter so much and was so excited that she'd get to spend Christmas with her daughter, that she was willing to do anything to make that happen - even if it meant contributing to a young kid's college education to get the last ham in the store becuase it was her daughter's favorite.

I can understand how people would dislike this movie and think that it's just about conforming to the wishes of neighbors who demand you put up Frosty or decorate your house or buy Christmas cards or trees or police calendars or sing carols. But that's not what this movie is about. Despite their differences, the neighborhood all got together to help the Kranks out. Despite the insurmountable odds, Nora agreed to throw her daughter and potential son in law the best Christmas she could because she loved her daughter so much.

Okay, it's not a perfect movie, but I really think it's a good story and I have fun watching it every year.

Happy birthday, pbnj!

For crying out loud, lighten up. Christmas comedies are not supposed to be the enlightening social commentaries you think they should be. Christmas with the Kranks and Jingle All the Way are two of the better movies about the season that have come out. You can sit and laugh and enjoy without guilt. You were obviously in a bad mood wrapping those presents.

ihesselberty - Totally agree

Youre supposed to chill out and enjoy these fun Christmas Films at Christmas time !

This film was perfect !




" No Ace. Just You "

I've watched a lot of the christmas films turned out

An i love them, watching them at christmas there's nothing better

But this film is the only christmas film that i have watched which has made me feel as down hearted as this

what a piece of uncheery, unfunny and unseasonal piece of nothing

p.s.

and why did santas character remind me of a sleezy sex offender?

The way the neighborhood tried to impose their traditions and ways seem to me as if it mirrored how religion works. :D

PhazzedOut Productions - Exchanging of Knowledge, Culture and Ideas

by PhazzedOut "The way the neighborhood tried to impose their traditions and ways seem to me as if it mirrored how religion works."

Interesting observation. Perhaps taht was Crichton's subtle message in the original book. Now that you mention it, it does kind of remind me of how some people act when another doesn't believe like them. It could go either way, as some nontheists try to get theists to agree with them. But proselytzing is a typical religious (e.g. christian) tendency.

my god its full of stars

Shouldn't their neighbours been wearing Nazi uniforms .

Too far.

Be like us. Do like us.

Or be punished.

-
In a fair universe, we would all be better people.

I agree with all of your points and can't stand how the Kranks for just once want to do something different for one year and are made out to be the worst people even when it is the Krank's neighbors who are the worst. I would not want to live in that neighborhood. What is you didnt celebrate Christmas because you are Jewish or Muslim? Simple. The "neighbors" in this movie would run you out of town. nice message

I know how you feel, I was beaten in a game of tic-tac-toe by a chicken- Cletus Spuckler

I thought it was awful too I received the movie as a Christmas present this year ..when I pulled it out of the gift bag the giver told me oh its a good movie !!! ..but inside i was like hmmmm i remember when it was originally released and had no desire to see itwasnt that impressed by the promos an/or trailers
I watched it and thought it wasnt that good either I assume Curtis and Allen needed a paycheck or were subjected to some kind of contractual agreement they had to fufill and had to be in the movie
There are way better Christmas related movies out thereI was actually pissed at the behavior of the neighbors and the community how come they relied sooo much on the Kranks to give a party ?? why could'nt one of them throw a Xmas party for once?

ok maybe I got a little emotionally involved ?? they should have asked to John Waters to rewrite the script before it was shot LOL

I agree about many of the points stated. The problem is, the movie doesn't do the book justice. In the book, Luther was not a comedian and Tim Allen's antics made it a farce. Nora isn't as much as a nut. The neighbors were pushy but not so angry. As typical with most books versus movies, the book goes into much more character development.

If you get a chance to read the book, do it. I can remember being doubled over laughing. It was much more like your typical last minute run to the store to get something, having it be sold out and now you're scrambling for a substitution. There wasn't anything like chasing a ham into the street.

I can't believe John Grishem would have given his stamp of approval on this version as most of the other movies made based on his books were very good!

I compleatly agree and i also think that your "script" is way better than the one we lamentably saw.

the movie is awful.

I think the film is taken way too seriously by some folks. If you read "Skipping Christmas" you can see where they film lags. The film is making fun of the holiday. The film is so over the top and surreal. Its played much like a sitcom.

I agree with you ugahushpuppy. My god. It is just a movie, not a documentary. Why do people take that so seriously? It was just meant to entertain not to brainwash the world into a life of Christmas conformity. It is far from the best movie I have ever seen but it delivers on what it is supposed to do and that is entertain. People need to lighten up.

"I think the film is taken way too seriously by some folks. If you read "Skipping Christmas" you can see where the film lags. The film is making fun of the holiday. The film is so over the top and surreal. Its played much like a sitcom."

Exactly what I thought too. I read the book every year and then try to sit through the movie. Then I watch the Santa Clause trilogy. LOL.

I hate commercialism, too, but I don't have a problem with this movie. In fact, it's one of my favourite Christmas movies now. And I even read the book before the movie and thought it was a good adaptation.

Although I don't mind "Jingle All The Way" either, I don't think it was as bad as that movie, which is ultimately entirely about a Dad chasing after a toy for Christmas and indulging in all kinds of antisocial behaviour to get there.

Remember that, in this movie, the reason they abandon Christmas is not mainly to go on the cruise, but because their daughter will be away for the first time and it won't be Christmas as usual, anyway. When their daughter decides she will come home, they rush to put Christmas back on. Nora was reluctant to give up Christmas, anyway the real catalyst was the daughter being away and was the first to jump back in. Luther took to the cruise more easily and took longer to come back around to the idea of Christmas being back on. They give their cruise tickets to a couple for whom it will be their last Christmas together. What is wrong with that? A strong family and neighbourly gesture.

Maybe I just viewed this one differently. I saw the social pressure as amusing because it is true and fairly accurate about what people feel, overemphasized for comedy. Whether it's right or wrong, it's an honest look of what goes on in some peoples' minds over Christmas.

"Jingle All The Way" has theft from and violence against neighbours in the interest of getting a simple Christmas toy. I put it in the same bucket as "Friday After Next" and "Bad Santa" as far as antisocial Christmas movies go. "Christmas With The Kranks" is different.

I am very surprised this one has a low rating. I don't normally like Christmas comedies., but I am not so interested in the comedy as I am in the underlying social story.

I know its a movie and its a comedy but I did not find this movie funny at all. about the Kranks giving up their tickets: it is a nice gesture and in the spirit of the season but with all the unwarranted pressure from the neighbors ( I would not want any of these people as neighbors) I didnt like it. I just dont see how conforming because the neighborhood rams it down your throat is not funny to me.

itchy, wretched, rust in my aft. -Jetfire

Ahhh.come on. You have to atleast like the music. I really love the song Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), when Blair is coming down the street pulling up in the police car and the kid is guiding them in.

"Ave Mariaaa..Hitman."

well the music might be good but I feel that the neighbors in this movie deserve Danny Devitos character from Deck the Halls as he drives them all crazy but out-doing them and giving them some of their own medicine

itchy, wretched, rust in my aft. -Jetfire

Well..I enjoyed it very much. It's always good to watch some Christmas movies to get you into the "Spirit of Christmas"!

"Ave Mariaaa..Hitman."

ok Im happy you enjoy it. I personally avoid it and watch Christmas Vacation instead.

Shoot me, shoot me now
- Al Bundy

Thats the only Christmas movie you watch? I'll watch like a dozen before Christmas.

"Ave Mariaaa..Hitman."

no not by a long shot. That is just an example of one of the ones I really like to watch. Thats all.

Shoot me, shoot me now
- Al Bundy

I couldn't agree more. I can't imagine anything more mean-spirited and intolerant than what's depicted here. But clearly some mean-spirited and intolerant people disagree. The people who believe that every radio station, regardless of genre, must play almost nothing but Xmas music. Same with every store, even every elevator. And every TV show must have a Christmas episode and all TV movies must have a Christmas theme. THOU SHALT CONFORM! And if you don't, there's something wrong with you and you must be shunned, pitied or psychoanalyzed.

It's all really much like the Taliban, without the extreme violence. Very depressing.

benbigwig-1 makes some good points. In real life, the response posed byh benbigwig to Blair would have been normalbut this was a comedy. Blair didn't "force" her folks, they tried to hide their plans and make her think they'd planned the party all along.

As to the message at the end, I think Luther was the HERO and did come out looking good in the end, by giving the cruise to their terminally ill neighbor even though he had a running "arugment" relationship with the husband.

Of course it was a nonsense movie. I think of it as a cartoon with real people playing the parts. Think about the Simpsons. Each Simpson episode is full of neighbors and townfolk as well as the Simpsons doing ridiculous things just like the neighbors in Christmas with the Kranks.

I didn't like CWTK at first, but have found a way to enjoy the completely ridiculous antiques of the neighbors and the really funny ways of Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis. Dan Akroyd does a great job of the over dominant neighborhood "boss." I'm glad I found a way to enjoy it. I don't take the "inappropiate" behavior of the neighbors as a role model or as an standard theme of christmas. It's just comdey.

my god its full of stars

I liked this movie. It was really cute, and I do believe that some of the film's detractors took it way too seriously.

Were the neighbors/characters in this movie any more bizarre or off the wall than those in Christmas Vacation? No.

It was a fun movie.

Why must people over-think family comedies so damn much?


Remember that time I ate your family?

I agree, its funny and over the top. I actually read the novel just a few months ago after seeing the movie a few times. The movie is pretty close to the novel but I do recommend reading the book and sort of "creating" your own characters in your head as you read.

Loved your idea of what they should have said!
Of course, you would NEVER see that in a movie like this.

Oh wow, to the OP, you spent what must have been more time typing all that drivel than you spent on wrapping up your Xmas presents back in 2008 when you started this thread.

You've completely missed the entire point of what this movie was saying..it isn't about commercialising Christmas etc. This movie was about spending every year with a child at the holiday season (in this case their daughter) and for the first time ever when she goes away she won't be there for the first time ever. So the parents decide to complete cut Christmas out of their lives for the simple fact it is going to be too painful.

Of course Nora has it really forced upon her as the movie progresses and Luther becomes obsessed about his Caribbean holiday to add to the comedic element but when Blaire calls and says she is coming home for Christmas, Nora just like a mom immediately discards the vacation and does everything to get the traditional Christmas back on track in the matter of a day.

It is basically about family.you've read to much into this movie.

I only axed ya for a smoke - Jack Frost

I might be nuts- but I really enjoyed the movie. We went to it, we bought the DVD, and we watch it about 4 times each year. Of course, my kids are now 14/12 but they have always enjoyed it. I, like some of the posters, have family that behave like many of these same characters and I even knew an over zealous neighborhood captain (late 70's). I enjoy it for what it is, a silly Christmas movie. Too many people are comparing this to one of the greatest stories ever told- the birth of our Savior- Jesus Christ

Check this out: http://www.redstatereport.com/

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=28950029

I think the real problem here is that the OP say this movie induced "rage".

It seems like the trend these days is to be offended by the silliest of things. It's just a fun Christmas movie. Some may like it, some may not. There is no need to feel rage.

Well, I know this movie is not exactly Best Picture of the year, but it was not meant to be, and it is a fun film for me whether it shows how shallow people can be or not. It has a good message on the outside, and that's what it tries to get across to the audience, and it does a good job at entertaining, in my opinion. It is not as bad as many people claim it to be.

"Mama, I'm in with a criminal."

Jeez talk about over analysing. This isn't an Oscar bait film, no need to criticise it as such.

and jingle all the way is awesome.. dont diss

Haven't you seen any far fetched Christmas movies before? Home Alone, Christmas Vacation and let's not forget Santa Claus himself. It's Christmas, it's not real it's ridiculous and light hearted and goofy. I used to love It's a Wonderful Life until I realized George was right and should've just ended it. Heaven has to be better than this. Kidding aside, but life sucks when you grow up and I wish my problems revolved around getting a ham at the grocery store and keeping a cruise a secret.

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I think the main problem is the neighbourhood treating them like crap for not following the christmas tradition. But high its ok turns out the goose stepping neighbours where right all along and he found his spirit.

Well.. thats a good message.

-
In a fair universe, we would all be better people.

I couldn't agree more with the original poster. If this were labeled a horror movie instead of a comedy, I would have no trouble believing it.

Wow I had no idea this movie was so lowly rated before coming on here. Seriously, it's meant to be a light hearted comedy, not a social statement. Putting plans on hold to make your daughter happy (and you, since you get to spend time with her for the first time in a while) is not giving in to pressure. They easily could have said no and the daughter probably would have understood, and though the neighbors were way too intense, they turned around and helped them when they really needed it (See: Spirit of Christmas). Lighten up and enjoy the show. Each year I look forward to watching this, along with the likes of Rudolph and Frosty.

I would.

But after the way the neighbours where treating the Klumps as borderline sex offenders for not following the trend. Then making it the Klumps where wrong and all the offensive things the neighbours did was ok cause they where right.

Hard to find the joy
-
In a fair universe, we would all be better people.

I had read Grisham's "Skipping Christmas" and frankly, my sympathy was with him. I mean, his only child was out of the house and overseas, he added up what Christmas was costing him each year, and decided (along with his wife) just to chuck the whole thing and go on a cruise. Instead of spending money on junk nobody really needs and spending his weekend putting up decorations that sucked electricity, they could enjoy a week or so of relaxation where it was warm and somebody else did the cooking, the dishes, and the housecleaning (something I'm sure the missus would like).

The book was better. The film turns the neighbors into a raging mob of conformity. You have to ask what they would have done if the Kranks were Jewish. Or Muslim. Or atheists or any religion that doesn't celebrate Christmas.

Even worse is how the Kranks cater to their daughter. My parents don't mind me visiting, but they prefer advance notice. That way they might say they already have plans. Maybe New Year's would be better. Or next Christmas. Quite frankly, I'm not sure I'd be thrilled to have my daughter engaged to some guy she's only known for a few months. Still, she's an independent adult, making adult decisions like going into the Peace Corps, and she needs to accept adult responsibilities - like checking with her parents first instead of showing up last minute.