Christmas with the Kranks
Directed by Joe Roth
- comedy
- family
The story
When their only daughter Blair leaves the family nest, Luther and Nora Krank decide to book an island cruise to beat the yuletide blues and just skip the holidays. But their decision to boycott tradition has the whole neighborhood in an uproar, and when Blair calls on Christmas Eve to announce a surprise visit with her new fiancée, the Kranks have just twelve hours to perform a miracle and pull themselves and their neighbors together to throw the best celebration ever!
What it’s like
Bright, saturated suburban Christmas: glowing inflatable-free yards strung with white lights, a Chicago cul-de-sac under snowy grey skies, warm kitchen interiors full of ornaments, tinsel and crowded party rooms. The camera stays mostly conventional and cheerful, with broad wide shots of neighbourhood chaos cut against close two-shots of a long-married couple bickering affectionately. The score leans on sleigh-bell jingles and brassy seasonal swells, and the mood is cozy and boisterous rather than quiet. Vibe: sentimental slapstick, a warm holiday romp for a festive evening on the couch with a plate of cookies. The pace is brisk and sitcom-like, with plenty of physical comedy and neighbourly set pieces, and the emotional arc follows a married couple rediscovering why they bother with the holidays at all. Intensity is very low: some mild peril from mishaps and frantic party prep, no real violence, no sexual content, nothing frightening. Suited to people who want gentle, funny, family-minded holiday comfort and a happy ending.
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