2008 Woodie Awards
'Christmas with the Kranks'
Kranked out laughter, tears bring holiday joy to a stressed-out student
Jaklyn Brown
Issue date: 12/3/04 Section: Arts & Entertainment
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Tim Allen, as Luther Krank, and Jamie Lee Curtis, as Nora Krank, are hysterical in Christmas with the Kranks.
The movie starts out with their daughter, Julie Gonzalo, as Blair Krank, moving to Peru during the holidays to join the Peace Corps.
They obviously don't know how to handle it.
On their way back into town, Nora realizes she needs to pick up white chocolate and pistachios at Chips.
Funny thing is, it's pouring down rain.
Luther tells her they can come back, and she pulls reverse psychology.
He gives in and gets out in the heavy rain.
While he's walking inside, Santa Claus asks him whether he wants an umbrella, and Luther says no.
He runs out to the car, and he forgot the white chocolate.
She makes him go back inside.
Santa Claus asks him again, and being frustrated, Luther ignores him and gets the chocolate.
When he comes back out, Santa asks him again.
While trying to tell him all his problems and why he doesn't need an umbrella, the tent falls over and gallons of water fall on his head.
At that point, he notices a sign for a Caribbean cruise vacation.
During dinner, days later, he brings the idea to the table. Literally. Nora starts off loving the idea.
He then tells her they would be skipping Christmas.
She is turned off and ignores the cruise idea completely. He convinces her by telling her of depression.
Big mistake. See, this neighborhood is a close one.
Vic Frohmeyer, played by Dan Aykroyd, neighborhood patrol, tries to make Luther feel guilty.
It doesn't work.
They continue to make plans. Luther and Nora get tans (or try to), and Luther gets a botox injection (as seen in the preview).
Plans backfire when Blair calls home and has chnaged her plans.
She's coming home for Christmas and has big news for her parents.
All chaos breaks loose, from Nora finding Blair's favorite ham to Luther "borrowing" a tree to Frosty the snowman tumbling to his death.
The movie is based on the novel, Skipping Christmas, by John Grisham.
It is funny, and it did a great job of keeping my attention.
Clues in the beginning make for a funny ending,
I enjoyed the movie.
Being a student, it took my mind off my stressful problems.
It definitely was worth the $6.