"Christmas With The Kranks" 2004

"Christmas With The Kranks"  

This movie is based on a John Grisham novel.   It is about a couple who decide to forgo all the material trappings of Christmas and go on a cruise instead. 

Nora Krank: [Luther explains his idea for the cruise] How much is this going to cost?
Luther Krank: $3,000.
Nora Krank: We SAVE money?

Their only daughter is somewhere in South America and won't be home.  Soon they are being ridiculed by their neighbors and harrassed for not living up to their prior years of glitz and glitter.



There seems to be a lot of ridicule in Christmas movies.  What is that all about?

They spend the first half of the movie avoiding all their neighbors.  Dan Ayckroyd is the main nemesis. 



He is obsessed with making sure the houses on the block all participate in the decorations. 

Vic Frohmeyer: Nora Krank, we're here for Frosty!
Luther and Nora, played wiht their usual manic acting are a little over the top, but fun.  They almost make the goal of skipping Christmas when they discover their daughter is on her way to surprise them with a new fiance'.  

Now all bets are off and they have to pull off the old fashioned family Christmas their daughter is expecting.

There are kooky moments of trying to get all the fixings for the perfect Christmas.  They also have to get the house decorated.



Spike Frohmeyer: [watching Luther steal a Christmas tree] Are you sure this isn't illegal?
Luther Krank: Are you a cop?



It finally comes together and with the help of their neighbors, they are ready for the daughter's arrival.



It ends happily.  They have a guest who may or may not be Santa. 

The reason I saw this movie is that I know someone in it.  When I was selling videos for the distributor I had an outside sales person that lived in Southern California.  She quit her job and became a full time actress.  It is fun to see her show up in movies. 

She is in the latest Kevin Smith movie.  Good job Rose!