Movie Review by Neils Hesse
Starring: Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Aykroyd, Erik Per Sullivan, Cheech Marin
Director: Joe Roth
Yes it’s that time of the year again when Hollywood rushes out a handful of movies to suit the season, occasionally they strike gold but normally they come up with basic non-offensive fare such as this Tim Allen vehicle. This is a good movie but it isn’t a classic like say IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE or THE GRINCH but if approached from a non biased point of view this ought to happily entertain the average happy family.
Mr Krank a reindeer free Tim Allen and Mrs Krank played by Jamie Lee Curtis are the epitome of Christmas with their annual Christmas eve party and various other little Christmas essentials such as Frosty the Snowman on their roof. This Christmas much to their disappointment their darling daughter is not coming home for Christmas so Mr Krank comes up with a plan to skip Christmas all together and take his wife away on a luxury cruise. After dodging disappointed neighbours including an overly enthusiastic community leader played by Dan Aykroyd, they finally seem to be getting closer to their cruise but literally hours before they are set to leave their daughter calls to let them know that she has changed her plans and is now coming home for Christmas. The Kranks now have to perform a Christmas miracle by getting their house ‘Christmas ready’ by the time their daughter gets home.
Joe Roth directs this amiable tale with Chris Columbus producing and the result is fine and there is plenty to keep both the kids and grown-ups happy at this time of the year. Although it does not quite make the classic grade it nonetheless delivers what it says on the can – no more no less. Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis are both very good here but sadly under utilised. Tim Allen seems to have formed a liking for Christmas themed movies as he was on the big screen not too long ago with THE SANTA CLAUS 2 and he still entertains with this one as well. Jamie Lee Curtis plays second fiddle here but is still refreshingly amusing. The cameos from Cheech Marin, Jake Busey and Dan Aykroyd are all good.
So for some good old-fashioned comedy Christmas fun this ought to do you just fine.
