Christmas With the Kranks Movie Review 2004

After the two "Santa Clause" movies, Allen sticks with the holiday in this crass, slapstick comedy based on John Grisham's 2001 novel "Skipping Christmas." That is what Luther (a game Allen) and wife Nora (the ill-used Curtis) intend to do when their only daughter, Blair (Gonzalo), announces she won't be coming home to suburban Chicago for the holiday. Mr. Krank decides a nice Caribbean cruise is in order, but the duo find themselves the recipients of neighborhood scorn when they refuse to get in the seasonal spirit. That changes when Blair suddenly decides to return, accompanied by her brand-new fiance, and the Kranks cave in to Christmas commercialism with zealous glee. Pic is dedicated to the late Alan King, who was cast in a small role as Allen's boss.

Distribution

Sony Pictures Home Video, Sony Pictures Plz., 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, Phone: (310)244-7306, Fax: (310)280-2485, URL: http://www.spe.sony.com, Remarks: Formerly Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 98 minutes.
Originally from United States.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Christmas, Family Comedy, Strained Suburbia, Books to Film: John Grisham, Chicago

Screenplay

Chris Columbus

Cast

Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Aykroyd, Erik Per Sullivan, Jake Busey, M. Emmet Walsh, Elizabeth Franz, Rene Lavan, Austin Pendleton, Patrick Breen, Felicity Huffman, Julie Gonzalo, Richard "Cheech" Marin, Kevin Chamberlain, Caroline Rhea, Arden Myrin

Cinematography

Don Burgess

Director

Joe Roth

Music

John Debney

Other

Willie Burton, Steven Van Zandt, Nick Moore, Suzie DeSanto, Gareth Stover

Producer

Chris Columbus, Mark Radcliffe, Michael Barnathan, 1492 Films, Sony Pictures Entertainment