MovieChat Forums > Christmas with the Kranks (2004) Discussion > the idea of skipping Christmas

the idea of skipping Christmas

posted 8 years ago by ADBruns
2 replies | jump to latest

It was handled horribly on both ends really. Maybe it would've gone better for the Kranks if he hadn't sounded hostile and almost malicious each time he explained it. And everyone else should've been more accepting of it not being their business. They were so nosy and pushy, like the card guy who actually followed Nora into a restaurant to harass her. Really, what if people weren't celebrating because they were Jewish, would the rest have been so militaristic then?

[–] AmyJolamb 8 years ago

I just started rereading the book and he comes across as a Grinch in the beginning. His mind is all on the money. It says they spend $6,100 on Christmas last year with little to show for it. As I read it I thought they must have happy memories and the joy of donating so much money to help others.

But I think the point of the story is to see him turn from Bah Humbug to someone willing to give and give with joy. He makes a big point at the end that there is no string attached to his gift. It shows he has changed.

[–] FlushingCaps 8 years ago

The card guy was disappointed that a regular, long-time customer, was not placing a huge order this year, like she usually does. Even in a movie supposed to be somewhat silly, he would not have been the least bit upset about some Jewish person not ordering Christmas cards.

His over-the-top reaction to Nora's not ordering was part of the humor. It wasn't supposed to be the way a normal merchant would have reacted.

If you had everyone acting the way people would normally have acted, you'd have had no movie, or no book, for that matter. The same could be said for 95% of the comedy shows ever produced.

Why don't we just shoot 'em down and be through with it?