MovieChat Forums > Christmas with the Kranks (2004) Discussion > What a disgraceful piece of garbage

What a disgraceful piece of garbage

posted 16 years ago by benbigwig-1
62 replies | jump to latest

So last night I'm wrapping Christmas presents and I turn to FX on the TV.

"Oh, Christmas with the Kranks. I've never seen this," I think. "Maybe I'll give it a look. After all, I heard it was based on a John Grisham novel."

Two hours later I almost ripped up all my wrapping and returned the gifts to the store. I was that angry. I wasn't angry at the horrible quality of the film, or the fact that it wasn't funny. This is, after all, a modern family holiday comedy-- they're a dime a dozen and they're almost universally awful. I knew to expect that much.

My rage was directed at the message this movie sends. In the film, conformity is not only celebrated, but strictly enforced. Societal pressure turns what seems like a perfectly rational idea from Luther, skipping Christmas, into some kind of fiendish, selfish plot to spite others and ruin everyone's holiday.

Until I saw this movie, the worst Christmas movie I knew was "Jingle All the Way," which, though basically about crass Christmas commercialism, at least slightly redeemed itself in the end when the young boy rejected that notion in favor of his family. Now, the worst Christmas movie I've is "Christmas with the Kranks." Congratulations on "topping" yourself again, Hollywood.

But why should anyone be surprised? This movie is part of the big machine that tries to convince you that you are a terrible human being if you don't shell out thousands of dollars every December, not only by buying flat-screen TVs for your teenagers and baking 600 cookies for everyone you know, but by being forcibly extorted by a dozen different charities pushing the idea that somehow, causes are more needy at Christmas time than any other time in the year. Never got the logic in that.

Frankly, I thought Luther was a HERO for his idea and I was expecting the movie to go in an entirely different direction. I was mildly enjoying it (even though it wasn't funny), thinking that it would be nice to see the resolution where Luther and his wife gave their neighbors proper comeuppance by having a fantastic cruise and thereby showing that Christmas isn't about rote tradition. Boy, did I fail to call where the film was going. Even as all the insane party preparation was taking place at the end, I kept thinking, "this is a joke, right? This is going to turn around in the end, and they will say 'screw you' to all these self-righteous neighbors (not to mention the spoiled brat of a daughter) and leave on their cruise! They HAVE to!!!" No such luck.

For a movie that wanted to reinforce the traditionalism of Christmas, it made me feel the exact opposite. It made me want to skip Christmas out of protest.

Afterward, I kept thinking about the movie's turning point, when spoiled-brat Blaire called to force herself, her fiance that the parents barely know, and HER idea of a traditional Christmas down the Kranks' throats. This is what I would have said:

"Honey, I hate to tell you this, but your father and I decided not to do a traditional Christmas this year. We're going on a cruise on Christmas day. We haven't done any decorating or the traditions you were used to in your childhood. You see, we did many of those things FOR you, because we wanted you to have holiday memories filled with joy, just as we devoted most of the last two decades of our lives to your happiness and well-being.

"We decided that we wanted to do something different and fun, for ourselves, to celebrate this year. Sweetheart, I'm sorry if this disappoints you, but to be frank it was irresponsible of your to call 24 hours before Christmas and expect everything to be the way that you remember it after you left. Your father and I love you, and will always welcome you into our home, but you are an adult now, and you need to expect our independence as much as we respected yours when we let you get into PeaceCorps. This means things won't always be exactly the way you remember them at home. You can't make those assumptions anymore. Your father and I are human beings and we change just like you. Now that it's just the two of us at home again, we've moved on to a new stage in our lives.

"We look forward to seeing Enrique again and we're so happy for you. We'll be glad to let you stay at our place while we're gone. But we aren't going to change our plans at the drop of a hat without warning. Next year we will be happy to show Enrique an amazing traditional American Christmas."

None of this was selfish. It was simply nonconformist. And I guess this movie is a good showcase of just how well Americans can handle nonconformity.

[–] hannah-joy 13 years ago

I think the real problem here is that the OP say this movie induced "rage".

It seems like the trend these days is to be offended by the silliest of things. It's just a fun Christmas movie. Some may like it, some may not. There is no need to feel rage.

[–] Dragoneyed363 13 years ago

Well, I know this movie is not exactly Best Picture of the year, but it was not meant to be, and it is a fun film for me whether it shows how shallow people can be or not. It has a good message on the outside, and that's what it tries to get across to the audience, and it does a good job at entertaining, in my opinion. It is not as bad as many people claim it to be.

"Mama, I'm in with a criminal."

[–] Osova 13 years ago

Jeez talk about over analysing. This isn't an Oscar bait film, no need to criticise it as such.

[–] Aqqk 13 years ago

and jingle all the way is awesome.. dont diss

[–] Eve_of_Destruction 12 years ago

Haven't you seen any far fetched Christmas movies before? Home Alone, Christmas Vacation and let's not forget Santa Claus himself. It's Christmas, it's not real it's ridiculous and light hearted and goofy. I used to love It's a Wonderful Life until I realized George was right and should've just ended it. Heaven has to be better than this. Kidding aside, but life sucks when you grow up and I wish my problems revolved around getting a ham at the grocery store and keeping a cruise a secret.

[–] Sirus_51 12 years ago

I think the main problem is the neighbourhood treating them like crap for not following the christmas tradition. But high its ok turns out the goose stepping neighbours where right all along and he found his spirit.

Well.. thats a good message.

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In a fair universe, we would all be better people.

[–] entropy770 12 years ago

I couldn't agree more with the original poster. If this were labeled a horror movie instead of a comedy, I would have no trouble believing it.

[–] HeavenSentCastiel 12 years ago

Wow... I had no idea this movie was so lowly rated before coming on here. Seriously, it's meant to be a light hearted comedy, not a social statement. Putting plans on hold to make your daughter happy (and you, since you get to spend time with her for the first time in a while) is not giving in to pressure. They easily could have said no and the daughter probably would have understood, and though the neighbors were way too intense, they turned around and helped them when they really needed it (See: Spirit of Christmas). Lighten up and enjoy the show. Each year I look forward to watching this, along with the likes of Rudolph and Frosty.

[–] Sirus_51 12 years ago

I would.

But after the way the neighbours where treating the Klumps as borderline sex offenders for not following the trend. Then making it the Klumps where wrong and all the offensive things the neighbours did was ok cause they where right.

Hard to find the joy
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In a fair universe, we would all be better people.

[–] jclinard-344-344673 12 years ago

I had read Grisham's "Skipping Christmas" and frankly, my sympathy was with him. I mean, his only child was out of the house and overseas, he added up what Christmas was costing him each year, and decided (along with his wife) just to chuck the whole thing and go on a cruise. Instead of spending money on junk nobody really needs and spending his weekend putting up decorations that sucked electricity, they could enjoy a week or so of relaxation where it was warm and somebody else did the cooking, the dishes, and the housecleaning (something I'm sure the missus would like).

The book was better. The film turns the neighbors into a raging mob of conformity. You have to ask what they would have done if the Kranks were Jewish. Or Muslim. Or atheists... or any religion that doesn't celebrate Christmas.

Even worse is how the Kranks cater to their daughter. My parents don't mind me visiting, but they prefer advance notice. That way they might say they already have plans. Maybe New Year's would be better. Or next Christmas. Quite frankly, I'm not sure I'd be thrilled to have my daughter engaged to some guy she's only known for a few months. Still, she's an independent adult, making adult decisions like going into the Peace Corps, and she needs to accept adult responsibilities - like checking with her parents first instead of showing up last minute.

[–] mrgb48 12 years ago

It's on FX right now and watched most of it,but it's not all that funny.Why is everyone so upset that the Kranks don't want to celebrate Christmas? Why are they taking it so personal? Just questions I asked myself because as I was watching,I noticed that people don't act like this in real life.I know it's just a movie,but still there's nothing believable in any of the situations with everyone involved.No wonder this movie is on every Worst Christmas Movie list.Believe me,I've checked...Did the director or the writer think it was funny to put Tim Allen and Jamie in those bathing suits?..This movie kind of reminded me of Jingle All the Way.Another stinker...