Andrew Daly, Billy Asher, Cheech Marin

After faithfully and happily celebrating Christmas their entire lives, and with their daughter Blair in Peru to serve a stint in the Peace Corps, Luther and Nora Krank are facing the prospect of a ver...( read more  read more... )y lonely holiday. One blustery Chicago night, Luther glances longingly at an alluring poster in a travel agency window and pictures himself and Nora basking in the glow of the sun on a Caribbean cruise. Though Nora is at first reluctant about going away for the holidays, she soon warms up to the idea. But when their neighbors find out, they are aghast, especially local busybody Vic Frohmeyer. To make matters worse, Luther refuses to put his illuminated Frosty the Snowman on his rooftop. Hemlock Street is famous for it and has won numerous contests sponsored by the local newspaper. The battle of wits between the Kranks and their neighbors quickly escalates, threatening the harmony of the community and, yes, the spirit of Christmas itself. Then, without warning, Luther and Nora get a call from Blair. She is coming home for Christmas after all and now the Kranks have less than twenty-four hours to get themselves and all the families on Hemlock Street back in the proper Christmas spirit.

Flixster Users

48% liked it

75,837 ratings

Critics

5% liked it

129 critics

PG, 1 hr. 34 min.

Directed by: Joe Roth

Release Date: November 24, 2004

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DVD Release Date: November 8, 2005

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Flixster Reviews (2,790)


  • December 22, 2008
    Director:Joe Roth
    Released: 2004
    Stars: Tim Allen, Jamie Lee-Curtis and Dan Aykroyd
    Genre: Comedy
    Country: USA

    When Luther and Nora Krank's only daughter leaves and goes to another country they both decide to skip Christmas this year a...( read more)nd spend it on a cruise. Now they must survive, facing their neighbors, a house decorations contest and carolers. But when their daughter calls on Christmas eve and says shes coming home for Christmas, the Kranks really get into the meaning of Holiday Rush when they have 12 hours to get Christmas set up for their daughter and her fiancée.

    I only really sat and watched this because it was on TV and because it's christmas after all. With hundreds of films on I couldn't really care less about the quality of the film around this holiday season, as long as I am enjoying what I've seeing-even if the story is pretty predicatble. Despite the blow par plot and several rushed scenes I did sit and enjoy this one.

    You'd think that having a screenplay written by the great crime writer, John Grisham, would make the director keep to the script. Well not exactly. It seems like it's been written with the assumption that every audience member has read the book, which was something I noticed. For examples he characters aren't developed and scenes seem to move on very quickly.

    Having said all that the film still maintains that christmas feeling that just keep you watching. For instance characters expressing their love for christmas clearly is something that will speak to audiences and keep them watching. You feeling what the character feels is something that I think is the heart of this christmas film. Considering it wasn't that great of a film, which is something!

    The film contains a pretty good cast. with the likes of Jamie Lee Curtis, Tim-I've been in way too many christmas films Allen, Dan Akroyd and M.Emmet Walsh. The cast I think is another thing that will keep ou watching. Like I said before, dring the christmas season, I will pretty much any christmas related film that's on the televison-regardless of quality. I'm sure you are the same.

    Overall, not the greatest of films but will keep you watching if you watch it during the Christmas season and no other time in the year. Look out for a scene in a tanning parlour, which I must admit I did laugh at.

    5/10
  • December 21, 2008
    I saw the film Christmas with the Kranks for the first time in theatres. I now own it. I really liked it, Based on John Grisham´s "Skipping Christmas", I´d prefer the book but the movie it´s great too, It was a light, funny, laid back movie. I don't know why so many people disli...( read more)ked it. I think that you have to have a certain sense of humour to think it was funny. I thought the plot was very entertaining and yes heartwarming. What's wrong with a heartwarming film about spreading Christmas joy. Why is it so unrealistic? Is it really impossible anymore for people to be nice to one another? To be thoughtful. I think this film portrays the values of enjoying the little things and simple things in life and perhaps this is why people automatically think this movie is clumsy because they don't enjoy and embrace the little things and therefore they are quick to say these certain situations are unrealistic. All films are a little unrealistic. So what. Like ?Lord of the Rings? is realistic? come on folks. lighten up.
  • December 21, 2008
    The Kranks (Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis) have celebrated Christmas for over 20 years but when their daughter goes to Peru over Christmas, they decide to skip Christmas and go on a cruise. There is discontent from their neighbours and friends. However, their daughter decides to...( read more) come home and they have to make up with everyone and get themselves ready for Christmas. Funny movie, Good cast.
  • November 15, 2008
    Typical rip-off of National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. Why does Tim Allen do so many Christmas movies?
  • April 22, 2008
    "You're skipping Christmas! Isn't that against the law?"


    Christmas with the Kranks is the worst Christmas movie bar none. It's a horrible, conventional, and terribly plotted movie that has nothing saving it from total disaster.

    After faithfully celebrating

    ...( read more) Christmas their entire lives, Luther (Allen) and Nora (Curtis) farewell their daughter Blair (Gonzalo) as she is heading to Peru until the following Christmas. As the Christmas season approaches without their daughter, Luther decides to "skip Christmas" and spend the money on a cruise to the Caribbean Islands with his wife Nora. But their neighbours dislike their decision not to join in the Christmas festivities and try everything they can to prevent the Kranks continuing their selfish behaviour.

    From square one, the film was doomed to fail. The premise even spelt doom, and is played out with predictable slapstick gags that aren't even funny, and characters that are poorly conceived and executed worse.

    The festive spirit is completely sapped from this production, moving from scene to scene of terribly conventional black comedy of things going from bad to worse. Each gag one could see even if it was buried as low in the ground as the movie.

    There are lots of loose ends that are never resolved, some of which never given a second thought. And the film is not at all heart-warming, although it tries to be.

    And if that's not enough, the concluding animation before the credits was the final nail in the coffin and dug the grave even further.

    Tim Allen is horrific here, and is given nothing to work with. Jamie Lee Curtis has lost her touch, and is more annoying than funny. The film is so incredibly corny and predictable, but it's what you get from such an appalling premise.

    Honestly, this film rates as one of the worst films of 2004, and one of the worst of all time.
  • November 13, 2009
    Not that funny of a movie, and I did NOT want to see Jamie Lee Curtis in a bikini at her age.
  • October 20, 2009
    There were only 1 or 2 funny parts in this movie & I cant even remember what they were
  • October 10, 2009
    Luther Krank is fed up with the commerciality of Christmas; he decides to skip the holiday and go on a vacation with his wife instead. But when his daughter decides at the last minute to come home, he must put together a holiday celebration.
  • October 1, 2009
    Extremely fun Christmas movie, with a entertaining story, the right amount of laughs, and cast of outstanding actors.
  • September 21, 2009
    A very funny christmas film.had some slow parts in it,that will have you looking at the clock and taking your mind off the movie itself.All I know is thank god I dont live in that nighbourhood.

Critic Reviews


November 27, 2004
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Purports to kindle the warm glow of love for humankind in our hearts but actually reaffirms that the trappings of the holiday season are all that really matter. full review

November 24, 2004
Claudia Puig, USA Today

One of the worst Christmas movies in years. full review

November 24, 2004
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

This grim holiday-themed comedy is the movie equivalent of getting socks and underwear for Christmas. full review

November 24, 2004
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Avoid this lump o' coal. full review

November 24, 2004
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

Here's a film that says Christmas is a sellout, that your neighbors are morons, and that suburbia is a playground of fascist conformity, and then it concludes that anyone who actually believes that is... full review

November 24, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

It's a colossal miscalculation. full review

November 23, 2004
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

Joyless and forced. full review

November 23, 2004
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

If you haven't seen enough films featuring shoppers sprinting to snatch the last ham at the grocery store, electric shocks from Christmas lights, and home decorators toppling off the roof, this is the... full review

View more Christmas with the Kranks reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • JesusOnlyKnows19
    September 11, 2006
    People cannot jus say I did not like the movie no instead they gotta express there opions through feelin's, you are not suppose to do that over the interrnet my friend's, grow up and become adult's and give yourself to Christ! Also realize these are jus movies so u have no need to insultb the acxtor's, cause they are jus acting, 75% of the actor's are differen't in real life so be nice and not so critical, your final judgementv will fall on you in the end my friend's!
  • smilingmonkey92
    July 25, 2006
    this movie looked so better on trailer then it did on the whole movie

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Christmas with the Kranks Trivia


  • Name The Movie Using The Missing Words; ____ Lion King ____ On Elm Street The Land ____ Time ____ With The Kranks  Answer »
  • Which two christmas movies feature tim allen?  Answer »
  • Jamie Lee Curtin and Tim Allen cause uproar when they give the christmas festivities a miss this year. Name the movie?  Answer »
  • Who Plays "Luther" In Christmas With The Kranks?   Answer »

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