Christmas with the Kranks (2004)

With their daughter away, the Kranks decide to skip Christmas altogether until she decides to come home, causing an uproar when they have to celebrate the holiday at the last minute.

Director:

Joe Roth

Writers:

John Grisham (novel), Chris Columbus (screenplay)

Stars:

Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Aykroyd

3 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tim Allen	...	Luther Krank
Jamie Lee Curtis	...	Nora Krank
Dan Aykroyd	...	Vic Frohmeyer
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Walt Scheel
Elizabeth Franz	...	Bev Scheel
Erik Per Sullivan	...	Spike Frohmeyer
Cheech Marin	...	Officer Salino
Jake Busey	...	Officer Treen
Austin Pendleton	...	Umbrella Santa / Marty
Tom Poston	...	Father Zabriskie
Julie Gonzalo	...	Blair Krank
René Lavan	...	Enrique Decardenal
Caroline Rhea	...	Candi
Felicity Huffman	...	Merry
Patrick Breen	...	Aubie

Storyline

As strange as it may sound, the Kranks, the award-winning couple for their cheerful Christmas spirit, have decided for the first time, to skip this year's annual festivities when their daughter, Blair, departs for Peru, after joining the Peace Corps. With the intention to save the staggering amount of $6,000-plus spent on previous year's holiday season, the Kranks are determined to invest the money on a sun-drenched, 10-day Caribbean cruise, much to their friends and neighbours chagrin. However, that is easier said than done, and before long, menacing phone calls and angry protests on the snow-covered pavements will betray that there is definitely no easy way out for the traitorous couple who has turned its back on Christmas. And then, unexpectedly, Blair and her new fiancé are coming home, unbeknownst to them that the empty family nest is far from ready for the event. Can the Kranks "generate" Christmas out of nothing in less than a few hours?

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Plot Keywords:

bikini | christmas | cat | singing | arrest | 

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Taglines:

Their Christmas will turn the town upside down!

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Genres:

Comedy | Family

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for brief language and suggestive content

Details

Official Sites:

Columbia / Tri Star [France] Official Site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

24 November 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

John Grisham's Skipping Christmas

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$60,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$21,570,867, 28 November 2004, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$73,780,539, 13 January 2005

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$96,572,480

Company Credits

Production Co:

Revolution Studios, 1492 Pictures, Skipping Christmas

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When the Kranks are watching Vic Frohmeyer through the window, Luther says to Nora, "So you're saying Frohmeyer has a problem with our skipping Christmas? Who's he gonna call?" Dan Aykroyd, who plays Frohmeyer, also starred in the film "Ghostbusters" for which "Who Ya Gonna Call" was a line from the movies theme song.

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Goofs

Blair says she's leaving for the jungle of Peru with the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps does not place any volunteers in the jungle regions of Peru, but rather just the coastal and highland areas.

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Quotes

Spike Frohmeyer: You're skipping Christmas! Isn't that against the law?

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Connections

Featured in Bad Movie Beatdown: Deck the Halls (2012)

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Soundtracks

Good King Wenceslas
Written by John M. Neale (uncredited) and Thomas Helmore (uncredited)
[Incorrectly credited as Traditional]

User Reviews

I liked this movie

I saw the movie Christmas with the Kranks for the first time in theatres. I now own it. I really liked it. It was a light, funny, laid back movie. I don't know why so many people disliked it. I think that you have to have a certain sense of humor to think it was funny. I thought the plot was very entertaining and yes heartwarming. What's wrong with a heartwarming movie 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 movie portrays the values of enjoying the little things and simple things in life and perhaps this is why people automatically think this movie is dumb because they don't enjoy and embrace the little things and therefore they are quick to say these certain situations are unrealistic. All movies are a little unrealistic. So what. Like lord of the rings is realistic? come on folks. lighten up.