In order to break that routine, Luther and Nora Crank plan to go on a journey that is quite different from the routine of Christmas. They are both on a cruise in the Caribbean, where their obsessed Christmas neighbors Vic Frumayer and Walt Schill are always trying to win the best annual decorative street competition. The situation changes when Crank and his family find themselves socially ostracized because of the lack of Christmas spirit.
I'm making my list of the worst movies of the year and I'm checking it twice, and I hope to find room for this frantically unfunny disaster.
Ellsworth American
June 01, 2007
Some pathetically predictable plot twists and syrupy sentimentality, which could only amuse a five year-old, lead the Kranks back to their materialistic senses in time for a Kodak moment which shouts a rather shallow Merry Capitalism to all!
This isn't a wonderful life: It looks pretty hellish.
Urban Cinefile
October 18, 2008
The notion of bullying people into succumbing into the trappings of Christmas does not necessarily represent goodwill to all, and while the situations present good comic opportunities, the film ends up feeling rather manipulative and sugary.
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.
In any normal year this dire comedy would be the undisputed lump of coal in our psychic stocking, but coming on the heels of Surviving Christmas, it's a close second.
