Review of Christmas with the Kranks (2004) by Johnny T — 02 Mar 2011

It is a perfectly fine, inoffensive family comedy. A more sweet than sour satire that sets its sight on nasty but lavishly honey coated underpinnings of the holiday season. Christmas with the Kranks finds a comfortable balance between hilarious and heartwarming. It's the best of both worlds and a pleasant surprise to find under the cineplex tree. An agreeable, if snowflake-thin stocking stuffer faithfully adapted from John Grisham's 2001 bestseller Skipping Christmas. You'd have to be a Scrooge not to crack a smile during this feature. Ultimately something of a softball satire, its climactic evocation of the "true meaning" of the holidays is surprisingly touching.

VERDICT: "Full Price" - My second highest rating (Positive to Mixed reaction). This is a rating to a movie I view as very entertaining and well made, and definitely worth paying the full price at a theatre to see or own on DVD. It is not perfect, but it is definitely excellent.