Christmas with the Kranks is one of my favorite Christmas movies. My family and I watch it together every year during the holidays. And, yes, I know Christmas is over, but there’s not a rule that says you can’t watch a Christmas movie after December 25th.
First, Luther refuses to buy a Christmas tree from the neighborhood kids or buy a calendar from the police department. Then Nora and Luther decide not to put Frosty up on their roof or decorate their house. This infuriates their neighbors and starts a war between Luther and the rest of the neighborhood. Christmas carolers sing annoyingly in front of the Kranks’ house. Then Luther turns his front yard into a skating rink and the carolers crash. And last, but certainly not least, the neighbor’s cat gets frozen, too.
Poor Nora. She’s standing in the tanning bed in a too-small bikini when Father Zabriskie comes and asks her about the plan to skip Christmas. I laugh so hard at this part every time and Jamie Lee Curtis completely nails Nora’s humiliation and embarrassment.
In 5 minutes Luther goes from being a genius to an idiot. The plan to go on a cruise is off, and Nora declares they will have their Christmas Eve party! She heads to the grocery store to get food, but fails in securing the hickory honey ham. Honestly, I’m surprised she didn’t end up in a psych hold because she looked like she needed therapy laying in the middle of the road screaming and crying.
Somehow the neighborhood pulls off a Christmas miracle and gets the Krank house ready. Neighbors, friends, and co-workers (and the tanning bed lady!) arrive at the party while Blair and Enrique (or “N-Reeky”) are picked up from the airport by the police officers. My absolute favorite part of Christmas with Kranks is when Blair arrives home while “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” by Darlene Love plays in the background. The lights, the music, the joy of Blair seeing her family again is just wonderful.