#21 Christmas with the Kranks

Anthony Raffin ’17
When John Grisham wrote “Skipping Christmas,” he had no intention of selling the rights to a director to have it produced into a movie. When the movies came out in November of 2004, people were flocking to the theaters to see a star-studded cast with actors such as Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Dan Aykroyd. Many though were disappointed on account of the missing plot points, tasteless jokes, and a running gag between a man and a cat.
The movies revolves around Luther (Tim Allen) and Nora Krank (Jamie Lee Curtis) trying to skip Christmas in absence of the daughter that had joined the Peace Corps. Luther and Nora try to cope with the “empty nest syndrome” by buying tickets for a cruise over the New Year’s holiday. Then the two try to “boycott” Christmas by leaving for the cruise on Christmas Day.
As the Kranks try to “skip” Christmas, their nagging neighbor (Dan Akyroyd) and his family try to pump the Kranks full of Christmas Spirit. This includes many gags between annoying carolers, police selling Christmas calendars, angry Boy Scouts, and a tanning incident. Then on Christmas Eve, as the Kranks are packing their bags, their daughter Blair calls home and announces she will be coming back with her fiancé. What ensues is a mad dash as the Kranks put together a last minute Christmas party,  “borrow” a Christmas tree, and put a gigantic snowman on the roof.
Christmas with the Kranks is a testament of directors and their ability to take a book and and adapt it poorly into a screenplay. The movie relies on its constant jokes and Christmas background so that it appeals to families during Christmas. Granted, the movies serves up some witty jokes and provides a new and unique look on the Christmas movie genre. If anything go buy “Skipping Christmas” by John Grisham and then rent Christmas with the Kranks. I guarantee you will enjoy the book better than the movie.