Christmas with the Kranks

While hesitant, Nora ultimately agrees with Luther to go on the expensive cruise, trying to reclaim some of their lost passion. What follows is their neighbor’s attempts to sabotage the two for not participating in Christmas as they have in every preceding year.

This is one of those films that, upon repeat viewings, it becomes harder and harder to appreciate either side equally. For the Kranks, their many faults labeled throughout the film feel callous and unearned, while their neighbors appear vicious and petty for their myriad actions to force the Kranks to conform. While meant to appear wholesome and compassionate, its themes and messages come off as preachy and twisted when one simply takes a moment to step back and think about them. At least, unless one subscribes to the “war on Christmas” belief, in which case, I suppose the Kranks are their namesake.

Regardless of which side you find yourself on, the ultimate theme of coming together to help those around you is one that I can get behind. Social mores have evolved, and taking care of oneself before others has become the norm – which is the kind of ideology that the film attempts to eviscerate. Luther and Nora have a frank conversation about how Christmas is something that they only really do for their daughter Blair at this point in their lives.

The harassment that the Kranks receive is, at times, utterly incomprehensible, but the one who is truly impacted the most is Nora. There’s Aubie (Patrick Breen), whom Nora orders Christmas cards and invitations from every year, who is initially presented as a nice man, only to prove himself to be an ass. All in an effort to air her business to those around her because she won’t be ordering cards or invitations this year, he ambushes her with questions while she is at a private lunch with friends and then trash-talks about her behind her back to an entire restaurant.

Mary and Candi (Felicity Huffman and Caroline Rhea) are two of Nora’s friends who are more concerned with her throwing her annual Christmas Eve party than taking some time to enjoy herself. Mary, once hearing that Nora and Luther are departing on Christmas Day, passive-aggressively demands that Nora throw her party as usual. Vic Frohmeyer (Dan Aykroyd) is the most passionate of their neighbors and takes issue with the Kranks skipping Christmas. He rushes to Nora’s car to demand that they put up their Frosty the Snowman roof decoration. In my humble opinion, he only has himself to blame for his crushed fingers.

Christmas with the Kranks has an interesting supporting cast filled with known and beloved actors. Kim Rhoades (of Supernatural and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody fame) stars as one of Luther’s employees. Officer Treen (Jake Busey, son of Gary Busey) spends his screen time making Luther’s life difficult alongside his partner Salino (Cheech Marin, of Cheech & Chong). Spike Frohmeyer (Erik Per Sullivan, Reese from Malcolm in the Middle) is Vic’s son and one of the Boy Scouts who sells Christmas trees.

Ultimately, what ails Christmas with the Kranks is its many wasted opportunities. Chief among them is the relationship between Nora and Luther. Moments before Luther presents his idea for the cruise, his vague comments imply to Nora that they are going to reignite the passion in their relationship through impromptu sex. With how their relationship is portrayed before and after, the banality of their life is clear. Yet, rather than being on the verge of a divorce, as their daughter’s departure seems to have left a massive hole in their relationship, the pair are little more than quietly frustrated with their situation, unwilling to take the steps necessary to progress. The fire lit under them by the cruise brings warmth and color to their lives at the cost of their safety and security. While the pair are brought back together by the end, all of the issues that plagued them before are left unaddressed, begging the question of where the couple would be a year or two down the road.

Another storyline that is brought up, but wasted, is the crotchety old neighbor Walt Scheel (M. Emmet Walsh) and his kind, compassionate wife Bev (Elizabeth Franz). While Walt appears to be ornery from the outset, he is suffering in silence as his wife slowly dies, and he has no power to help her. Despite Walt and Luther spending the entire film snarking back and forth with one another, the history of their feud, the resolution of their feud, and the true warmth of Walt and Bev’s storyline are utterly wasted. Even five more minutes could have wrung out more emotion for that final payoff.

By the midway point of the film, after the Boy Scouts, the neighborhood, and even the police have spent their time lambasting, harassing, and insulting the Kranks, Blair makes the last-minute reveal that she and her new fiancé Enrique Decardenal (Rene Lavan) are coming home for Christmas. This is the final wasted opportunity. Blair has been presented as the kind and doting daughter, beloved by all, and a member of the Peace Corps. Yet, mind you, her whirlwind decision to return at the very last minute, with a phone call from the airport, reeks of self-centeredness. It almost appears as if she expects her parents to be waiting around for her, with little care for how much time, effort, and money it takes to throw the traditional Christmas experience she expects to be able to show Enrique.

Obviously, all of this can only be read between the lines. Christmas with the Kranks does not present the neighbors, the police, the Boy Scouts, or even Blair as antagonists. Common sense does that for it. Upon first viewing, or by simply ignoring all of the thoughts on the edge of one’s mind, the film is cute, funny, and enjoyable with a message spelled out thickly. It’s only when one takes the time to dissect what they’re seeing that the storyline and most of its themes become problematic. Why is it a problem for somebody to want to spend their money on themselves for some enjoyment? Certainly, the Kranks have, for years, spent money on meaningless gifts (as pointed out by Dox, played by Vernee Watson, when she criticizes him and the gifts he’s given her in the past) or the lavish decorations expected of a suburban neighborhood. Yet, that does not entitle anybody to these things in the future. In fact, their attitude makes it clear that none of it is truly appreciated so much as it is expected as a means of conformity.

Luther may have been a tad bit aggressive in his reactions to those around him, but he was also upfront in his reasons why – only after his letter to his office did they treat him crassly. He merely explained that he would not be participating in Christmas. They decided to spite him, proving their callous disregard for him as a coworker. On the other hand, Nora was kind in explaining what she and her husband were planning, only to be met with rudeness, selfishness, and malice. That the film forced Nora to be the one to admit that they were wrong is what truly upset me.

If Christmas with the Kranks had been played honestly, it would have been presented as a criticism of suburban conformity and capitalist tendencies. In the end, the neighborhood and all who harassed the Kranks for days come together to throw the party that Blair is expecting – with subtle hints making it clear that she still doesn’t appreciate her parents’ efforts. If that unopened, supposedly beloved honey ham is anything to go by.