Christmas With The Kranks Movie Review

Director: Joe Roth

Writer(s): John Grisham & Chris Columbus

Starring: Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Aykroyd



Is there anybody out there who believe that as movie fans we should expect a hell of a lot more quality from stars Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween, Freaky Friday, & My Girl), and Dan Aykroyd (Ghostbusters, The Blues Brothers, & Trading Places). I know that we have come to expect movies like this from former television star Tim Allen (The Santa Clause) but as far as Curtis and Aykroyd go we should just not be receiving such a terrible movie.

The movie basis itself around a married couple who's only daughter is supposed to not be home for Christmas this year, as a result they decide to take a trip. This seems like a perfectly human scenario and something that should never really be the business of other people, however the over the top terribly acted community that these two live in finds themselves at war with the Krank's as they attempt to skip Christmas.

Now I know this might seem like I am spoiling this terrible movie for you but guess what? In the end they are surprised when the daughter says she is actually going to come home for Christmas....OH MY!!!! Who did not see that whopper of a twist coming? Oh better yet somehow the Krank's decide to try and hide their vacation from their daughter and make Christmas as it always ahs been in a matter of hours. Sorry to spoilt the plot for everyone but I am sure if you have watched the trailer then you have pretty much watched the entire movie as it is anyways.

Christmas With The Kranks should be put to rest for all of eternity and should never be watched during the holiday season.

My Rating: 8%

The Polar Express Movie Review

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Writer(s): Chris Van Allsburg & Robert Zemeckis

Starring: Tom Hanks, Leslie Zemeckis



Director Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump, Back to the Future Trilogy, & Who Framed Roger Rabbit) brings the beloved childrens story to the big screen. The 3D animated version of "The Polar Express" is done by a man who has a gift for this particular style of movie.

"The Polar Express" stars the voice of Tom Hanks (Angels & Demons, Saving Private Ryan, & The Green Mile) as multiple characters in this movie, and as always Tom hanks does an amazing job.

The movie is dazzling in its own way with how incredible it is on a visual sense. The story is unique and was always a favorite of mine growing up as a child. Witnessing "The Polar Express" on the big screen was quite a marvel.

I can not say the movie is absolutely perfect, and by no means is this ever going to be the first pick come holiday season for most people, but I hope that you do not overlook this movie as a choice to be had come holiday season movie time. It is defiantly a movie that the entire family can love and the story line is timeless.

Robert Zemeckis is an exceptional movie director and should be appreciated for his ability to take chances that go over and above the standard in the Hollywood movie scene. Zemeckis might not always create the perfect movie, but more often then not he delivers some amazing movies and ones that will forever be remembered.

It is time to sit down with the kids, with your loved ones, or even at school before the holiday time off kicks in and enjoy the marvels of "The Polar Express".

My Rating:77%

Scrooged Movie Review

Director: Richard Donner

Writer(s): Mitch Glazer & Michael O'Donoghue

Starring: Bill Murray, Bobcat Goldthwait, John Forsythe, Karen Allen



"Scrooged" is the perfect answer to how to properly do a re telling of a classic story and have it become its very own classic at the same time. Bill Murray (Ghostbusters, Stripes, & Lost in Translation) stars as television executive Frank Cross. Frank has all the same tendencies towards Christmas as does Scrooge from the Charles Dickens classic "A Christmas Carol".

Murray find himself starring along side Bobcat Goldthwait (Police Academy ), John Forsythe (Dynasty), and Karen Allen (Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull) in this wonderful adult themed Christ movie.

Every single year at this time I manage to sneak this movie in to my holiday season viewing and this year is no exception. It was just this morning in fact that "Scrooged" was playing on the television and I turned it on and as always enjoyed every single minute of it. I know that there is many things that are outrageous and over the top with the movie, but it those things that make it fun and worth all the while to turn on each and every Christmas season.

The tagline for the movie read "Bill Murray is back among the ghosts. Only this time, it's three against one." in reference to his previous work in "Ghostbusters" which had been a hit for Murray four years prior to the release of "Scrooged".

Bill Murray has always been a delight to watch when it comes to movies and with this movie there is no doubt that he is at his best. I am anxiously awaiting Murray's return to the big screen taking on the supernatural in the not too distant future, but in the meantime I will never hesitate to sit down with a good old rum and egg nog to watch Bill and the ghosts in "Scrooged"

If for any reason you have been living under a rock and have never managed to see this movie then there is no better time like the present to head down to your local video store and rent it. If you do not want to leave your house though please feel free to discover the world of online video rentals that are now available these days. Most major movie distributors and rental companies now offer you online access to their movie libraries and offer you the convenience of watching classics such as this without ever leaving your home. That being said you do not have any excuse not to see this movie during the holiday season.

My Rating:90%

The Santa Clause Trilogy Movie Review

The Santa Clause



Director: John Pasquin

Writer(s): Leo Benvenuti & Steve Rudnick

Starring: Tim Allen, Wendy Crewson



In keeping with this holiday season I am going to review the entire three part series of Disney's "The Santa Clause". I am going to break it down by movie so that it gives a fair opportunity to properly review the films for their individuality as opposed to a whole. The first movie in the series which stars Tim Allen (Wild Hogs, Galaxy Quest) as Scott Calvin, a man who accidentally kills Santa Claus. Scott Calvin as a result of what happens is now purposed with a contract that claims he has to take the place of Santa Claus.

The movie which hit theaters in 1994 was quite well done for the time it arrived. On top of that modern day Christmas movies had started to become very routine and boring. Little to my own and many others surprise we were given an answer to what a studio could do when it gave a honest try and making a new Christmas classic. That combined with some relatively positive performances from the cast had left Disney with successful and very heart warming holiday movie.

In a bit of a bigger surprise was television star turned big screen actor Tim Allen was able to perform quite well in this particular role. Not withstanding the role was perfectly fit to Allen's particular blend of comedy and was enough to give off the perfect charm.

"The Santa Clause" is a perfect holiday movie full of laughs, charm, and enough holiday spirit for you and your family to enjoy.

My Rating: 80%



The Santa Clause 2



Director: Michael Lembeck

Writer(s): Don Rhymer & Cinco Paul

Starring: Time Allen, David Krumholtz



Eight years later and Disney decide that it is time for a round 2 with the Santa. Time Allen returns to reprise his role as Santa Claus. This time around we have a different director and a different writing team at the helm. The question is that after a eight year wait could the world be charmed again by an overweight Tim Allen. The question was answered when the movie did quite well at the box office during the 2002 holiday season and also saw some critics give it a positive review.

I however was not quite as drawn in to this particular movie so much as I was the first one. I did however appreciate the idea behind this movie as it was a slight bit different and did still manage some laughs in the process as well. I still am not sure whether or not though that this movie was a necessary movie to make. While on the one hand many people did enjoy it at the time, I do feel that it has already fallen victim to being forgotten about when it comes to longevity in the holiday movie list.

Disney who do not always hit the mark so much with their follow up movies were only slightly shy of getting something going with this follow up. However the movie falls victim to just not having enough to get the job done. With that being said I do not want to tell you not to watch this movie as you may find more charm in it then I did.

My Rating: 50%



The Santa Clause 3: The Escape




Director: Michael Lembeck

writer(s): Ed Decter & John J. Strauss

Starring: Tim Allen, Martin Short



Well the third time would not be a charm for Disney's Santa Clause series. In fact this movie set the series so far back that there never will be a ressurection for it at all. This time around Disney has included Martin Short (The Spiderwick Chronicles, Mars Attacks!) as Jack Frost.

Jack Frost who is jealous of the attention that Santa gets wants to become the new Santa and change the name of Christmas to Frostmas. Unfortunately what appears to sounds like an alright movie premise on the surface turns out to be one of the most horrible holiday season movies to have ever been put on the big screen. This movie would not have even been a good direct to DVD release as it just has no laughs, no charm, and nothing worth while in it at all.

The Santa Clause series comes to a crash landing with this installment and the addition of Martin Short managed to play a key factor in the complete failure of this movie. Martin Short is not funny at all in this movie or in almost everything he does for that matter. Martin Short is a perfect example of what is wrong in the world of comedy today.

I would rather be eating 30 day old Christmas Pudding then ever having to endure watching this painstaking movie ever again. Save yourself the trouble and stay far away from this movie as it will only leave you wishing you had ninety minutes of your life back.

My Rating: 0%

Christmas Vacation Movie Review

Director: Jeremiah S. Chechik

Writer(s): John Hughes

Starring: Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Randy Quaid



Keeping with the holiday spirit we come across "Christmas Vacation" which is a part of the long running "Vacation Series". The movies star Chevy Chase (Caddyshack, Three Amigos, & Fletch) and Beverly D'Angelo (Eye For An Eye, The House Bunny) as the Griswalds and this time around the vacation is not going to leave their home.

"Christmas Vacation" could be shrugged off by many as just another slapstick comedy, but it is a slapstick comedy that works and it works perfectly for this time of year. There is never a Christmas time that goes by where I do not find myself watching this movie at least once. The laughter for me never grows tired even after so many years and so many times seeing the movie.

The humor is very much over the top, but so is the script, the acting, and everything there is to offer in this movie. "Christmas Vacation" is just hands down a Christmas movie that is worth while watching.

I know that some of you know what it is like to have your relatives over during the holidays, and for some or all of you the laughs will hit so close to home it will hurt. I know you might even want to cook the Turkey yourself after seeing this movie as you just may not quite trust the person you leave in charge of it.

The movie which is scripted by the late great John Hughes (Home Alone, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, & The Breakfast Club) is represented wonderfully by the cast that breathe life in to the zany characters.

This is the time of year to sit down, fill up your rum and eggnog, sit down by the fire place, and put on a good old comedy classic like "Christmas Vacation". I grantee watching this movie will produced many laughs and some permanent smiles.

My Rating:88%