In Candy Cane Lane, Chris finds himself dealing with a mischievous elf who brings The Twelve Days of Christmas to life. The movie is now streaming on Prime Video.
Story
Christmas for Chris Carver is not going as he expects it to be. He is receiving tough competition for the best Christmas decoration from his neighbor for the TV show Candy Cane Lane, his kids are not following the path he wants them too, and to top all of this, he gets laid off by his company.
When Candy Cane Lane announces a $100,000 prize for the best Christmas decoration this year, Chris sees this opportunity as his only hope and begins working hard towards it.
Searching for the right materials for the decoration lands him at Kringle’s, where he finds a beautiful Christmas tree featuring the characters of The Twelve Days of Christmas on its ornaments.
Chris buys the tree from Pepper, the woman who runs Kringle’s. While he shows off his tree when presenting it for the first time for Candy Cane Lane, the next day, the characters from The Twelve Days of Christmas come to life and turn Chris’ life upside down.
Performances
Eddie Murphy puts on a very mature performance as Chris Carver, but the energy required to lead a film like this is missing in him this time around. The film and Murphy should have presented viewers with a more crazier and active personality.
When it comes to the supporting cast, though the actors playing the Carvers are talented and they get screentime individually, they don’t necessarily shine. The Twelve Days of Christmas that have come to life steal the attention that is on them.
The characters playing the CGI figures overshadow the Carver family. Talents such as Nick Offerman, Chris Redd, and Robin Thede helm these characters and leave a lasting impact on viewers.
Positives
Candy Cane Lane hits viewers with the right warmth and atmosphere, which can be seen during Christmas. The viewers will have no problem starting the film, as it looks like a comfortable watch. The family, the competition, and a lot more contribute to it.
The film certainly forms a really good backstory for the character of Pepper, played by Jillian Bell. It is then that viewers get hooked on the drama in the film. The film also ends with some nice twists and balances the generic nature of this Christmas drama.
Negatives
Candy Cane Lane is primarily a slow drama for a Christmas film. After setting the atmosphere, it has a very dull tone rather than a goofy, fun-filled one. Eddie Murphy can carry a film like this, but his mature character doesn’t help him much.
The film is also lengthy, which further drains the energy of viewers. Most importantly, when these two aspects are combined, the film gives off a vibe that is devoid of any Christmas spirit.
Candy Cane Lane also tries to give supporting characters their due. However, their individual arcs hardly seem to matter in the film. Hence, it is not that exciting when they are taking center stage.
Verdict
Candy Cane Lane is a slow Christmas film that did have a great story going, but the creators failed to execute it to the best. The lack of right energy, good arcs of supporting characters, and length contribute to an overall dull experience.
Candy Cane Lane
Director: Reginald Hudlin
Date Created: 2023-12-01 06:30
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