“Candy Cane Lane” is one of those harmless holiday movies that starts out with fun humor and a bit of promise but quickly spirals into a chaotic mess of silly magic, obnoxious product placement, and forced humor that doesn’t quite land. It is unfortunately starting to become a given that any Christmas-themed movie is more likely than not going to be bad. This one is a real stinker.
Chris (Eddie Murphy) is a regular suburban dad who is hell-bent on winning his neighborhood’s highly competitive holiday decorating contest. Things take a weird turn when he strikes a deal with a mischievous elf named Pepper Jillian Bell, in one of her most annoying, throwaway performances to date). After Pepper casts a spell bringing the 12 Days of Christmas to life, the result is pure chaos, wreaking havoc on Chris’s life and the whole town.
I’d by lying if I said the plot didn’t have any potential, but director Reginald Hudlin squanders every last drop of conceivable fun. The plot should be a lighthearted, festive romp, but instead it turns into a clunky, over-the-top mess that leans too heavily on fantasy tropes that never feel earned.
Murphy brings his signature megawatt charm as always, which is really the only thing that keeps the movie from being a total disaster. The other performances are horribly clunky. Bell’s turn as Pepper is particularly hard to watch. Her comedic style here just doesn’t click with the tone of the movie, and instead of adding any levity, it only takes away from what could have been a fun premise.
Chris’s mission to save Christmas is filled with bizarre magical challenges, but the pacing and ridiculousness of it all make it tough to care. The family’s efforts to undo the elf’s spell just feel like a series of forced set pieces, lacking any real emotional depth or investment.
Another big misstep comes with the film’s reliance on product placement, which completely undercuts any charm it might have had (this one feels more like an extended commercial than an actual movie). With every scene practically begging for you to buy something, it’s hard to stay immersed in the holiday spirit when you’re too busy being distracted by blatant ads for random products.
“Candy Cane Lane” isn’t a movie you’ll be adding to your list of holiday classics. It starts out fun enough but quickly devolves into a super dumb, forgettable fantasy that’s more concerned with selling you things than telling a good story. There are a few laughs to be had, but they’re overshadowed by a lackluster supporting cast and a story that never quite figures out what it wants to be.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 