REVIEW | CANDY CANE LANE

BY ROMEY NORTON NOVEMBER 30, 2023

There was a time when Eddie Murphy was a comedy king; his memorable voice took centre stage, and his name was everywhere. Well, Murphy is back with his first festive feature as he stars in this holiday comedy adventure film Candy Cane Lane. An adventurous and fresh story about a man called Chris on a mission to win his neighbourhood's annual Christmas home decoration contest.

Synopsis

A man is determined to win the neighbourhood's annual Christmas decorating contest. He makes a pact with an elf to help him win--and the elf casts a spell that brings the 12 days of Christmas to life, which brings unexpected chaos to town.

Review

The film’s storyline and plot are a refreshing concept; easy to follow and be entertained by. After being laid off from work, Chris finds himself losing the Christmas spirit, in competition with his annoying neighbours, and desperate. To better his chances Chris makes a deal with a mischievous elf named Pepper (played by Jillian Bell), and she casts a magic spell that brings the 12 days of Christmas to life, which wreaks havoc across the whole town. To stop this festive madness and save Christmas Chris and his family must race against the clock to break the spell, by collecting five rings. However, Pepper is out to make sure this doesn’t happen. Will he make it in time or will he be turned into a little porcelain toy?

The film begins with some suggestive innuendo jokes and this instantly drew me in. A sassy Christmas film with adult jokes might be the right film to get me in the festive spirit. From there it’s all bells and whistles as the competition begins for the best dressed house on the street. What makes this film magical for me is the upbeat music and colourful sets (money was spent on this feature) that really set that Christmas in California scene, and the lavish extravaganza of the pompous circumstance people put into this holiday. There’s a scene of all the houses lighting up their decorations and it’s truly magical. I can’t imagine their electricity bills, but who cares, it’s Christmas.

The film brought a lot of nostalgia for me as I was thinking how much I would have loved this film as a child. There’s no heavy use of CGI, it’s a fun family adventure and a classic fight between good and evil. You can sense a happy ending but know it’s going to have to be earned. There’s nothing more satisfying than a happily ever after after some horrors have gone down.

Murphy has a way of captivating the audience, being a joy to watch on screen. All the actors have great chemistry and play their parts well. Jillian Bell as the sneaky elf Pepper does a great job at being naughty and nice, as well as slightly creepy and devilish.

Candy Cane Lane has a long runtime of nearly two hours but the film has a great pace, with action, comedy and one thing happening after another, so the plot doesn’t feel drawn out. It does really well on taking you on a journey and is well detailed where you’re not having to work anything out as a viewer. You can kick back and simply enjoy.

With a dramatic twist, the ending thirty minutes are chaotic, with birds flying everywhere, but it all leads to a humbling, hopeful ending. Murphy gives a classic monologue as he has a change of heart, learning what is really important in life.

Overall this is a feel-good and fun festive film that you can look forward to watching year after year. Filled with holiday tropes and cliches, like elves, exuberant decorations and black Santa, Candy Cane Lane is a comforting Christmas film that will leave you with the message of hope, love and family. As Murphy says “It’s not about what you have on the outside of your house, it’s about who's on the inside.

STAR RATING