Picture the scene: Luther and Nora Krank, played wonderfully by Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis, are unimpressed about spending Christmas without their daughter, and when Luther suggests, they use the money to treat themselves to a ten-day cruise in the Caribbean that they would otherwise spend on Christmas parties, the foundation has been laid.

However, this doesn’t happen without the annoyance of their neighbors, who simply can’t believe that the Kranks would miss out on the Christmas festivities – especially their famous Christmas Eve party.

Now, this seems like a pretty simple plot for a Christmas movie, but it’s when all the neighbors band together to get the Kranks in the Christmas spirit that the chaos unfolds that makes it true holiday gold.

When the Kranks get a call from their daughter saying she’s at the airport on the way home with her fiancé, it’s all systems go to save Christmas!

The crux of Christmas with the Kranks is that Luther and Nora manage to rediscover the true spirit of the season – all while trying to ignore it.

As the couple tries to pull everything together to put together their Christmas Eve party, the entire street comes together to help them and shine a light on the community and love that brings people together during the holiday season.

But this film wouldn’t be what it is without the leads, Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis. The chaotic and Christmas-crazy Nora harmonizes perfectly with the slightly Scrooge-like appearance of Luther, which is even more noticeable if you are a fan of “Santa Claus”.

Whether it’s Nora getting into a fight over a can of ham or Luther getting a hilarious tan for his literal Caribbean cruise, there’s truly perfect comedy at the heart of this Christmas classic.

Sure, it may be exaggerated at times – but isn’t it Christmas itself?

But amid all the chaos of trying to pull off Christmas Eve, there’s a pretty poignant moment that reminds us all that Christmas is also about giving.

Towards the end of the film, Luther and Nora realize that they can’t possibly go on the cruise now, but they don’t want the tickets to go to waste. Luther gives the cruise tickets to his neighbor Walt and his wife Bev, who is battling cancer. Get some tissues, it’s an emotional affair.

While Christmas with the Kranks may not have the best ratings and received mixed reviews from critics when it was first released, it just gets better with every viewing.

This movie may not be on your list of the best Christmas movies of all time, at least not yet, but there’s something so crazy about it that makes it so good – and it just isn’t talked about enough!

If your Christmas is a little chaotic and messy, but still full of people you love around you, try Christmas with the Kranks.

And who knows? This could be your new favorite Christmas movie.

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