IN A NUTSHELL:
The story is about a man who is determined to win the neighborhood's annual Christmas decorating contest. He makes a pact with an elf to help him win, but there unintended consequences of chaos.
The family-friendly movie was directed by Reginald Hudlin. Writing credits go to Kelly Younger.
THINGS I LIKED: It's great to see Eddie Murphy in something again. He's great, of course. Giving way to the fun special effects, he plays a much more subdued character than we've seen him do before. When is he going to start aging?
Tracee Ellis Ross is fantastic in this. I loved her fun personality. Did you know she has been nominated for 58 awards and won 12, known mostly for her role in Black-ish The adorable Madison Thomas has an appropriate name for a character in a holiday movie: The other children in the movie are named Nick and Joy.
I always get a kick out of Jillian Bell and thought she was perfect in this role. She's a quirkly, likable villain.
The rest of the cast is great too, and includes Nick Offerman, Timothy Simons, Danielle Pinnock, Nancy Lenehan, Timothy Simons, and David Alan Grier as Santa!
There is so much humor, both visual and spoken. So many things made me laugh out loud.
I love the animated figurines in the old-timey houses. It seemed super old-fashioned Christmasy to me.
The special effects are really entertaining!
We've seen soooo many generic holiday movies over the years, so I loved that this story is unique and original.
This movie could have easily jumped into the horror genre if it had wanted to.
It made me laugh that USC was mentioned so many times in the movie. My brother is a USC law school grad!
That Matrix house. Ha ha We get a musical cameo from Pentatonix. I love that group!
Keep watching during the final credits for another little scene, as well as some funny outtakes.
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: There is a lot going on here. Sometimes, the script is too stuffed.
Even though I enjoyed the movie, it felt a little too long.
TIPS FOR PARENTS: Some "light" profanity Lots of destruction and mayhem.
!
The family-friendly movie was directed by Reginald Hudlin. Writing credits go to Kelly Younger.
THINGS I LIKED: It's great to see Eddie Murphy in something again. He's great, of course. Giving way to the fun special effects, he plays a much more subdued character than we've seen him do before. When is he going to start aging?
Tracee Ellis Ross is fantastic in this. I loved her fun personality. Did you know she has been nominated for 58 awards and won 12, known mostly for her role in Black-ish The adorable Madison Thomas has an appropriate name for a character in a holiday movie: The other children in the movie are named Nick and Joy.
I always get a kick out of Jillian Bell and thought she was perfect in this role. She's a quirkly, likable villain.
The rest of the cast is great too, and includes Nick Offerman, Timothy Simons, Danielle Pinnock, Nancy Lenehan, Timothy Simons, and David Alan Grier as Santa!
There is so much humor, both visual and spoken. So many things made me laugh out loud.
I love the animated figurines in the old-timey houses. It seemed super old-fashioned Christmasy to me.
The special effects are really entertaining!
We've seen soooo many generic holiday movies over the years, so I loved that this story is unique and original.
This movie could have easily jumped into the horror genre if it had wanted to.
It made me laugh that USC was mentioned so many times in the movie. My brother is a USC law school grad!
That Matrix house. Ha ha We get a musical cameo from Pentatonix. I love that group!
Keep watching during the final credits for another little scene, as well as some funny outtakes.
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: There is a lot going on here. Sometimes, the script is too stuffed.
Even though I enjoyed the movie, it felt a little too long.
TIPS FOR PARENTS: Some "light" profanity Lots of destruction and mayhem.
!