CANDY CANE LANE Screenwriter Based Movie on a Real Place
By Movieguide® Contributor
Kelly Younger, screenwriter for Amazon Prime’s new movie with Eddie Murphy, CANDY CANE LANE, recently shared the real-life inspiration behind the Christmas movie.
“Eddie Murphy’s CANDY CANE LANE is set on a street where Christmas lights are taken to an extreme level, and the film’s writer, Kelly Younger, based this location on a real-world slice of holiday spirit,” Screen Rant reported. “The Prime Video movie features a massive decorating contest and centers around a particularly magical lawn ornament that brings ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ to life. Though the real Candy Cane Lane doesn’t involve vengeful elves and runaway Lords a-Leaping (or $100,000 prizes), it is an actual place that Christmas lovers can visit.”
The writer told PEOPLE his parents moved there “many years ago.” And now, “they live at the top of the street that leads into the actual Candy Cane Lane.”
Younger shared that he modeled Murphy’s Christmas-decoration-obsessed character after his own father.
“My whole childhood was him building things in the garage,” Younger said. “So when they moved to El Segundo, he got right in on the action and overdecorated the house within an inch of its life and caused quite a stir and created quite the reputation. So it really is based on a real family in a real neighborhood that really does this.”
The house caught the attention of the local paper, which stirred up some rivalry in the neighborhood.
“Younger says the opening night of the real Candy Cane Lane typically includes a live band, fire trucks and crowds of people dressed in their holiday best,” PEOPLE reported. “Not only does Santa Claus make an appearance (riding on top of a fire truck), but he helps light the street using a little Christmas magic.”
“He’ll walk in front of the fire truck, and then Santa walks along the lane, and he points to houses. And when he points, it magically lights the house up,” Younger said.
Murphy told USA Today that he relates to his character, as he also loses control when it comes to Christmas décor.
He said, “I really go all out on the Christmas decorations and stuff,” he says. “I’ve always loved Christmas. I have resources now to go over the top. We actually had to scale it back because last Christmas I went outside and looked around and I was like, ‘This is ridiculous.”
Movieguide’s review of CANDY CANE LANE reads:
CANDY CANE LANE, a Christmas comedy on Netflix, stars Eddie Murphy as Chris, a suddenly unemployed married father of three. His new free time inspires him to pursue his obsession with Christmas decorations. Chris is determined to beat his neighbor at their street’s Christmas decorating contest, which suddenly has a $100,000 prize. Chris and his youngest daughter stumble across a Christmas store under a freeway overpass. The elfish woman sells Chris a tall mechanical tree whose ornaments match the characters in “12 Days of Christmas.” However, Chris doesn’t read the fine print in the bill of sale.
CANDY CANE LANE starts out with poor pacing. Things pick up in the second half when Eddie Murphy’s character must save his family from the elf lady’s evil magic. The script achieves liftoff worthy of Santa’s sleigh. Murphy and the cast share a playful energy. Also, Director Reginald Hudlin stages several great action set pieces, and the special effects are terrific. CANDY CANE LANE has strong pro-marriage and pro-family values. A large sign proclaims, “Jesus Is the Reason for the Season.” There’s some foul language, though.
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