CANDY CANE LANE Climbs to Prime Video’s No. 1 Spot
By Movieguide® Contributor
Eddie Murphy’s new Christmas comedy, CANDY CANE LANE, is number one on Amazon Prime’s top movies list.
“CANDY CANE LANE is available to stream as of December 1, and it is already gaining buzz due to its all-star cast… In fact, it recently claimed the number one spot on Prime Video’s list of top movies,” PureWow reported Monday.
“In addition to Murphy and [Tracee Ellis] Ross, CANDY CANE LANE also stars Jillian Bell, Thaddeus J. Mixson, Ken Marino, Nick Offerman, Robin Thede, Chris Redd, Genneya Walton, Madison Thomas, D.C. Young Fly, Riki Lindhome, Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, Lombardo Boyar, Danielle Pinnock and Timothy Simons,” PureWow added.
The movie depicts a Christmas decor-obsessed dad, Chris (Eddie Murphy), who just lost his job. With more time on his hands, he can put more effort into his neighborhood’s Christmas decorating contest. With a $100,000 prize on the line, he finds himself at the last Christmas shop available, where his zeal for Christmas leads him into a magical goose chase (literally).
A part of Movieguide®’s review reads:
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.
In a previous statement, the movie’s director, Reginald Hudlin, bubbled with excitement for the film.
He said, “I can’t wait for the world to see CANDY CANE LANE. I’ve wanted to make a Christmas movie my whole life, but I wanted to do something fresh and surprising.”
He told Hollywood Unlocked that while his film is completely original, he drew inspiration from Christmas classics like RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER. He also listed some of the elements that all Christmas films should have: family, love, laughter and great music.
Movieguide® previously reported on CANDY CANE LANE:
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.
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