Posted by Larry Gleeson

“A man is determined to win the neighborhood’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.” – IMDb

Reginald Hudlin’s 2023 festive comedy, Candy Cane Lane, stars Eddie Murphy as a father intent on winning his neighborhood’s annual Christmas decoration contest. Murphy’s energy is complemented and paralleled by Tracee Ellis Ross, who plays Murphy’s sidekick wife.  Kelly Younger is credited as the writer and delivers some deft dialogue. With Hudlin’s direction the film veers into dark territory reminiscent of Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Jillian Bell as wicked elf, Pepper, turns in another raucous performance (22 Jump Street). Genneya Walton, Thaddeus J. Mixson, and Madison Thomas, deliver tour-de-force performances as the Carver children – as they make the world go ’round.

I imagine Candy Cane Lanes dot the landscape throughout the United States at this time of the year. I fondly recall Edna Drive where cars lined up out onto US Highway 159, to drive through the Candy Cane Lane of the Metro-East of the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan area.

Film goers imagine the story originated form residents of Southern California flocking to East Acacia Avenue in El Segundo, referred to as Candy Cane Lane during the holiday season. Calling on a tradition that dates back to 1949, residents go all out in creating a festive buzz with abundant and exorbitant holiday decorations.

Candy Cane Lane from Amazon Studios

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