Candy Cane Lane is the latest original film to hit Prime Video, just in time for the holiday season. While this review is coming out a few days after its release, it is currently #1 on Prime’s Top 10, and honestly, it deserves to have that spot. Is it the greatest Christmas movie of all time? No, that position is already filled by The Muppets Christmas Carol. However, it’s a fresh take on a Christmas movie and features a wonderful cast starring Eddie Murphy, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Jillian Bell.
The story of Candy Cane Lane
The story’s main focus is on Chris Carter (played by Eddie Murphy) and his family during the holiday season. As the neighborhood prepares for its annual Christmas Holiday Home Decoration Contest, Chris wants to win this year after losing the last four to his neighbor across the street, mainly due to Chris handmaking his decorations versus the flashy modern ones. While shopping for something to help him win, he finds a Christmas store that’s run by Pepper (Jillian Bell), a mischievous former Santa elf who makes a deal with him to win the contest. Unfortunately for Chris, this results in the 12 Days of Christmas wreaking havoc on the neighborhood.
The Pros
While the film’s premise is simple, the cast elevates it to make it fun for the whole family. Eddie Murphy has had a resurgence in the last few years, starting with Dolemite Is My Name. While he isn’t doing the completely energetic comedy like he used to, he gets some moments of that while also doing more subdued comedy. Honestly, it’s just nice to see more of the old Eddie Murphy back on the screen.
Murphy also has great chemistry with Tracee Ellis Ross (best known for Black-ish) as his wife Carol, both comedically and as a couple. I wouldn’t have thought of having them together in a movie, but it works very well. Tracee Ellis Ross is the glue that holds the Carters together in many ways, and she gives a fantastic performance. I hope she continues to do more films because she’s a very talented actress.
Jillian Bell looks like she’s having a blast chewing the scenery as Pepper, but the character can be a lot at times. The over-the-top acting works for the most part, but there are times I wish she dialed it back a little bit. As the main antagonist of the film, she’s very simple with what she wants: more people on Santa’s naughty list. It also isn’t fully explained how she has access to such powerful magic that even Santa can’t undo it.
David Alan Grier’s Santa was a brilliant decision
Speaking of Santa, whoever decided to cast David Alan Grier as Santa Claus deserves a bonus because it’s a brilliant decision. It makes perfect sense to have a Black Santa in this film, and Alan Grier plays the part to perfection. He radiates the joy of Santa while also having some sass when required. I’ve been a fan of his since first seeing him in Jumanji, and it’s wonderful seeing him appear in a Christmas movie.
The Cons
Now, we arrive at the Carter children: Joy (Genneya Walton), Nick (Thaddeus J. Mixson), and Holly (Madison Thomas). While they all gave great performances, they were one of the weaker parts of the film for me. They all fit the classic sibling stereotypes we’ve seen countless times: Joy is the oldest who wants to have independence from her family, Nick is the middle child who has a dream his parents don’t fully support, and Holly is the youngest who still believes in the magic of Christmas.
Having three kids was a mistake because we didn’t get enough time to develop and connect with them. The one with whom we get the biggest connection is Holly, mainly because she’s paired up with Chris most of the time. Joy’s impending college departure and track and field recruitment garner her the second most attention. This is why I would have left out Nick from the film; his storyline is the weakest of the three.
Final thoughts on Candy Cane Lane
Overall, Candy Cane Lane is a fun holiday adventure you should watch with the whole family on Prime Video this weekend. Eddie Murphy and Tracee Ellis Ross have great comedic chemistry, the film has a great supporting cast (with a few surprises I won’t spoil), and a simple but fun premise that anyone can find enjoyment in. I’ll be adding it to my holiday watching for future holiday seasons to come!
Candy Cane Lane is now streaming
Candy Cane Lane is now streaming on Prime Video. Check it out however you like to stream your movies.
Have you checked out the film yet? What did you think – did Eddie Murphy deliver the laughs? Join the conversation by leaving a comment below or by messaging us on X @MoviesWeTexted.
What to watch next
If you’ve already checked out Candy Cane Lane and are still looking for something to watch with the whole family, check out all of our kids and family movie reviews.
Ayla Ruby recently loved Dashing Through the Snow. You can read her review of the Disney+ flick by clicking the link. Peacock’s new Melissa McCarthy film Genie also had some fun holiday hijinks.
And Elliott recently checked out Prime Video’s Merry Little Batman.