OMG...the NYT said Jamie Lee Curtis looks like a transvestite chimpanzee

[Maven]

Their review of "Christmas with the Kranks" is BRUTAL.

Yes, my friends, lockstep suburban conformism enforced with fascist severity is the ugly (but admittedly sometimes funny) joke driving the family comedy "Christmas With the Kranks." Directed by Joe Roth from a screenplay by Chris Columbus and adapted from John Grisham's novel "Skipping Christmas," the movie is as slick and treacherous as the sheet of ice Luther Krank (Tim Allen), the dissenting Scrooge in a cozy Chicago neighborhood, freezes in his yard to discourage holiday panhandlers.

<snip>

The Kranks' troubles begin when Blair, their only child, leaves for Peru to work in the Peace Corps, and Luther decides to save money by ignoring Christmas (including charities and party giving) and taking Nora on a luxury Caribbean cruise. At first she is aghast at his heresy, but soon she warms to the idea. Ms. Curtis, wearing one of the ugliest haircuts I have ever seen, her upper lip weirdly curled-in, resembles a transvestite chimpanzee. more...

I'm sorry, that is too funny. Especially since the premise of this movie makes me wanna barf. What happened to GOOD Christmas movies?

[shoelace414]

1. the good xmas movie shot it's eye out.

[BeyondThePale]

2. Well Said Shoelace!

A++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[Maven]

3. LOL n/t

[The Backlash Cometh]

4. I can't wait until Hollywood writes a movie about normal people

moving into neighborhoods like mine. It's sort of a cross between Deliverance and The Stepford Wives.

[RubyDuby in GA]

6. Really?

I didn't know you lived down the street from me....

[Sannum]

5. Well, there is that rumor about her....

And please, for the love of GOD can they just stop making films with Tim Allen?

[Kire]

7. the funniest part is that it's the NYT!

[Richardo]

8. Ebert skewers it too.... :-)

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20041123/REVIEWS/41116002/1023


'Christmas With the Kranks" doesn't have anything wrong with it that couldn't be fixed by adding Ebenezer Scrooge and Bad Santa to the cast. It's a holiday movie of stunning awfulness that gets even worse when it turns gooey at the end. And what is it finally so happy about? Why, that the Kranks' neighbors succeed in enforcing their lockstep conformity upon them. They form a herd mentality, without the mentality. :D

[Maven]

9. Thanks for the link.

Actually, the NYT calling her a "transvestite chimpanzee" is ALMOST as good as their review of "Polar Express." They said that parents would be shocked to find that Santa's red bag resembles an enormous scrotum.

Seriously, I think they're getting bored over there. :silly:

[alarimer]

10. I like the idea of Skipping Christmas

Why did they give in, in the end, to all the peer pressure to do the conformist thing? I swear, all the parties and expensive gifts and decorations are just trappings. Why is it not okay to just have a quiet holiday (preferably on a warm tropical island- but that's just me)?? Why must we have to endure all the bullshit just because that is what people do??? I go to visit my folks every year (or nearly so) but it is not a big deal. We have a nice dinner, open presents but even that is unnecessary.

[Chovexani]

11. I dunno wtf is up with Jamie Lee Curtis lately

I saw her on Leno recently shilling for this craptastic movie and she seemed like she was drunk or something. She just would not shut up, and when the other guest came on (Ben Mackensie from The OC, the real reason I was watching Leno that night) she was constantly interrupting the interview and was practically hitting on him.

The whole thing was awkward and an embarrassment to watch.

[BuelahWitch]

12. Maybe she is still getting over her mother's death

Janet Lee died earlier this year....

[Chovexani]

16. I hope it's just that

I like Jamie Lee and that whole thing was really painful to watch. :(

[Pepperbelly]

13. Do not diss the Queen of Scream!

Or the honcho grower in Home Grown.

Jamie Lee should operate under the Winona Rules, specifically, she should be allowed to do as she want. Me, Winona, and Jamie Lee.

[tjdee]

14. Wasn't she born a hermaphrodite?

That's a very cruel thing to say, because if urban myths are correct (aren't they always?), she was born a hermaphrodite and Janet and Tony opted to 'make her' a girl.

The movie looks SO bad, but I'd like to know where the insults are for Tim Allen, who is never good looking, ever. Though, Jamie Lee Curtis' hair does look really disgusting--but that's the hairstylists' fault, not hers.

[BlueHandDuo]

15. It's pretty cruel simply because the myths exist...

...whether they're true or not. They've been around long enough that it's hard to imagine a movie reviewer not having heard one or another of them.