Movie Review: ‘Candy Cane Lane’

Reuniting with his ‘Boomerang’ director Reginald Hudlin, the new movie is Murphy in standard family movie mode.

'Candy Cane Lane' starring Eddie Murphy premieres on Prime Video on December 1st.

Premiering on Prime Video December 1st, ‘Candy Cane Lane’ sees Eddie Murphy leading a Christmas story with a magical twist. This fitfully funny comedy represents the company’s attempt to keep tapping the festive family movie market, something that competitors such as Netflix and Disney+ are also targeting.

Yet there’s a certain something missing here, and it isn’t Christmas spirit. It’s Eddie Murphy’s subversive brand of comedy.

Does ‘Candy Cane Lane’ deliver the goods?

(L to R) Jillian Bell as ‘Pepper,’ Eddie Murphy as ‘Chris Carver,’ and Madison Thomas as ‘Holly Carver’ star in 'Candy Cane Lane.' Photo: Claudette Barius. © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

There is, as mentioned, a lot of competition in Christmas movies these days for those who don’t want the saccharine romantic antics of Hallmark and Lifetime’s concoctions or dig through apps to find classics to watch.

Amazon Studios, which has a deal with Eddie Murphy to make at least three movies (long-awaited comedy sequel ‘Coming 2 America’ was the first), has well and truly hopped on that holly-festooned bandwagon with this new offering.

But while it’s looking to channel the likes of ‘Deck the Halls’, it never quite hits the right gear. Though certainly better than some of the turgid family-friendly output Murphy has been part of in the past, it’s still lacking some of that essential magic. And that’s because the leading man tones down his wackier side to mostly play a stalwart family man who gets wrapped up in comedic Christmas oddness.

‘Candy Cane Lane’: script and direction

(L to R) Director Reginald Hudlin and Eddie Murphy as Chris Carver on the set of 'Candy Cane Lane.' Photo: Claudette Barius. © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

Written by Kelly Younger, a veteran of Disney and Pixar animated movies and live-action Muppet outings, ‘Candy Cane Lane’ takes some fairly obvious routes to its predictable conclusion. There are some well-used themes such as learning that family is more important than shiny gifts or winning competitions.

Murphy’s character is written as a fairly straight-ahead guy, dealing with kids of different ages and facing a big new problem in that he’s been let go from his job.

Younger has a good time writing for Pepper, who is mischievous and odd when the moment calls for it, and the magical creatures who appear from the 12 Days of Christmas tree that forms the major McGuffin here do offer some entertainment value (the concept of six geese carpet bombing unsuspecting pedestrians with eggs from the sky is a good one, and plays well into the finale, for example.)

(L to R) Robin Thede as, Cordelia, Nick Offerman as, Pip, and Chris Redd as, Gary, in 'Candy Cane Lane.' Photo: Courtesy of Prime Video.
© AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

And there are, at least some fun diversions, including a group of characters who have previously fallen foul of Pepper.

It’s just whenever the story cuts back to family time, the feeling is of Christmas joy leeching from the movie, no matter how much the script or actors try to enliven them.

Director Reginald Hudlin, meanwhile –– working with Murphy for the first time since 1992’s ‘Boomerang’ –– largely leans on his cast effects team to do the work, finding and few solid shots here and there.

‘Candy Cane Lane’: Performances

(L to R) Eddie Murphy as Chris Carver and Tracee Ellis Ross as Carol Carver star in 'Candy Cane Lane.' Photo: Claudette Barius. © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

As mentioned, this is Eddie Murphy on all-audiences autopilot, bringing another staid parental man to life who sees his carefully curated world start to unravel. There are lessons to be learned, and chaotic elves to deal with, but Murphy largely treats it all like another day at the office.

Of course, he’s fun, but it’s not the sort of passion he displayed in the past, coming across more as a “one for them” performance. You might try to point to a legendary comedy creator slowing down as he ages, but he put more drive into the likes of recent movies such as ‘Dolemite Is My Name’ and ‘Coming 2 America’ than he does here.

If there is a comedy MVP of the movie, it’s Jillian Bell, who has the role of miscreant magic user Pepper, who after being banished from the North Pole, is convinced she has to punish mankind’s wicked ways, and does it through dodgy deals. Bell, who has been good in the likes of ‘Godmothered’, ‘Rough Night’ and ‘Brittany Runs a Marathon’ and runs with the character, breathing real life into Pepper.

(L to R) Eddie Murphy as Chris Carver, Jillian Bell as Pepper, and Madison Thomas as Holly Carver star in 'Candy Cane Lane.' Photo: Claudette Barius. © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

Alongside her are the poor, unfortunate souls who have agreed to her deals in the past and are reduced to being living figurines in the village display in her Christmas shop, who all make small supporting roles work. That includes the likes of Nick Offerman, a proven comedy talent who is inexplicably lumbered with (or perhaps he chose to try) a cod-British accent. Still, he generates some good laughs.

Around Murphy is his family unit, played by Tracee Ellis Ross, Genneya Walton, Thaddeus J. Mixson and Madison Thomas, who are all perfectly fine in their roles but (aside from Thomas) are mostly there to be stock characters in a movie like this. Ross in particular did so much with a driven career woman in ‘Black-ish’ on TV but is saddled with a much less impressive part here.

'Candy Cane Lane’: Final Thoughts

Eddie Murphy as Chris Carver in 'Candy Cane Lane.' Photo: Claudette Barius. © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.

While its delights are of the strictly standard variety, ‘Candy Cane Lane’ ends up a suitably enjoyable Christmas movie if you’re not particularly demanding.

Boosted by Bell and her comedy support in particular, it’s watchable enough, and is seemingly made for the family to watch on the sofa with mugs of hot cocoa in hand.

‘Candy Cane Lane’ receives 7out of 10 stars.

Candy Cane Lane

"Be careful what you wish for."

PG1 hr 57 minDec 1st, 2023

Watch Candy Cane Lane Online

What’s the story of ‘Candy Cane Lane’?

After Chris (Eddie Murphy) inadvertently makes a deal with a mischievous elf named Pepper (Jillian Bell) to better his chances of winning his neighborhood’s annual Christmas home decoration contest, she casts a magic spell that brings the 12 Days of Christmas to life and wreaks havoc on the whole town.

At the risk of ruining the holidays for his family, Chris, his wife Carol (Tracee Ellis Ross), and their three children must race against the clock to break Pepper’s spell, battle deviously magical characters, and save Christmas for everyone.

Who else is in ‘Candy Cane Lane’?

Eddie Murphy (‘You People’) as Chris Carver
Tracee Ellis Ross (‘The High Note’) as Carol Carver
Jillian Bell (‘Godmothered’) as Pepper
Ken Marino (‘Wet Hot American Summer’)
Nick Offerman (‘The Founder’)
Robin Thede (‘A Haunted House’)
Chris Redd (‘Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping’)

Thaddeus J. Mixson as Nick Carver, Genneya Walton as Joy Carver, Madison Thomas as Holly Carver, Tracee Ellis Ross as Carol Carver, and Eddie Murphy as Chris Carver star in 'Candy Cane Lane.'

(L to R) Thaddeus J. Mixson as Nick Carver, Genneya Walton as Joy Carver, Madison Thomas as Holly Carver, Tracee Ellis Ross as Carol Carver, and Eddie Murphy as Chris Carver star in 'Candy Cane Lane.' Photo: Claudette Barius. © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.