2023 can be considered on par with 2019 when it comes to quality releases from acclaimed filmmakers, which involves acclaimed releases from Gerwig, Nolan, Scorsese, etc. And while expectations heading into the jolliest time of the year were bright, the new Eddie Murphy-led movie has failed to live up to expectations.
While a Christmas-themed movie starring Eddie Murphy seemed like the perfect way to kickstart December, Candy Cane Lane has fallen face first on its release, even though Murphy claimed it was one for the ages.
Candy Cane Lane Was One for the Ages Claimed Eddie Murphy
Following his love for Christmas classics, such as It’s a Wonderful Life, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Rudolph’s Shiny New Year, Murphy wanted Candy Cane Lane to be more in line with those classics. Prior to the movie’s release, Eddie Murphy claimed that he and director Reginald Hudlin did succeed in crafting the movie they set out to make, stating that like many other Christmas classics, “it’s going to be around forever”. Speaking to the Associated Press, he said,
“That was in the front of my mind when we chose this script … we want to do something that’s going to be around forever,” Murphy said. “When I was growing up, we used to watch ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ and ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ and ‘Rudolph’s Shiny New Year’… I think we made a movie like that, that people will watch over and over again.”
But unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from the case, as the two-hour comedy failed to accomplish its goal, and is currently sitting at an underwhelming 47% critic score.
Eddie Murphy’s New Release Only Dampens the Christmas Mood
What should’ve been a welcome reunion between Eddie Murphy and his Boomerang director Reginald Hudlin, has failed to light up the Christmas mood. Despite great performances from Tracee Ellis Ross and Murphy, the bizarre plot aimed at kids does little to elevate the viewing experience. Furthermore, the lack of professional lighting, which has become a norm for such streaming releases, followed by a sunny California setting, only dampens the Christmas mood.
One of the major reasons behind the movie’s incompetency can be traced back to the director’s fixation on putting everything following his love Christmas and action flicks. And fans can do nothing but revisit some of other Murphy-led classics, including 2019’s Dolemite Is My Name, to brighten up the Christmas mood.
Candy Cane Lane is available to stream on Amazon Prime.
