Reuniting with Hudlin after their 1992 hit Boomerang, a film ahead of its time in celebrating Black entrepreneurship and beauty, Candy Cane Lane offers a more accessible introduction to Murphy’s talent, perfect for family gatherings. The heartwarming script, penned by Kelly Younger, is inspired by his own childhood memories.

In Candy Cane Lane Murphy transforms into Chris Carter, a middle-aged, middle-class American father. Far from his typical larger-than-life roles, Carter shines during Christmas with his passion for elaborate holiday decorations, bringing out his artistic side in a friendly neighbourhood competition. This subdued character is a stark contrast to the flamboyant personality Murphy is known for.

Tracee Ellis Ross, playing Murphy’s wife Carol, complements him with her proven comedic chops from Black-ish (2014-2022). As the more grounded half of the couple, Ross gets ample opportunity to develop her character. The young cast members, Thaddeus J. Mixson, Genneya Walton, and Madison Thomas, show promise, suggesting bright futures ahead. David Alan Grier, a regular collaborator with Hudlin, delivers a memorable performance in the film.

Jillian Bell, as Pepper, provides a perfect comedic counterbalance to Murphy and Thomas. The supporting cast, including Nick Offerman, Chris Redd, and Robin Thede, add to the film’s charm, reminiscent of family classics like The Indian in the Cupboard (1995) and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989), thanks to the impressive special effects team.

Candy Cane Lane stands out in the crowded field of holiday movies. Hudlin and Murphy’s collaboration brings a unique personality to the film, engaging the audience with the Carver family’s story. Murphy’s charisma shines, proving humour doesn’t always need words; it can be just as effective through physical comedy and expressive acting.

Trevante Rhodes, known for Moonlight (2016), impresses with a brief yet impactful role as a charismatic antagonist, adding depth to Murphy’s character. The film’s racial humour is tastefully executed, avoiding any heavy-handedness or direct commentary on current events.

Candy Cane Lane achieves its goal of being both entertaining and a perfect holiday film for families to enjoy together, thanks to the dynamic Hudlin-Murphy duo.

Also Read: Best Christmas Movies of the Past Decade

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About Dreamgirls

Dreamgirls is a 2006 American musical drama film written and directed by Bill Condon. Adapted from the 1981 Broadway musical of the same name, Dreamgirls is a film à clef, a work of fiction taking strong inspiration from the history of the Motown record label and one of its acts, the Supremes. The story follows the history and evolution of American R&B music during the 1960s and 1970s through the eyes of a Detroit girl group known as “The Dreams” and their record executive.

The film adaptation stars Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles and Eddie Murphy, and also features Jennifer Hudson, Danny Glover, Anika Noni Rose and Keith Robinson. The movie marked the acting debut of Jennifer Hudson, who won Best Supporting Actress at the 2007 Academy Awards (Oscars).

Also Read: C.J Sanders Discusses Working With Jamie Foxx on “Ray”

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Also Read: Six Underrated Movie Sequels

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“Once Upon A Time”

Shrek (Mike Myers) is an ogre, who quite happily lives in his smelly swamp alone. When Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow) evicts fairytale creatures out of his land and into Shrek’s swamp, Shrek sets out on a quest with a talking Donkey (Eddie Murphy) to rescue Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz). Along the way, Shrek discovers that Fiona isn’t quite what he expected, and maybe it’s not so great being alone.

The comparisons to Disney are obvious and intentional. Shrek came as the “Disney renaissance” was over. Dreamworks, as an animation company, was set up in competition with the likes of Disney and Pixar. So rather than trying to outdo Disney, they did the smart thing and flipped it on its head. Instead of a dashing prince like Fiona is expecting, she is rescued by a grumpy ogre. Even her potential husband to be doesn’t live up to expectations. Fiona herself is not a typical Disney princess, despite dreaming of the day her prince will come and singing to birds.

“For your information, there’s a lot more to ogres than people think”

Shrek, despite being irritable and grumpy, is a likeable protagonist, with a relatable goal. Myer’s distinctive Scottish accent gives him a memorable voice, it’s strange knowing he was originally voiced without the accent. Even Chris Farley’s original Shrek sounds like a completely different character to the one we eventually got. It’s an odd choice, but clearly the right one. Myers is surprisingly serious considering his comedic background, he’s by no means totally serious, but his jokes are more sarcasm and “dad comments” than him actively trying to get a laugh.

Instead, Donkey fills the role as the comedy sidekick, with most of it rambling and Eddie Murphy improvising in the vein of Robin William’s Genie. While some may find he can come off as annoying, cleverly the characters also find him annoying. Just as Donkey might start to get annoying, Shrek tells him to shut up, which keeps him from becoming too grating in a way that other comedy sidekicks can. Despite the differences, the two do bounce off each other very well.

Fiona’s addition in the second half means that Donkey is sidelined slightly, but this is by no means a bad thing. Fiona quickly establishes a rapport within the group, and the mystery surrounding her keeps things from becoming stale. The sparks between her and Shrek are quickly established, and the romance is light enough that it doesn’t bore younger audiences. While she doesn’t get as many gags as the boys, she more than holds her own in the trio.

“Ogres have layers”

At a breezy 90 minutes, Shrek never outstays it’s welcome. The plot is fairly simple, and the film cleverly uses licensed music to generate a mood and get in the character’s headspace. There’s a reason so many children associate “Hallejuah” with Shrek. The animation can seem a little stiff in places, especially when compared to more recent films like Frozen. While some environments can seem basic (The film did have the most unique locations of any animated film at the time), the lighting is incredible. Likewise, character models hold up remarkably well. Though rather simple, there is a reason they’ve become iconic.

Thankfully, the jokes still hold up. One of the great things is that, unlike many children’s films, it’s almost as much for adults as kids. While younger viewers will likely enjoy Donkey’s singing and rambling, adults will understand Shrek’s sarcasm and the innuendo. One subtle but rather dark joke involving the three bears is a highlight if caught. Several other fairytale characters appear, and spotting all the references and jabs at Disney films is great, especially if you also grew up in that era.

Like any good fairytale, Shrek has a simple lesson that still holds up today. The film cleverly works this lesson into most of it’s characters. When we first meet him, Shrek is scaring villages and playing up to the typical image. Later he tells Donkey that people “judge me before they even know me”. In the case of Fiona, “true loves form” turns out to not be her human form at all, and she is accepted for who she is, rather than her looks.

Rating: (4 / 5)

Shrek‘s lasting legacy is well earned. An excellent cast and a magical world, that came along at just the right time. While it may not be as fresh as it once was, it’s characters and message have easily stood the test of time.

Also Read: 5 Feel Good Movies On Netflix

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