NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Eddie Murphy has fond childhood memories of gathering with his family in Brooklyn and being wrapped in the wonder of the season as they watched . Now, his Christmas wish is his new film, 鈥淐andy Cane Lane,鈥� will create similar memories for others.
鈥淭hat was in the front of my mind when we chose this script 鈥� we want to do something that鈥檚 going to be around forever,鈥� Murphy said. 鈥淲hen I was growing up, we used to watch 鈥業t鈥檚 a Wonderful Life,鈥� and 鈥楬ow the Grinch Stole Christmas鈥� and 鈥楻udolph鈥檚 Shiny New Year鈥欌�� I think we made a movie like that, that people will watch over and over again.鈥�
The Prime Video release out Friday follows Chris Carver (Murphy) who鈥檚 obsessed with winning his neighborhood鈥檚 annual Christmas decorating contest. Stumbling upon a mysterious store, he unwittingly strikes a deal with a good intentioned but slightly mischievous elf named Pepper (Jillian Bell) who brings the 12 days of Christmas to life. That turns into a holiday headache for the town and puts Carver at risk of being transformed into a miniature ornament.
鈥淭here is the element of magic in the movie, that imagination that children have and all the fantasy of it,鈥� said Tracee Ellis Ross, the 鈥渂lack-ish鈥� and 鈥淕irlfriends鈥� star who plays Murphy鈥檚 wife. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to watch kids watch the movie.鈥�
Ross and Murphy are so dynamic on-screen, it's hard to believe the two actors never worked together before 鈥� let alone had never met. Ross' Carol is the ultimate spousal teammate, providing levity to her husband's extreme Christmas competitiveness.
"She鈥檚 a comedian and a great actress and all that came together. And she improvises 鈥� you don鈥檛 even expect to click with an actor,鈥� said the 62-year-old Oscar nominee. Chuckling, he added, 鈥淢ost of the time, you have a working relationship and there is no clicking 鈥� but there鈥檚 a great deal of clicking on this one."
The film also stars Thaddeus J. Mixson, Ken Marino and David Alan Grier, along with an ensemble that includes Nick Offerman, Robin Thede and Chris Redd whose figurine characters are past victims of Pepper鈥檚 antics.
The film was written by Kelley Younger, whose family grew up on Candy Cane Lane in El Segundo, California 鈥� a neighborhood known for competitive holiday decorating. While there are plenty of feel good moments in the story, the movie is also packed with action scenes.
鈥淚 wanted a movie that had everything I like in it," said director Reginald Hudlin. "I love Christmas movies. I love Christmas music. I love the colors. But I also love action movies... So, I said, why not put everything you like into one movie?鈥�, explained Hudlin, whose 1990 flick 鈥淗ouse Party鈥� starring Kid 鈥檔 Play was last year. 鈥淐hristmas movies are surprisingly elastic.鈥�
鈥淐andy Cane Lane鈥� is Murphy's first holiday film and his first reunion with Hudlin since their 1992 classic 鈥淏oomerang.鈥� The uber-popular romantic comedy helped expand Murphy beyond comedy-first roles and action films, allowing him to flourish in new Hollywood territory as a debonair ladies man.
鈥淚 love that 鈥楤oomerang鈥� has the legs that it has. I love that it still works,鈥� said Murphy of the film which also starred Halle Berry, Robin Givens, Martin Lawrence and Grier. 鈥淚 love that all the people that were in it went off and did amazing things and yeah, I鈥檓 proud of that film.鈥�
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Murphy planned a return to his stand-up comedy roots, but as the global health crisis upended much of the world, Murphy pivoted to making movies again. He recently wrapped shooting 鈥淏everly Hills Cop: Axel Foley,鈥� the fourth installment of his blockbuster franchise nearly 30 years after the last chapter.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not something that I would rule out and say I would never do,鈥� Murphy said about returning to stand-up.
But what Murphy and Ross are aiming to do is give friends and loved ones yet another reason to spend time together during not just this holiday season, but future ones as well.
鈥淭hat is the hope, that we鈥檝e made a timeless classic,鈥� said Ross.
Murphy, a father of 10 and a grandfather, echoes Ross' sentiments: 鈥淐hristmas movies have a built-in audience 鈥� your family鈥檚 all together and they want to look at something that they can all watch together鈥f you do a good job, you watch them forever."
___
Follow Associated Press journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton at @GaryGHamilton on all his social media platforms.
Gary Gerard Hamilton, The Associated Press
