Candy Cane Lane Team Talks Casting, Easter Eggs, and West Coast Christmas Traditions
Eddie Murphy and Reggie Hudlin reunite for another comedy filled movie just in time for the holidays! Pop Culture Planet’s Jordan Bohan spoke with Candy Cane Lane’s director Reginald Hudlin, screenwriter Kelly Younger, and production designer Aaron Osborne about casting, Easter eggs, and West Coast Christmas traditions.
After losing his job, Chris (Eddie Murphy) sets his sights on the $100,000 prize for his neighborhood’s televised holiday home decorating contest. When he meets mischievous elf Pepper (Jillian Bell), his fortune seems to take a positive turn until his 12 days of Christmas decor disappears. In an effort to claim top prize and keep his misfortunes from his family, a competition of holiday chaos ensues on Candy Cane Lane. Tracee Ellis Ross, Chris Redd, Nick Offerman, and Pentatonix also join in on the festive fun.
Director Reginald Hudlin has worked with Eddie Murphy before, in the 1992 romantic comedy Boomerang. When asked about the reunion, Hudlin shared that it had been a long time coming. “I've always loved Christmas movies. I love Christmas and same with Eddie. He's a big fan of Christmas and always wanted to do a Christmas movie as well,” Hudlin told me, “so when we found a script that we both loved it was kind of a no-brainer. We have been looking for an opportunity to work together again and are happy that we finally found the right project.”
Although Eddie Murphy is the star of the film, it cannot be ignored that there is an incredible ensemble cast that appears in this holiday spectacular. Hudlin revealed that putting together this group came quite easily once Murphy was on board. “Actors love working with Eddie Murphy. They've always dreamed of working with Eddie Murphy so that's how you get people like Nick Offerman, Tracee Ellis Ross, Robin Thede, and Chris Redd,” shared Hudlin. “Once I read the scene where there's going to be people singing Christmas carols I said, ‘Well, that's got to be Pentatonix. There's no other choice.’ I was obsessed with making sure that Pentatonix were in the movie.” We are so glad the group was included! The holidays aren’t complete without Pentatonix’s beautiful voices.
Candy Cane Lane brings a fresh take on the Christmas genre by being set in California. The film is a celebration of the untraditional West Coast holiday and was inspired by screenwriter Kelly Younge'r’s real life. “I am a Southern California Native. I grew up with sand, not snow, but we still celebrate the holidays obviously,” said Younger. “My parents house is at the top of the road that leads to the cul de sac for Candy Cane Lane. Every year this is our tradition. My mother would make a hot cocoa station and my dad would do all of the cooking and baking. He over decorated his house and the front yard, we sang Christmas carols, and paraded down the street as we went to enjoy the lights of Candy Cane Lane. That truly is a tradition in our family and in our neighborhood.” For all of you West Coast-based viewers, it is about time to see some warm weather representation in holiday films!
Along with the California sun, what sets this film apart is the outrageous holiday decor. From inside Pepper’s store to the houses of Candy Cane Lane, there is both a timeless and modern element to the sets. “I think a lot of the way the Candy Cane Lane homes are themed also really do homage to Los Angeles. We have the LAX house, we have the surfing Santa house. There was a lot of California love in all that,” production designer Aaron Osborne touched on the California inspiration, even sharing that, if you look closely, you might just find some easter eggs. “If you look inside Kringle’s, there's a nod to The Inkwell in Laurel and Hardy's Babes in Toyland. I would put little elements throughout the Kringle shop that really paid homage to the ‘60s, like the font lettering for all the Kringles displays. We just pulled that from ‘60s department stores and put a little bit of it everywhere.” Hours could be spent looking at the Kringle’s scenes and dissecting all of the small details. It is a treat for the eyes!
Candy Cane Lane is streaming now on Prime Video.
