Metacritic reviews

Ultimately something of a softball satire, its climactic evocation of the "true meaning" of the holidays is surprisingly touching.

Not an abomination, although it is uninspired and insipid. As such, it's perfect television fare.

A flat parable about the virtues of homespun conformity and the perils of defying family tradition.

Above all, Kranks lacks that basic kernel of credibility that even a goofy farce needs to work.

A Christmas comedy where laughs and even Christmas joy are in short supply.

Slick and treacherous.

Phony, disingenuous family entertainment, suffocated by its green bean casserole approach to Middle America, spineless cardboard characters and paper-thin plot "twists."

Hard not to pelt the screen with rotten fruit when confronted with a film like Christmas With The Kranks.

Kranks is the type of grim holiday movie that reminds you of all that is noxious and insincere about the Christmas season and then chases it down with a sickly-sweet reversal

As the year stumbles toward its conclusion and critics begin penning their best-and-worst compendiums, here's a holiday contender fit for the all-time Naughty List.