It's that time of year again. Christmas shopping, goodies, presents, egg nog.. and don't forget the movies! There are many holiday movies that I love to watch each year. Some were new just a couple of years ago, but they've still made it to my must-watch holiday movie list. I saw 'Christmas with the Kranks' when it came out in theaters in 2004. Now that it's available on DVD, I can watch it as often as I like.

When I first saw the movie, I was quite surprised to find out in the opening credits that John Grisham, the talented author of many novel-turned-movie hits such as 'The Firm,' 'The Pelican Brief,' and 'A Time to Kill,' wrote the novel 'Skipping Christmas,' on which the movie 'Christmas with the Kranks' is based.

Another pleasant addition is the talent of writer/producer/director Chris Columbus writing (and producing) the screenplay for this movie. For those familiar with the 80's genre of movies, Chris Columbus also wrote 'The Goonies,' 'Gremlins,' and 'Gremlins 2: The New Batch.' In addition to writing, he directed such box office hits as 'Home Alone,' 'Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,' 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone,' and 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,' to name a few. That doesn't include his accomplishments as a producer. Joe Roth, producer of the holiday hit 'While You Were Sleeping,' directed this movie.

Luther Krank on Botox

One of my all-time favorite holiday movies is 'Christmas Vacation' with Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo. If I had to make a comparison, I'd say that 'Christmas with the Kranks' is its comedic first cousin. It's funny and packed with such star power as Jamie Lee Curtis (Nora Krank), Tim Allen (Luther Krank), Dan Akroyd (Vic Frohmeyer), Caroline Rhea and Felicity Huffman (Nora's friends), and many more. Seeing Tim Allen with a fake tan, botox and a speedo is alone worth the price of the ticket.

The story begins with Nora and Luther taking their daughter Blair (Julie Gonzalo) to the airport the Sunday after Thanksgiving - just about the time when Nora starts work on her annual holiday party planning and decorations. Blair is heading to South America to work with the Peace Corps. Her parents are left wondering what their holiday will be like without their precious Blair. In the midst of a cold downpour, Luther (Tim Allen) decides he's had enough of the bad weather and holiday craziness. He wants to 'skip' Christmas and lounge around aboard a cruise ship in the sunny Caribbean for 10 days.

Nora, the queen of Christmas, wants no part of it at first, but she gives in to the detailed cost-saving comparisons Luther has gathered to show her how much more money they'll save if they skip Christmas altogether. Unfortunately, for Nora, this means no tree, lights, decorations, annual Christmas party or anything else that resembles Christmas. Word gradually gets out that the Kranks are skipping Christmas and their friends and neighbors give them a very hard time. Harassment has never been so humorous.

The Kranks live in a neighborhood that is very, very community oriented thanks to their neighborhood leader, Vic Frohmeyer (Dan Akroyd). I have to tell you, out of ALL the characters in this movie, Dan Akroyd's character is the funniest. If you ever saw him as Joe Friday in the movie 'Dragnet' many years ago, you'll notice there's semblance of that stubborn, monotone character he played back then. It was such a joy to see Dan Ackroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis together again. Just in case you've missed any of their past movie teamwork, check out the hilarious comedy 'Trading Places' or the more dramatic 'My Girl.' They are fabulous together.

Vic Frohmeyer and Luther Krank

The funniest scenes in the movie have to do with the Kranks and their Christmas-crazed neighbors. The harassment from their neighbors gets so bad that they have to hide in the basement and crawl on the floor so no one will see them. Just when they think they're home free and ready to zip up the suitcases, Blair calls in the early afternoon on Christmas Eve to let her parents know that she'll be home for their annual Christmas Eve party that night and hopes to show her new South American boyfriend, Enrique, what a real American Christmas is like. That's when the real chaos begins.

Nora Krank and 'The Ham'

I'm sure many of you can relate to what it's like trying to do last minute shopping on Christmas Eve. Watch out for the quest of the Christmas tree and the Honey Ham in particular. You'll be crying with laughter. You'll also enjoy Cheech Marin and Jake Busey as the neighborhood policemen. Actually, you'll recognize a whole host of familiar actors in this movie.

This film is a definite holiday winner. 'Christmas with the Kranks' is rated PG. This movie is fun for the whole family. Rent it now on DVD!