Summary
- Eddie Murphy leads an exceptional cast in Candy Cane Lane, a holiday comedy all about family and the magic of Christmas.
- Tracee Ellis Ross, Genneya Walton, Thaddeus J. Mixson, and Madison Thomas deliver heartfelt performances alongside Murphy, bringing their characters to life in a hilarious and heartwarming way.
- In addition to the talented main cast, several big stars, including Jillian Bell and Nick Offerman, add comedic genius to the supporting characters, creating a delightful holiday adventure.
Eddie Murphy’s magic-of-Christmas movie, Candy Cane Lane, is full of characters ready to have a great Holiday, and it took some exceptional actors to bring their stories to life. At its heart, the holiday comedy adventure is all about family, and the actors cast to play Murphy’s loved ones were responsible for driving these themes home. Additionally, several big stars joined the cast of Candy Cane Lane, bringing their genius for comedic delivery to the supporting characters who made the Holidays for the Carver family even more challenging—but for all the right reasons.
Candy Cane Lane stars Murphy as a man eager to win the prize of his neighrhood’s annual Christmas home decorating contest. To make this happen, he purchases a breathtaking, handmade Zoetrope tree from a mysterious Christmas pop-up store and inadvertently makes a deal with the mischievous elf salesperson, Pepper. This, of course, leads to a good deal of holiday chaos as the 12 Days of Christmas ornaments on the Zoetrope come to life to torment the Carver family. In classic Christmas movie fashion, the cast and their characters must apply their talents to save Christmas for the entire community.
Eddie Murphy as Chris Carver
Comedy icon Eddie Murphy leads Candy Cane Lane as Chris Carver, a man recently laid off from his job and eager to make sure that his family has a wonderful Christmas regardless. With his oldest daughter heading off to college the next year and his teenage son not far behind her, Chris sees this Christmas as their last year together and hopes winning the $100,000 prize will make it especially magical. Chris is an excellent craftsman, making beautiful wooden lawn decorations entirely by hand. However, he feels winning the prize will require much more than his own holiday creations.
Murphy is known for several major action-comedy films over his decades-long career. Regarded as the most commercially successful Black actor in Hollywood history, Murphy started his career as a stand-up comedian in the 1980s. He is known for films like 48 Hrs., Dr. Dolittle, Coming to America, and his voice work as Mushu from Disney’s Mulan and Donkey in the Shrek movies.
Candy Cane Lane is Murphy’s second time working with director Reginald Hudlin, who also directed the 1992 classic Boomerang.
Tracee Ellis Ross as Carol Carver
Tracee Ellis Ross plays Carol Carver, Chris’ loving wife, who is moments away from a massive promotion at work. Slightly more realistic in personality than her husband, Carol isn’t entirely as caught up in the Christmas home decorating contest as Chris, though she offers plenty of loving support. Additionally, she is less concerned about what Chris considered their last Christmas as a family, understanding more than her husband that the Carvers will be a family even when their children head out into the world.
Ross is a Golden Globe Award, NAACP Image Award, and Peoples Choice Award-winning actor known for her role in the highly successful ABC series black-ish. She also starred in the thriller Cold Copy opposite Bel Powley and the drama film American Fiction. She is the CEO and founder of PATTERN Beauty, the number-one-selling BIPOC-owned hair care brand. In addition to this, Ross is a passionate advocate for Black representation in the beauty industry, as well as for self-acceptance and equity for BIPOC women.
Genneya Walton as Joy Carver
Genneya Walton plays Chris and Carol Carver’s oldest daughter, Joy, who is finishing up her senior year of high school in Candy Cane Lane. A talented track star, Joy hopes to earn a scholarship to Notre Dame, a school as far away from her parents as possible. However, Chris expects his daughter to attend the nearby USC (his alma mater) so that she can return daily for family dinners. Still, knowing that Joy will be leaving the nest soon, Chris is eager to make his last Christmas with her the best it possibly can be.
Walton is known for her regular roles on the Netflix series #BlackAF and Project MC2, as well as her regular guest appearances on Mindy Kaling’s Never Have I Ever and 9-1-1 opposite Angela Bassett. She also played alongside Halle Berry in Steven Spielberg’s Extant. As well as Candy Cane Lane, Walton will appear in the Marvel series Daredevil: Born Again in 2024 and will star in the leading role for the Hulu film Darby Harmer Wants You To Know.
Thaddeus J. Mixson as Nick Carver
Thaddeus J. Mixson takes on the role of Nick Carver in Candy Cane Lane, the middle child and only son of Chris and Carol. Nick struggles with academics, especially math, but has a passion and talent for music, which he hopes will become a career. This concerns Chris, who worries that there isn’t a stable life ahead of Nick if he continues to neglect school to mix music on his computer and play tuba in the high school band.
Mixson earned the adoration of audiences at the age of seven when he danced and rapped on the NBC show Little Big Shots (hosted by Steve Harvey). Since then, Mixson has proven himself to be just as passionate about music as his Candy Cane Lane character. As far as his acting career, Mixson is known for his leading role in the Disney+ film Safety and the Marvel movie South of Heaven. Another of his more notable roles is that of the younger version of Michael B. Jordan’s character, Adonis, in Creed III.
Madison Thomas as Holly Carver
Madison Thomas’ character in Candy Cane Lane, Holly Carver, is the sweet youngest daughter and best bud of Murphy’s Chris Carver. Far more mature and level-headed than her older family members, Holly is often the voice of reason. Her deep belief in the spirit of Christmas allows the magic to stay alive for the Carvers, which winds up being pivotal to Chris’s journey. Joy’s hope never falters, and her light is a guiding force for all around her in Candy Cane Lane.
Candy Cane Lane is Thomas’ first major movie credit, having played predominantly in TV series, such as the television drama 9-1-1 in 2022 and the comedy Would it Kill You to Laugh. Born in 2012, she landed her first national commercial at five and has continued appearing in several since then.
Jillian Bell as Pepper
The hilarious Jillian Bell joined the cast of Candy Cane Lane to play Pepper, AKA Peppermint, a mischievous elf who is no longer on good terms with Santa Claus. Pepper believed the man in the red suit was too lenient on children, placing them on the “nice” list when she believed they were naughty. After leaving the North Pole, she established a Christmas store, where she lures people like Chris Carver with extravagant decorations that teach them to be very careful about what they wish for.
Bell is best known for her roles in Brandon Dermer and Natalie Morales’ I’m Totally Fine and the AMC anthology TV series Tales of the Walking Dead. Her film credits include Murder Mystery 2 opposite Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler and Fool’s Paradise with Charlie Day, Ken Jeong, and Kate Beckinsale. Bell also both starred and executive produced for the independent film Brittany Runs a Marathon, which earned the 2019 U.S. Dramatic Audience Award. She also has several notable credits for voice work, including Bob’s Burgers, Supermansion, Green Eggs & Ham, and Human Discoveries.
Candy Cane Lane Supporting Cast & Characters
Ken Marino as Bruce – Ken Marino, known for the Starz series Party Down, HBO’s The Other Two, and reoccurring roles on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, plays Bruce, the across-the-street neighbor in Candy Cane Lane. Bruce loves inflatable Christmas decorations and, much to Chris Carver’s annoyance, covers his yard in them, believing they will beat out the Carver’s handmade decorations.
Nick Offerman as Pip – Best known for playing the ever-cranky Ron Swanson in NBC’s Parks & Recreation, Offerman plays Pip in Candy Cane Lane, a man who was cursed by Pepper years ago. Now a glass figurine, Pip must help Chris Carver avoid the same fate. In the process, Offerman’s character develops a heartwarming friendship with little Joy Carver, who takes it upon herself to see that Pip is freed from Pepper’s shop.
Robin Thede as Cordelia – Five-time Emmy-nominated Robin Thede joins the cast of Candy Cane Lane as Cordelia, another of Pepper’s cursed glass figurines. Thede is a comedian, writer, actor, and producer best known for starring in HBO’s comedy sketch series, A Black Lady Sketch Show, for which she is also the primary writer.
Chris Redd as Lamplighter Gary – Another of Pepper’s cursed figurines, Lamplighter Gary, played by comedian Chris Redd, is responsible for lighting (and extinguishing) the lamps throughout his tiny Christmas village home. Redd is the co-creator and star of the Peacock comedy series Bust Down, which followed his five-season stint on NCB’s Saturday Night Live.
D.C. Young Fly as Josh – Content creator and comedian D.C. Young Fly plays Josh in Candy Cane Lane, a young and overly enthusiastic reporter responsible for showcasing the decorated houses down the Carvers’ street. DC recently starred in the film House Party and performed in the Netflix comedy special 85 South: Ghetto Legends alongside his podcast pals Chico Bean and Karlous Miller.
Anjelah Johnson-Reyes as Shelly – Another hilarious comedian to lend her talents to Candy Cane Lane, Anjelah Johnson-Reyes plays Shelly, wife of Bruce and neighbor to the Carvers. 2023 saw the release of Johnson-Reyes’ sixth comedy special, Say I Won’t, on YouTube.
Danielle Pinnock as Kit – Danielle Pinnock takes on the hilarious role of Kit in Candy Cane Lane. An overenthusiastic and clueless TV news anchor, Kit is the one who first announces the $100,000 prize for the house decorating contest. Pinnock is best known for her regular role on the CBS comedy series Ghosts. She also played in the CBS series Young Sheldon as Ms. Ingram.
Timothy Simmons as Emerson – Playing Kit’s co-anchor, the over-it-all Emerson, is Timothy Simmons, recognizable for his role alongside Florence Pugh and Harry Styles in Don’t Worry Darling. Simmons can also be seen in Hulu’s Candy, Disney+’s Home Alone, and Hulu’s Looking For Alaska.
Pentatonix as The Carolers – The sensational a cappella group joined the cast of Candy Cane Lane as versions of themselves (Scott Hoying, Mitch Grassi, Kirstin Maldonado, Matt Sallee, and Kevin Olusola) who were turned into some of Pepper’s glass figurines. Pentatonix is especially known for their Christmas covers and has earned a Grammy and multiple YouTube Music Awards.
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Candy Cane Lane
- Release Date:
- 2024-12-01
- Director:
- Reginald Hudlin
- Cast:
- Eddie Murphy, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jillian Bell, Ken Marino, Nick Offerman, Robin Thede, Chris Redd, Thaddeus J. Mixson, Anjelah Johnson-Reyes, Lombardo Boyar, D.C. Young Fly, Danielle Pinnock, Timothy Simons, Riki Lindhome, Stephen Tobolowsky, Genneya Walton, Madison Thomas
- Rating:
- PG
- Genres:
- Comedy, Fantasy, Holiday
- Writers:
- Kelly Younger
- Studio(s):
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Imagine Entertainment, Eddie Murphy Productions
- Distributor(s):
- Prime Video
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