Candy Cane Lane is a fantasy comedy starring Eddie Murphy that follows Chris Carver, who is desperate to win the neighborhood Christmas decoration contest and makes a deal with an Elf so he can come top in the competition. However, all is not as it seems, and the deal turns out to be a huge mistake for all involved. Chaos ensues as the real deal is exposed, and Carter has to battle against the mischief caused by the magical Pepper, who brings the twelve days of Christmas to life and wreaks havoc in the town of Icicle Falls. This sounds like the perfect family festive film, but just to make sure, we put together all the information you need about the film’s age rating and content as a guide for parents who are debating to settle down with the movie on Prime Video this holiday season.
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What is the age rating for Candy Cane Lane?
In the U.S., the official rating for Candy Cane Lane is PG within the Motion Picture Association film rating system, which stands for parental guidance. The rating means that the film is generally suitable for most age groups, but guidance should be used for very young viewers.
In this case, the main reason for the rating is due to some of the language that is used in the film, and for some suggestive references.
PG Rating Explained
The PG rating was first introduced in 1972 and has remained a staple for film ratings ever since. It, of course, means “Parental Guidance” and is used for films that are typically considered safe for kids to watch but may contain some suggestive content.
RELATED: Where was Candy Cane Lane filmed?
Despite films receiving a PG rating, it should be noted that every film will be different and the PG rating is in place to advise parents that although the film should be fine for most children, there could still be moments when some younger viewers may be scared. As always, it’s up to the parents to decide whether they should watch it or not. Tobe Hooper’s Poltergeist is a PG, and that film still scares me even today.
What should parents watch for in Candy Cane Lane?
In the movie Candy Cane Lane, there are a couple of instances with characters using mild curse words such as “ass” and “dammit” and at one point an “F” bomb is suggested but never actually said — this is most likely that this is why a PG rating was given.
There are also scenes of mild peril, with the plot involving a threat of people being shrunk down into glass ornaments, and some CG animals running around too. These aren’t exactly horrific images, but parents with children who’re averse to this kind of thing, perhaps especially the family being rendered as ornaments, should exercise caution.
What is Candy Cane Lane about?
The film is of course a holiday movie and revolves around a mischievous Elf that makes a deal with Eddie Murphy’s character Chris Carver so he can win a decorating competition in his neighbourhood. However, the Elf, Pepper, has tricked Carver, releasing all kinds of havoc on the town, and he must fight to try and get things back under control.
From our review:
To have the perfect house Chris and Holly go shopping at all the superstores only to find out that the majority of the decorations are sold out. So as they drive they see a little shop under an overpass called “Kringles.” Chris enters and sees that this pop-up shop is decked out with tonnes of holiday decorations. They also meet an elf named Pepper (Jillian Bell), who sells them a perfect Christmas tree with gorgeous ornaments. Chris explains to her that he needs to win the Candy Cane Lane prize money and she encourages him that he will win with this tree. He signs the receipt and with a bit of magic the tree lights up the whole town and he is the front-runner.
It is essentially a family-orientated Christmas runaround and can pretty much be enjoyed by everyone, but remember that the PG rating is there for a reason.
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