Original-Cin Q&A: Reginald Hudlin - 30 Years Post Boomerang - Reuniting With Eddie Murphy on Candy Cane Lane

With all the characters and comedic scenarios Eddie Murphy has played, Candy Cane Lane marks his first Holiday comedy.

In it, he’s a man on a mission to win his neighborhood’s annual Christmas home decoration contest and inadvertently makes a deal with a mischievous elf who brings the 12 Days of Christmas to life.

The film also stars Tracee Ellis Ross, Nick Offerman, Jillian Bell and Chris Redd.

Candy Cane Lane reunites Murphy with director Reginald Hudlin (House Party) who first worked with Murphy 30 years ago on the film

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Reginald Hudlin literally gives Eddie Murphy directions on the set of Candy Cane Lane

Our Bonnie Laufer spoke with Hudlin about why it took so long for their cinematic reunion.

Candy Cane Lane begins streaming on Prime Video on December 1.

CLICK HERE to watch Bonnie’s Interview with screenwriter Kelly Younger

CLICK HERE to watch Bonnie’s interview with  Production Designer Aaron Osborne

ORIGINAL-CIN: What was your reaction when you were first presented the script for Candy Cane Lane? Were you grinning from ear to ear?

REGINALD HUDLIN:  Oh, yeah. When I got the script, my main instinct was, “This is a really big movie. How do we make it bigger?” And that's what we did! Everyone in the crew understood that my personal mantra for this movie is more is more, and we got that!

O-C:  I can't believe it's been 30 years since you and Eddie Murphy first joined forces on, Boomerang. Why did it take so long to get you guys back together and why was this the perfect movie for where you both are at this time in your lives?

HUDLIN:  Why did it take so long? It doesn't make any sense. It took way too long. It wasn't like we weren't talking and throwing ideas back and forth.

But getting together on this project  was a no brainer. We both love Christmas. We are both family guys, and the same way Boomerang really captured who we were at that time, what is going on in Candy Cane lane reflects where we are now.

Back then we were both young single guys living in New York going to the clubs, so we could totally relate to those characters. Now, we totally relate to Chris Carver, (Eddie’s character) and everything that's going on in the film.  Being dedicated parents, trying to do everything for your kids.

Kelly Younger the screenwriter told us that the movie was semi-autobiographical, but I felt he was telling my story!

O-C:  What does Christmas mean to you?

HUDLIN:  I think the core of Christmas is two words. family and love.

O-C: Enough said! We get so much of that in this film. As you said, you went really big. From the production design to the animation to the cast. What ultimately ended up challenging you? How on earth did you pull it all off?

HUDLIN: It  was a real challenge because we had a very tight production schedule. So once I said yes, it was full steam ahead. I knew it had to come out in time for this Christmas so we had to move incredibly fast.

Fortunately, I had an amazing team. Everyone on the crew, the  cinematographer, special effects, production design, everyone worked at the top of their game.

The great thing about Eddie Murphy is what actor doesn't want to work with Eddie Murphy?  So getting a cast with Tracee Ellis Ross, Nick Offerman, Chris Read, Jillian Bell, and Ken Marino was a gift.  It made my life really easy when you have actors that are that good and that funny.

O-C: When you are working with such funny people, how much improv was allowed, because clearly when you have Eddie Murphy man, you can't stop him.

HUDLIN: You don't want to stop him. You just want to unleash and let him rip. What's great about Eddie is that he's a generous performer. He's like Michael Jordan. Sure, he can win the game by himself but he wants a team!  He wants Scottie Pippen. He wants to work and he wants to work with the people around him. I tried to assemble a great cast that can play at his level. So he can throw the ball and when he gets the ball back, everybody wins.

O-C: I have to mention the three kids who play Eddie and Tracee’s children in the film. They’re virtual newcomers who were really fantastic and really held their own opposite these comedic veterans.

HUDLIN: It was a tough assignment. They got to be in scenes with Eddie Murphy, one of the biggest stars in the world. So they have to come in with the kind of chops and the kind of confidence to not only play the part, but do improv because who knows what they just got to say, they've got to roll with it. I’ve got to give all three of those young actors an enormous amount of credit because they were extraordinary.

O-C:  Tracee Ellis Ross can hold her own opposite Eddie as well.

HUDLIN: No question, and it was a joy. I could tell Eddie was having so much fun with Tracee because they would just go and it didn't matter where they went.

OC: The set design for this film was off the charts. The decorations in front of all the homes, one was better than the next. Did you have a favorite home? Favorite set design?

HUDLIN: That’s a hard one because they were all so carefully crafted. However,  when you look at the technology that was needed to  build the “matrix house,” I was  like, oh my God, this is it. It was truly insane that we made that happen.

O-C In fine holiday fashion, Candy Cane Lane has a fantastic soundtrack. Do you have a favorite “go-to”  Christmas song?

HUDLIN: I've got a nine hour Christmas playlist and that was long before I made this movie. I'm just that much of a Christmas guy. If I've got to say what's my go to Christmas Album? Just drop the needle and it works. Charlie Brown Christmas.