Eddie Murphy Is on a Mission for Christmas Cheer in Candy Cane Lane First Look (Exclusive)

Eddie Murphy is spreading Christmas cheer.

The actor, 62, stars in his first holiday film, an upcoming comedy Candy Cane Lane, which PEOPLE has an exclusive first look.

Murphy stars as Chris Carver, a father of three who “loves Christmas so much that he’s even given all his kids Christmas names (Holly, Joy and Nick),” according to the synopsis.

“When Chris is unexpectedly laid off, he throws himself into winning a home decorating contest on Candy Cane Lane in his neighborhood, which has a big cash prize,” the synopsis adds.

“But when he finds the coolest Christmas decorations ever that will pretty much guarantee him a grand prize, it turns out they’ve been cursed by a wayward elf named Pepper [Jillian Bell].”

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Candy Cane Lane (2023).

Courtesy of Prime Video

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“Now the characters from ’12 Days of Christmas’ come to life and cause chaos for Chris and his family,” the synopsis adds. “Now instead of winning it all, you might lose it all!”

Candy Cane Lane also starring Tracee Ellis Ross, Thaddeus J. Mixson, Ken Marino, Nick Offerman and Chris Redd.

Director Reginald Hudlin (House party, Boomerang) tells PEOPLE that Ross plays Chris’ wife Carol: “She’s a great wife, a great mother of three, and a hard-working manager ready for a promotion at the distribution center where she works. When Christmas and her family are threatened by supernatural forces, her mama bear instincts kick in. ”

As for Bella’s character, Pepper, she’s an elf who “takes ‘coal in a sock’ punishment to absurd proportions,” says Hudlin. “He intends to punish anyone he thinks deserves it, and that includes almost everyone.”

Eddie Murphy entered Candy Cane Lane (2023).

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Offerman, Thede and Redd play characters who are “victims of Pepper’s vindictiveness,” Hudlin explains. “They have been transformed into living glass Christmas ornaments and look like Victorian characters.”

“Nick Offerman plays a true English gentleman from another era, while Robin Thede plays a powerful Kardashian shopper and Chris Redd is an ordinary working-class man,” the director continues. “They don’t get along all that well, but they did band together in the urgent need to escape Pepper’s clutches.”

Hudlin tells PEOPLE, “I can safely say you’ve never seen a holiday movie like this!”

“We’ve got jumps, car chases and kung-fu fights, plus all the holiday spirit,” he reveals.

Eddie Murphy entered Candy Cane Lane (2023).

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Candy Cane Lane reunites Murphy with director Hudlin and producer Brian Grazer, filmmakers he worked with on his 1992 film. Boomerang. Sam Murphy is also listed as a producer on the project, alongside Ron Howard.

“I can’t wait for the world to see Candy Cane Lane,” Hudlin previously said in a statement. “I’ve wanted to make a Christmas movie my whole life, but I wanted to make something fresh and surprising.”

Poster for Candy Cane Lane (2023).

Main video

The director added that Murphy “and this hilarious cast really bring the funny.”

“It’s a great Christmas and it’s going to hit you in the gut,” Hudlin said.

Candy Cane Lane is on Prime Video on December 1st.

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Source: HIS Education