I just watched the Ebert & Roeper review of Christmas with the Kranks, the movie based on John Grisham’s Skipping Christmas. I haven’t seen the movie, but Ebert and Roeper both hated it (“big big big thumbs down down down”). What I found interesting is that many of their complaints against the movie were exactly the reasons Laura and I didn’t like the book when we read it two years ago.

I’ve still got the book on my shelf, because I keep meaning to re-read it. Last time it came up, Suzanne (who didn’t like it either) suggested that maybe it was supposed to be a farce, and I kept meaning to read it again to see it was better that way. From what I’ve seen of Christmas with the Kranks, it’s definitely a comedy, but of the slapstick variety, rather than attempting any broader social commentary. Either that, or the movie did such a poor job of conveying it that neither Ebert or Roeper got it.

I got a strange phone call earlier that I just now think I understand. I answered the phone, and the fellow on the other end claimed to be my mailman. He said he had lost the key to the front door, and needed to be let in so he could deliver the mail. This confused the heck out of me, since our mailboxes are outdoors. I thought maybe he meant the door on the back that he opens to put in all the mail, but I wouldn’t have the key to that! I told him I didn’t understand what he wanted, and he repeated several times that he was my mailman and needed to be let in the front door. I checked outside, just in case, but there was no one there. I considered whether this could possibly be some sort of confidence scam or burglary tactic, but that didn’t make any sense either, so I said he must have the wrong number, and hung up.

I think I get it now: Our phone number is the same one that Laura had in her old apartment, and I think she’s never been taken off the security system there. That building does keep the mailboxes inside the (locked) lobby, so I think we must have gotten called by that building’s mailman, who probably picked a random apartment to call, and got me instead, three blocks away.