Scrooged

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Jeff M For me, the make or break deal of any Scrooge adaptation, and I'm sure this is probably around number 842, is whether or not you believe Ebenezer's about-face at the end. In this case, I did not. There are some individually good scenes and performances, but in the end it didn't matter because I was left cold when my heart should have been rending and my eyes filling with tears. I know, I know... it's a comedy. But still, one should get a bit of the feels with a story like this. A lot of the problem lies with Murray, or my perception of Murray as a performer. I have a great deal of trouble taking him seriously - something like LOST IN TRANSLATION was a marvelous exception. When he's visiting past, present and future and we see the tears well up in his eyes, I'm just waiting for a smart aleck retort to soon follow. It's virtually impossible to make an emotional connection to him here. That being said, lots of bits and pieces work well. I loved the skewering of bad Christmas TV. I loved the warmth that Allen and Woodard bring to their limited roles - Allen has a smile that could melt the coldest of hearts. I liked Carol Kane as the Ghost of Christmas Present although the masochism got to be a little bit much at the end. Heck, I even thought Bobcat Goldthwait was tolerable. This is not unwatchable by any means, but in the pantheon of Dickens adaptations, this is probably toward the middle, at best. (UPDATE: I originally gave this **1/2 but after a re-watch decided to increase it to ***. I still basically agree with my assessment, but I think I was a bit hard on Murray, and everything seemed to work just a little bit better than I thought upon my first viewing. I even found myself a bit verklempt at the end. And that Karen Allen smile continues to melt my heart.) Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/10/24 Full Review Blu B It's really good and really well made overall. This moves at a really fast pace. the only thing is the cinematography while still solid thanks to the crazy antics, solid effects, and memorable scenes can feel a bit messy at times and really lacking a style to anything. It definitely doesn't feel like a Christmas film half the time visually and could've been improved in that department. The other issue is sometimes the drastic and sudden change in tone from zaney Burton like comedy to sentimental scenes can be very jarring and sudden with no segway. It definitely could've been smoother. However it's easy to overlook because it's solidly funny tthe whole way through for the most part and Murray does a great job as does the whole cast. Allen is really likeable also. The humor and crazy scenes are memorable and work but sometimes it can feel like it's dumbing down (or being too mean) the source material at times especially scenes with the Ghost of Christmas Present which is arguably the weakest part. She isn't bad but definitely isn't that funny and extreme crass slapstick isn't what Dickens had in mine when he wrote this I'm sure. However, it succeeds at being a modern 80's take on a timeless tale. anyone who is a fan of the source material, any actors in this, the director, or Christmas flicks will like this. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/07/24 Full Review P F It's rare that there isn't a bad performance in a movie but this film is an exception. Everyone does a great job in their part. Many critics have said Scrooged remains a favourite to those who want a cynical alternative to the period piece versions of A Christmas Carol. When film versions of previous adaptations have contained the same darkness as Charles Dickens's story I have to disagree. The reason I think Scrooged is more accessible to certain audiences is because they relate to the updated take on the source material rather than Dickens's Nineteenth Century atmosphere. It's not such a bad thing if they're well-made adaptations so you can learn to appreciate them. Scrooged is the modern update that feels as relevant today as it did back on release. The strength of this movie and the reason it is seen as a holiday classic is because Murray, Donner and everyone involved have crafted a Christmas movie with excellent comedy but also with a huge heart. It may not be everyone's go-to Christmas movie but as an alternative, there is none better. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/03/24 Full Review Emmett H Bill Murray's delivery, which is what makes him so funny, is on full display here: it's perfect. I honestly don't think this would be a comedy if any other actor played his part. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/03/24 Full Review Kaleb A In my opinion this is the best / funniest Christmas movie of all time and by far the best Scrooge adaptation. It is a must watch for my family around the holiday season. If you're looking for a unique take on the classic Scrooge story that is filled with fun laughs and heart this is a perfect movie! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/27/23 Full Review Courtney P How are there any bad reviews for this movie? I'm utterly baffled. This is a take on Dickens' _A Christmas Carol_, and it's not only hilarious, (still) timely, but also uplifting with a great message. I cannot imagine *how* anyone couldn't love this movie. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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