HE SAID
Scrooged is a creatively modern take on Charles Dickens' classic novella, A Christmas Carol. Bill Murray plays Frank Cross, a cold hearted and cynical television executive who plans to air a live version of A Christmas Carol on Christmas Eve. Cross's version is basically a Christmas exploitation film, featuring scantily clad dancers, graphic advertisements, and a shameless stunt casting of gymnast May Lou Retton in the role of Tiny Tim.
During the course of the production, Cross is visited by three spirits who show him the grim reality of his life, both past and present, as well as his ultimately depressing future. But, of course, the future is not set in stone, so Cross is able to avoid the undesirable outcome if only he will change his "Scrooge-like" ways.
I am hesitant to add any more details to the plot summary above so as not to spoil the film for anyone who has yet to see it. So, if you're thinking that the story sounds familiar, and that you've seen it all before…well, you're right. Though it's an interesting take on the classic story, there are no real suprises in this film.
Scrooged is undoubtedly Bill Murray's movie. All of the other actors are just secondary. And Murray is truly hilarious! But the problem is that he is just too damn likeable to come across as a true Scrooge. Even in the beginning of the film, when he portrays what is supposed to be a despicable and arrogant man, you can't help but to smile at Murray's "cuteness" on the screen. This takes away from the contrast that made the original story so memorable. And because Murray is not a true Scrooge character, his ultimate redemption at the end of the film feels rather flat.
Also, it is painfully obvious at times that Murray is simply ad-libbing his lines and going off script as is his wont. That may have worked on Saturday Night Live or in some of his other films but in Scrooged Murray's dialogues often seem out of place and tended to take me out of the momement. Simply put, some parts of this film came across as very amateurish, and it nearly ruined the ending for me.
One positive aspect of Scrooged that really stood out to me was the concept and portrayal of the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Murray's interaction with the spirits were by far the best parts of the film, and almost, but not quite, saved this movie for me.
Oh, and by the way, there were two story arcs that the film spent entirely too much time on: Karen Allen delivers a forgettable performance as Cross's long-lost love interest and Alfre Woodard portrays Cross's overworked and underpaid single-mother assistant. Don't get me wrong…both characters' stories serve the overall plot. But they simply took too much time away from Murray's interaction with the spirits and the story of his past, which were the best parts of the film, in my opinion. Unfortunately, we never discover exactly why Cross became a conceited and cynical television executive in the first place. The film alludes to the reason but never really satisfactorily explains it. That really bothered me.
He Said: Scrooged could have been great. But it's not. This film is like a sea-saw: The highs of a creative concept, and Bill Murray's hilarious performance, are offset by the lows of a muddled plot and boring story-arcs. Thus, landing Scrooged somewhere in the middle of mediocrity. Skip it.
SHE SAID
I've always found it ironic that A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens' morality tale about the love of money, was written in hopes of getting him out of debt. Frank Cross (Bill Murray) would appreciate this delicious irony, I'm sure, as he sets out to "own Christmas" for IBC, his network, with an all-star holiday edition of Scrooge (no holds barred - Solid Gold Dancers even).
Scrooged is a light-hearted satire of the famous Christmas story, with an ex-boss, Lew Heyward (John Forsythe), in place of Marley's ghost but with the same warning of the need for a change of ways before its too late. (The movie won an Oscar for best make-up, and I'm guessing Lew's get-up is what put them over the top in that category.) Frank is also visited by three spirits, and hilarity ensues when he's not sure half the time if the spirits are actors in costume for the studio's version of Scrooge or real ghosts.
It's easy to tell the writers had fun with this adaptation. The Ghost of Christmas Past (David Johansen) is a New York City cab driver (as a hat tip to the Manhattan setting). And the Ghost of Christmas Present (Carol Kane) is a sprite with the voice of an angel and the punch of a heavyweight (especially when armed with a toaster).
Just as in the Dickens' tale, Cross has to make things right with the love of his life that left him because of his love of money. The end of the film is a bit pat - Cross changes his life and is a generous soul and they all lived happily ever after. But, to be fair, the ending of A Christmas Carol is a bit pat too and they were trying to adapt, not rewrite.
She said: Go for it. It's a great Christmas film. As Frank Cross says, "Yule love it!"
THEY SAID
After reading each other's reviews, The Eskimo and Shawn always discuss the reviews (and the film, too, of course). Listen to the Scrooged audio commentary here or in the player below. (And find out which film Shawn picked to review next.)
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