With goodwill in our hearts, jingle bells in our ears, and a gift list as long as our arms, now is the ideal time to throw ourselves firmly into the Christmas spirit and indulge in the festivities. And what better way to do this than with one of the greatest Christmas comedies of all-time!
I am of course talking about director Richard Donner’s rib-tickling 1988 classic, Scrooged! The film celebrates its 35th anniversary this year and it has just arrived on 4K UHD Blu-ray (for the first time no less).
Starring Bill Murray, Karen Allen, John Forsythe, Carol Kane, Alfre Woodard, John Glover, and Bobcat Goldthwait, Scrooged is a fantasy comedy based on Charles Dickens’ beloved story, A Christmas Carol. Murray leads the movie, playing a version of the ultimate miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, only this time around he’s a grumpy television executive named Frank Cross.
In the film, Frank is a top executive at the IBC network. He rules with an iron fist, and gives little care to the thoughts and feelings of any of his employees – even during the holidays.
With Christmas fast approaching, Frank’s main concern is ensuring IBC is the No.1 destination for TV viewers. He believes his Christmas Eve line-up of films and television shows is going to be a ratings winner, and that’s all he can think about as the big day approaches.
However, all this begins to change when one night Frank is visited by the ghost of his old boss, Lew Hayward. Lew appears in Frank’s office with a dire warning, telling Frank he must change his ways or disaster lies ahead.
To spur Frank on, Lew informs Frank he will be visited by three more ghosts. Each ghost will show Frank different aspects of his life, and hopefully put him on the correct path before it is too late.
From the moment Scrooged begins, with a hilarious action-packed sequence in which former Six Million Dollar Man actor Lee Majors rescues Santa Claus from a siege at his workshop, it’s clear Scrooge is going to offer up a different take on A Christmas Carol. It is also clear the film is going to be hilarious, with every opportunity for fun and laughter squeezed for all it’s worth.
Squeezed too much? Not at all!
Every gag, every quip, and every pratfall in Scrooged is perfectly placed, perfectly timed, and quite simply perfectly conceived. The movie is a masterclass in how to adapt A Christmas Carol for the screen, to ensure it not only feels fresh, but at the same time entertaining.
There have been so many adaptations of A Christmas Carol over the years and too many of them are either devoid of creativity or they fall into obscurity over time. Scrooged bucks the trend by being fit to bursting with creativity and imagination, and 35 years on from its release it remains at the top of its game.
From the brilliantly realised ghosts, including a hilariously short-tempered Ghost of Christmas Present, played by the brilliant Carol Kane, to the excellent music score by Danny Elfman, Scrooge is heaps of fun. Everyone involved understands the comedic tone of the film, and understands when to lean into the laughs and when to indulge in the more sentimental elements of the story, and the end result is a film which shines.
Chief amongst the main players is Bill Murray, who gives one of his greatest screen performances. As Cross, Murray plays to his strengths, bringing both wit and sarcasm to the forefront, while at the same time he delivers an irascible character who couldn’t be more of a dictionary definition of Ebenezer Scrooge if he tried.
Murray commands every scene he’s in, and is no less than excellent throughout. Whether he’s firing an employee, suggesting a film technician staple antlers to a mouse, or hallucinating at dinner, Murray delivers every scene with conviction, dynamism, and a spring in his step.
He understands the strength of the script, as well as the strength of the overall production, and he has a ball uttering every line. Murray’s performance is a joy to watch because he is having so much fun at every turn, and you can’t blame him when the material is this good.
Speaking of the material, at times Scrooged is a fairly dark film, but this is entirely intentional. People often forget that A Christmas Carol is a ghost story meant to offer up a few chills at Christmas, but Scrooged knows this all too well and plays up this idea with panache.
The late director Richard Donner brings plenty of heart to the screen, but he loads Scrooged up with dark moments too. Sure, some of these moments maybe a little creepy, and all four ghosts have a slightly sinister edge, but Donner never goes too far or over eggs the pudding to alienate his audience.
Scrooged has some macabre moments, but all the way through Donner ensures this film remains a family feature. Kids and adults loved it back in ‘88, and the same remains true all these years on.
There are a number of Christmas movies I advise revisiting each year, from Home Alone and The Muppet Christmas Carol, to Die Hard Batman Returns, and Miracle on 34th Street, but no festive season would be complete without Scrooged. It is truly one of the greats, which delivers its heartfelt message, while having a damn good time in the process.
The film combines fantastic special effects with excellent performances, alongside a sublime script, all guaranteed to warm the coldest heart. So, amongst all the hustle and bustle of the season, treat yourself this Christmas and enjoy Scrooged whenever or wherever you can.
As noted above, Scrooged is now available to watch at home on 4K disc. If this doesn’t work for you, no drama, the movie is currently streaming on Channel 4 in the UK, and it is widely available on DVD, Blu-ray, and digital too.
—
Thank you for taking the time to read this review on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
It's A Stampede! 
Leave a comment