Scrooged

Charles Dickens is one of the most celebrated of authors and A Christmas Carol has got to be his most famous novels. Bill Murray is one of modern Hollywood’s most famous actors, even back in the 1980s when he barely was in a bad movie. Dickens and Murray joined forces in “Scrooged,” a 1988 remake of the Dickens novel and one of the best holiday films made in the last century.

Murray stars as Frank Cross, an upper television executive who believes in the Church of Better Ratings. He has excluded everyone out of his personality and personal life for his work, spending so many hours at the office and wanting everyone around him to do the same. This Christmas Eve, his station IBS is televising a high-budget, live version of A Christmas Carol starring Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton as Tiny Tim, the kid with a limp. Because of its large budget and the stress of it going on live, Cross is feeling all this pressure and takes it out on all of his colleagues.

Ryan Cracknell said in his review, “When the humanity in Cross is all but gone, he is visited by the ghost of his old boss.” He (John Forsythe) tells him that three ghosts (David Johansen, singer Carol Kane and Robert Hammond) will visit Cross over the course of the night that will hopefully change is corrupt ways. Staying true to the Dickens novel, Cross is shown the different Christmas past, present and future to show how his bad attitude has hurt him and people he’s close to.

Cracknell said, “The standard interpretation of A Christmas Carol is that it must be taken very seriously. Scrooged takes the comedic path, updating it for a more modern crowd who might not relate to a man getting angry for his workers using too much coal to stay warm or why it might be a big deal for someone to steal a dead person’s sheets. Instead Scrooged is an update done right. It reflects and expands on the themes that are still applicable today instead of those that are irrelevant. The main one is devoting too much time to one’s work. It’s no secret that the corporate ladder is not normally a fast-moving place.” Chances are long working hours will be required. For a lot of people today the chances of it climbing the ladder and staying there is motivation enough to become a workaholic, spending all your time at your desk than having a great home life. Cracknell said, “In A Christmas Carol, Ebeneezer Scrooge was the poster child for workaholics. That’s all he did other than sleeping and eating.” Cross is very similar and it has been many years since he had a ‘normal’ lifestyle that he thinks everyone should be working nonstop like him. Even though Cross can be greedy, the most criticizing part of his personality is the way he treats others and how his wanting for higher ratings will quickly start his downfall.

Murray is great playing Cross. Cracknell noted, “He has a natural scowl that makes his deep seeded anger seem natural. He also has a knack for making the perfect reaction to whatever comments are sent his way. Sometimes they’re big, other times more nuanced, but chances are they’re going to be funny.”

Directed by Richard Donner and adapted by Mitch Glazer and Michael O’Donoghue, “Scrooged” brings Dickens in a current look for a modern audience. Cracknell ended his review by saying, “Although it’s a smidge cruder and more crass, Scrooged nevertheless maintains the heart of the story and proves that remakes and new visions of old material need not be redundant.”

I have wanted to review this comedy for a long time, so now having the chance to review it is a privilege. I have to admit that this is a great, modern, comedy look on A Christmas Carol. For those who have seen other adaptations on the famous Dickens novel should check this one out because they will have a great time laughing at the film, especially those who are fans of Bill Murray.

Happy Holidays my online readers. Enjoy your holidays and stay tuned tomorrow for the continuation of “Disney Month 2020.”