Scrooged

Rating:
Summary: Bill Murray plays Scrooge in this modern inner-city version.
Review: If you have seen every version of "Scrooge" and "A Christmas Carol" and are bored with it all, well here is a version that will have you laughing. "Scrooged" (1998) makes fun of all those old versions you have already seen. Bill Murray (NBC Saturday Night Live, 1977-1980) plays "Scrooge" and he is a tv network president who dislikes Christmas and the spirit of it. He will fire anyone that is good and has good sense. What is fun are the cameo appearances and the familar faces of actors we like to see. Lee Majors, Robert Goulet, Harry Shearer, Alfre Woodard, John Houseman, Buddy hackett, Jamie Farr, Mary Lou Retton, Bobcat Goldthwait, Robert Mitchum, John Glover, Brian Doyle Murray, David Sanborn, Paul Shaffer, Karen Allen, Rebeca Archerd, Michael J. Pollard, Logan Ramsey, Anne Ramsey and Mabel King. John Forsythe plays "Lew Hayward". David Johansen plays "Ghost of Christmas Past". Carol Kane plays "Ghost of Christmas Present".

Rating:
Summary: all time classic -funny and Bill Marey is Great!!!
Review: I love this movie and watch it every time it plays on on the tv!! Just great version of Scrooge. Donner is one of the best out there no doubt about that

Rating:
Summary: Must-see seasonal comedy
Review: Bill Murray brings his usual deadpan style to the role of a modern-day Ebenezer Scrooge in this classic festive comic treat. Against the odds, Murray even manages to make the overblown sentimentalism of the ending work.

Very funny at times, and some nice effects along the way. Certainly among the three or four best of several Scrooge adaptations.

Rating:
Summary: Look Frank, what is it? It's a toaster!!!
Review: Richard Donner (Lethal Weapon 1, 2, 3 & 4, The Toy, Conspiracy Theory, The Goonies, Superman 1 &2) directs this modernized holiday classic. Donner is better known for his action movies, however, he adds an interesting twist to comedies, and the comedies he does make usually has a point. Such is the case in The Toy, as well as Scrooged. The story for Scrooged could not be more obvious, however, this modernized version is done so very well.

Bill Murray stars as Francis Xavier Cross, a television station CEO, who is so wrapped up in his job he forgets the real world, the little people, his coworkers, and humanity in general. Virtually, he is the spitting image of scrooge.

Karen Allen (The Perfect Storm, The Sandlot, Malcolm X, Starman, and Animal House of course) plays Bill Murray long time love interest, who was with him on the way to the top, but got lost somewhere on the elevator up. Her character has to be a winner, as she gives Murray a Kuma Sutra book for Christmas.

Grace Cooley, Murray's secretary, replaces the character of Bob Cratchit from the Scrooge story. Grace Cooley is played by Alfre Woodard (Radio, The Forgotten, Love & Basketball, Brown Sugar, Primal Fear). She does a wonderful job. Her son, Calvin, replaces Tiny Tim. Calvin, instead of not being able to walk, cannot speak, as he saw his father shot to death and has not spoke since.

There are also a few guest appearances, Bob Goldthwait plays a very funny character that gets fired on Christmas Eve, and comes back for revenge. John Murray, Bill Murray's real brother, plays his brother in the movie. Robert Goulet, Mary Lou Retton, Buddy Hackett, Lee Majors, and more play themselves.

As a whole, this is a very, very good movie, extremely well done remake, and belongs in your holiday movie collection. Donner did a very, very good job, and should be commended for putting his magnificent reputation on the line making a modern version of a classic, and knocking it out of the park.

Grade: A-


Rating:
Summary: Very Funny!
Review: This is a very funny movie. I highly recommend it for family viewing for the holiday season. Murray is the most perfect Scrooge since the late George C. Scott had the role many years ago. The message of Christmas joy with a lot of humor thrown in, the perfect holiday treat!!

Rating:
Summary: Skip This Turkey
Review: If you're looking for a movie to enhance your holiday time or add to the joy of your Christmas season, don't bother with this joke of a movie. It's attempts at humor fall flat, and they're cheap attempts at that. It leaves you with nothing but the profound feeling that you've just wasted over an hour of time.

Rating:
Summary: You Scrooge You Loose
Review: When it comes to the holidays, I have been called a total Scrooge, by more than one, or two of my associates. I proudly acknowledge that I share many of author Charles Dickens' main character from A Christmas Carol, and his traits pre redemption of course... at least as far as the so called "special time of year" is concerned. The story of Ebenezzer Scrooge has been told and retold, in various formats over the years. One of my favorite versions is the 80's film Scrooged.

As a network TV president, Francis X. Cross (Bill Murray) is perhaps the most cold-hearted man ever, but his holiday spirit is given a hilarious and at times, dark booster shot by three vengeful ghosts out to teach him a lesson In Frank Cross, we see an evil, crass, executive who caters to the lowest common denominators, firing people whenever he wants to and for the flimsiest of reasons. Therefore, to change his cruel and tasteless ways, Cross is taken on a trip through his past to his future, accompanied by ghosts of Christmas Past (David Johansen) Present (Carol Kane) and Future (The Grim Reaper), so that he can achieve redemption.

Working from a spirited screenplay by Saturday Night Live alum Michael O'Donoghue, director Richard Donner made a film that will make even the meanest of Grinches like me smile. Murray is pitch perfect here. His delivery and smarmy demeanor is tempered by an earnest performance from Karen Allen as Francis's girlfriend. The film's best bit has to be Murray going to toe with Kane--quite funny as she slaps him around. The late Robert Mitchum, as well as Bob Goldthwait, Alfre Woodard, and John Forsythe round out the eclectic cast. Fun cameos abound too.

Currently, the only extra on the DVD is the theatrical trailer. I wouldn't mind a special edition at some point, hopfully, complete with a Donnor commentary.

Lack of extras aside, the film puts a modern spin on the timeless tale, that will make you laugh.

Rating:
Summary: HO HO HO!
Review: You laugh till your belly shakes like a bowlful of jelly in this spoof of "A Christmas Carol" starring Bill Murray as a selfish TV exec who wants to make everyone else's Christmas miserable. Will he change his ways?

Rating:
Summary: A very Scroogey Holiday Classic
Review: Bill Murray is the new Scrooge in the classic tale done yet again. I remember a reviewer giving it a low rating because he said it seemed as though Murray's character really didn't like people. Helllooo, isn't that what actors are supposed to do? This version of the old Chrsitmas tale is a good retelling of the story. Murray is mean to everyone including his only brother (played by his real younger brother). The 3 spirits that visit Frank Cross (Murray's role) are wacky to say the least. Carol Kane plays the ghost of Christmas present and is probably the funniest of the spirits. Murray has this act down pat. He's a big t.v. exec and fires Elliot Laudermilk (Bobcat Goldthwait) just for disagreeing with him. By the way, his fires Laudermilk on Christmas eve.

Alfre Woodard plays his longsuffering assistant and tries to be Cross' conscience since he doesn't have one of his own. In the visit to Christmas past we learn that television played the biggest role in raising him since his parents weren't the greatest in the world. Christmas doesn't mean much because his parents didn't put up Christmas lights, buy a tree or get him presents. His father does come home one night and drop a package of veal in front of him as a Christmas gift but the young Frank Cross tells his dad that he wanted a choo-choo train. His dad, a butcher, (played by Brain Doyle Murray, Bill Murray's real life brother) is totally unsympathetic and suggests that his son get a job even though he's only four.

There are lots of laughs here as the cast pokes fun at the t.v. industry from behind this comedy. The end of the film might be a little mushy bit it's fine here since Cross is so mean during the rest of the film. He even steals a cab from a little old lady carrying a load of packages. This movie would fit nicely in your holiday collection.

Parents Advisory: There is no nudity or sex. However, there is a small bit of foul language. It may frighten very young children. I suggest a viewing age of at least thirteen.



Rating:
Summary: Just as Timeless as the Original!
Review: This is one of those offbeat takes on an original classic that many folks are divided on. I personally think this is one of those rare creative works that manage to parody the original tale while still delivering its traditional message.

It's hard to tell how well this 1988 setting would have worked without such an awesome cast, headed by Bill Murray in the Scrooge roll as Frank Cross, only rather than be a miserly recluse, he's an acid-tongued icy-hearted TV executive who is every bit as clever before and after weathering his ghostly visitors. The other chief scene stealers include Carol Kane as an adorable prankster version of The Ghost of Christmas Present, Bob Goldthwait as a modern day deranged Bob Cratchett, and David Johansen as a taxi driving Ghost of Christmas Past.

Matching the humor of the ghostly encounters are the Christmas TV specials that Frank Cross produces: "The Night the Reindeer Died" starring Lee Majors, and a live TV taping of "A Christmas Carol" starring Buddy Hackett as Scrooge and Mary Lou Retton as Tiny Tim.

The parody is excellent, but it is not overdone to the point where it lacks emotion. Bill Murray is a great comedian, but also puts some genuine feeling into his role. Karen Allen and Alfre Woodard give moving performances, and although Michael J Pollard's role is too brief, there is something sweet and vulnerable about his eccentric wayward character.

It's hard to tell how this film appeals to the purist fans of "A Christmas Carol." Most die-hard Christmas lovers I know enjoyed it, but there are a few who thought it was too silly. I find it both very silly and very moving, and it's one of the "must see" Christmas movies my wife and I try to catch each year during the holidays.