Review of Scrooged (1988) by Garrett R — 29 Nov 2010

SCROOGED is a contemporary, cosmopolitan take on the timeless Dickens Christmas tale "A Christmas Carol". Scrooge is now Xavier Cross, played with unreal comic and grouchy zeal by Bill Murray. Director Richard Donner does a marvelous job of having the cast do their thing while also his thing, and in the end you can tell everyone had their fair share of fun and bonding.

Bill Murray's Xavier is a TV executive with more meanness than Chef Ramsey, and that's saying something. No bonuses, fires employees who talk back, etc. It's not long before his mentor visits him and does the Jacob Marley bit of warning "Scrooge" of being visited by three spirits. The three spirits in SCROOGED are absolutely lively and twist the ghosts we all know into fun yet palpable characters.

The moments when the special effects take place are still effective and the many, many great bits of comedy are impeccably timed and acted. You'll recognize many of the actors by their faces in SCROOGED, and that goes especially for Karen Allen from RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. She's a gal and a very pretty one at that.

SCROOGED is one of the best holiday comedies ever made, up there with CHRISTMAS VACATION and A CHRISTMAS STORY (all ironically came out in the 1980's!). Not to mention its lampoons and tributes to "A Christmas Carol" are respectful and very enjoyable. One other thing's for sure: it's airing on AMC four nights in a row for a reason! Be ready for more Critiques and Opinions on Every Movie I Can Get My Hands On!