Bill Murray Movie:

Editorial Review:
Most critics couldn't get behind Bill Murray's modern retelling of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, finding it too unfocused at times and not nearly wicked enough. Still, if you're a Murray fan, you have to enjoy his deliciously nasty portrayal of the world's meanest TV executive, who has his cathartic moment one cold Christmas night in New York City. The various ghosts lead him on a ghost-town tour of Manhattan, with stops at holidays past, present, and future and a Kumbaya moment when Al Green and Annie Lennox sing "Put a Little Love in Your Heart." The effects are otherworldly, but one wishes the writing were as sharp as Murray's edgy portrayal. --Marshall Fine

Scrooged [Region 2] Reviews:
Classic
2009-12-16 - This is one of the few great Christmas movies. Someone needs to make more great christmas movies!

Finally, Updated=Better
2009-12-16 - Summary: Frank Cross, the president of a television network(played by Bill Murray) leads the typical life of a scummy, self-obsessed businessman. On the eve that his television station is to broadcast a live filming of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Frank is visited by the three ghosts of Christmas, who proceed to pummel him emotionally, psychologically, and even physically, in order to teach him the true meaning of Christmas, and also how to sing really badly in front of a camera for a movie finale.

What About It: Yes, this is another Christmas movie where the character learns the error of his ways after looking into the past, present, and future of his life and those around him. Obviously, the film-makers weren't trying to hide the fact that this is a present day Christmas Carol: it functions as a plot device to keep the "day that Frank meets his destiny" rolling, and it works, maybe even better than the original. Although Frank, and all of the people around him, may think he's going crazy, the movie stays grounded enough to make it believable that Frank has not missed Christmas, and can begin to fix his life, starting with the little mute kid who finally starts talking.

The movie is cheesy, but in a good way. Everything Frank Cross does is obvious and schticky, but it's that comfort zone of knowing what's coming that allows the quirky parts of the film to be accepted. ("Niagara Falls, Frankie angel.")

The biggest nod in the movie goes to Bill Murray, of course, but not for acting ability alone. He shares the screen well with such talented under-the-radar actors and actresses such as Carol Kane, David Johansen, Karen Allen, and the illustrious Bobcat Goldthwait, to the point that you wonder why those stars haven't risen very high. Murray makes everyone around him better.


Comedy From Christmas Past
2009-12-14 - Bill Murray absolutely shines in this mega production of the Charles Dickens Scrooge Christmas Carol done in the fashion of high rise buildings, and it's corporated executives. Karen Allen give Bill his much needed parallel as the girlfriend he eventually let go to greed. Karen, by the way, is probably the most talented and exciting girlfriend to Scrooge character because she does more than fill the gap, she gives a performance to capture the lost love of which she was so apart of in the first place. The remaining cast cannot be commended enough with many cameos by famous celebrities, and stars of hollywood's past like Buddy Hackett as the television stage production's Scrooge.
Thankfully there are no musical numbers, but quite a few inventive skits and alternate scenes of a modern society with a real life Scrooge in the quise of head honcho Bill Murray. The score, however, is quite suitable for the comedic backdrops. Evidentlly, they spared no expense in this particular production right after the era of Christopher Reeve's Superman, and they both have the same look and charisma. A delightful motion picture that will have your head turning to the set.
As an added attraction, Bill Murray ends the movie by giving us all a mean spirited Christmas pep talk, which is actually meant for his own TV audience but transcends to ours. Kudos to the Eurythmics song finale!

Why did they take out this scene? Why, oh why?
2009-12-10 - There was a scene when the ghost, the one driving a taxi/cab, shot right to the top of the skyscraper to bring Scrooge (Bill Murray) to see Crachit in super fast speed - deleted from the dvd. I thought that was quite funny. Why the hell did they delete this scene from the dvd version? WHY DID THE IDIOTS DO SUCH A LOUSY THING? WHY?

Carol Kane's Performance in This Movie Is a Work of Art
2009-12-01 - The movie "Scrooged" would be a another average holiday production were it not for Carol Kane's remarkable performance as the "Spirit of Christmas Present." From the moment she appears on screen, the film becomes special. Ms. Kane's energy, infinite imagination, and total commitment to her role, produces a richly textured character which is humorous, poignant, and utterly entertaining. In one scene, Ms. Kane tells Bill Murray to close his eyes, and then makes a simply magical speech which perfectly communicates every delicate emotion she wants to convey to us. It was an pleasure watching such a talented actress perform. So, give this pleasant comedy a chance and marvel at what a truly remarkable actress can make of a role.