Scrooged (1988)

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 Amazon.com

Hilarious holiday flick with a nice message too

A family favorite, great comedy approach to the classic Christmas Carol story...live a full, giving life and life gives back to you! Appropriate for the preteen set and older folks too. December 30, 2008

Not Your Daddy's Alistair Sims Version -- Fun Xmas Classic!

Scrooged, "suggested" by Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, is a modern/1980s upgrade to a TV president who is actually making a Scrooge TV show. When someone dies because of his shocking ads, he says "great" and puts a warning for people with weak hearts not to watch it!

Some cameos with Buddy Hackett, Jaimie Farr (M*A*S*H), oh yeah, Claire, you know, the gal on the Indiana Jones films. Lots of fun with this one.

Before the day is done he gets in a cab which goes to the past where four year old frank gets a pound of veal for his Christmas present. In the present, a fairy that beats the snot out of him "The b*tch hit me with a toaster!" The future dead guy who shows Frank being burned alive in a coffin.

The ending is a bit smarmy and saccharin, but overall hearing the old 80s songs again on Christmas Eve really does make it possible to get a bit of that spirit only a few hours a year, and with Murray wanting that stretched to the other 364.

I read some trivia on this film: The scene where you see Dick (arrow) Lauren on a tree in the Christmas Carol set is the director Richard Donner and his wife Lauren.

When Bill Murray says "feed me Seymour" at the end, he is referring to an earlier bit he played in the film "Little Shop of Horrors."

Great rental! Remember this is a satire, not a Dickens true version.

PS: Loved John Glover (Smallville) as the bright, smarmy TV director.

A Christmas Carol (2 versions: Colorized & Original Black and White)
December 25, 2008

We've been Scrooged!

If you love guns, people hitting and slapping each other, bad language, bad acting, and an overlong, boring monologue by Bill Murray yelling at you to enjoy Christmas, then please buy this movie! It is the worst movie we have ever seen. This is the only DVD that I have ever bought, watched, and thrown into the garbage. I usually give things away so others may enjoy them, but not this movie. It is absolutely horrendous. December 24, 2008

A classic retelling of a classic

Bill Murray at the height of his game. An amazing supporting cast. Just as fun after 20 years as the first time I saw it. Great, great movie. The scares can be a little too intense for small children, and there is one unfortunate nipple joke. Otherwise spot on. December 22, 2008

Lumpy makes me laugh!

One of my favorite Christmas traditions, I watch this every year!
I love the modern (okay, dated; but more modern) spin on this timeless classic which involves the Solid Gold Dancers and the role that modern television broadcasting plays in our lives.
Bill Murray, Bobcat Goldwaithe, and Carol Kane's characters provide you with enough laughs to make this a classic Christmas comedy with a real "feel good" message encouraging us all to put a little love in our hearts! December 12, 2008

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