Yule love it!
We all have our traditions during the holiday season. Things to get us in the mood, signposts that we’re really settling in to the festive spirit. For many, film is one of those key things to help stir the festive spirit. Whether it’s Die Hard or It’s a Wonderful Life, Gremlins, or Miracle on 34th Street, or for many, it’s one of the adaptations Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Scrooged is undeniably my personal favorite seasonal indulgence, and now celebrating 30 years since its original release, it gets a new Blu-ray release from Paramount just in time for the holidays.
Synopsis:
Comedy legend Bill Murray stars in this uproarious take on Charles Dickens’ classic tale, which has become a perennial favorite during the holidays. The film also features an all-star cast including Karen Allen, John Forsythe, Bobcat Goldthwait, Carol Kane, Robert Mitchum, and Alfre Woodard.
Frank Cross (Murray) is an uncaring, and unforgiving television executive whose live production of ‘A Christmas Carol’ is more important than any true meaning of Christmas. Before the night is over, he’ll take a hilarious journey through his past and into the future to find redemption and put a little love in his heart.
As a Christmas Carol adaptation, the bones of the film are right out of the novel. Frank Cross (aka Ebenezer Scrooge) is the head of the International Broadcasting Company, having climbed his way to the top in a notoriously cutthroat manner. When his position seems threatened by a young up and comer (John Glover), he focuses on his pet project, an adaptation of A Christmas Carol, one where he is determined to give it a hard (or rather terrifying) edge to drive up the ratings. As the lengths to which he’ll go to make this broadcast the TV event of the year become apparent, and the stress starts to take its toll, he is visited by his former boss Lew Hayward (John Forsyth, as Jacob Marley),warning him he will be visited by three ghosts before Christmas Eve is over. Cue David Johansen as the crude cabbie of Christmas past. Carol Kane as the ghost of Christmas present, a sugar-plum fairy that is all sweetness and light until you drive her to smash you in the face with a toaster. And finally the hooded and unsettling ghost of Christmas future, who shows Frank his eventual fate should he stay on the same path. While this all unfolds, fate reconnects Frank with an old flame (Karen Allen) who might offer his best shot at redemption.
Scrooged is set in the ‘80s and is certainly a product of its time, but the writing remains as sharp as ever. What’s really smart is that by having the adaptation within an adaptation, you get glimpses of a more traditional Dickensian tale. Sets showing snowy London streets, festive dance numbers, florid language from the original text, and more. It’s surprisingly dark — a funeral sequence in the film unsettled me greatly as a kid — but it comes from a place of providing a moral compass. To counter it of course is the lingering hope of redemption, as well as the vast assortment of decent people encircling this man flitting on the edge of damnation.
Murray is on fine form here; you can’t help but get a kick out of the casual cruelty he unleashes on those around him. Intimidation, bullying, firing people at Christmas, screwing them out of bonuses, giving old ladies heart attacks with a shocking trailer for his show, and even threatening to staple antlers onto mice. Gruff, snarky, and borderline silly bad guy behavior, perfect for the Christmas season. It’s all tempered by a nicely weaved in backstory for Cross, as well as the endearingly affable nature of Murray himself. Karen Allen in Scrooged was one of my very first crushes and is truly effulgent as Claire Philips, a warm and tender soul with steely determination and charming ability to wrangle this often awful man. She’s an essential counter throughout, a reminder of the best of us. Including the aforementioned ‘ghost’ actors, we also have wonderful work from Bobcat Goldthwait, Alfre Woodard, Mary Lou Retton, John Houseman, Michael J. Pollard, and more. It’s a tremendous ensemble that brings a familiar tale to life with a rather unique slant, but one that at its core it stays very true to the Dickens’ original intent.
The Package
Usually when you get one of these ‘anniversary releases’, it’s a repackaged version of an older release with underwhelming visuals. This may still be a re-release as opposed to a remaster, but the visuals on display are actually pretty good. Detail is solid, colors are natural, blacks and contrast are also a step up from broadcasts I’ve seen previously. Darker scenes, notably those outside, are a little muted though. Thankfully it doesn’t look too overly-processed either.
Extras are limited to a theatrical trailer, although the release does include a Blu-ray, DVD, and digital copy of the film.
The Bottom Line
Scrooged ticks so many boxes, it’s as near to a crowd-pleaser as you’re going to get. Bill Murray turns in one of his best performances, supported by a brilliant cast, delivering a hilarious slice of ‘80s comedy and an innovative retelling of a classic festive tale. Dark and joyous in equal measure, even after 30 years it still entertains and should be a staple of anyone’s holiday season. Never seen it? Pick up this Blu-ray and I guarantee “yule love it!”
Scrooged the 30th anniversary Blu-ray is available now from Paramount