Every Christmas break for as long as I can remember ( I have a terrible memory mind you, so don’t expect much) it’s become a tradition that I partake in watching the same three “Christmas Themed” movies. This was mostly due to TV Scheduling always playing the same movies every year, but I have upheld it for quite a few years now. The three movies are National Lampoons: Christmas Vacation, Die Hard and Scrooged. Now; Lampoon Vacation is understandable (It’s the ultimate family Christmas movie) and Die Hard is Die Hard, which should be watched at any given time, for any given reason on any given day, because if I could change my face it’d just be a symbolic representation of Die Hard (I’ll find a way to make it work) but why Scrooged? It’s just that silly Bill Murray movie with Bobcat going postal, isn’t it? Well it’s a little more than that to me under the surface.
Scrooged is a modern (Well 1988 modern) Re-telling of the Dickens’ Classic “A Christmas Carol” It uses it as a trope to intertwine between the two parallel recounts of the story. One: the TV stations “Live” version and the second: Frank Cross’ own personal story. Everyone knows the story – Mean old man who gets visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future in order to reflect on his mannerisms and interactions with friends and family and what he must do to alter things for the better. A true “Aesop-esque” fable presented well.
So what makes this stand out above other retellings? It’s the Characters. The Characters are some of the most memorable Characters to ever grace the screen. First: Bill Murray Playing Frank Cross, the modern day Scrooge – a mean spirited, conniving, unthoughtful, money- oriented goal, crass man. Murray plays this well, carrying the entire movie as the audience watches his character turn 180 Degrees into a big revelation at the end in which he embraces the actual cinematic audience, breaking the fourth –wall that is rarely done well. Claire Phillips (Karen Allen) is remembered as the sweet lovable love interest of Frank, a true catalyst in his reformation. Eliot Loudermilk (Bobcat Goldthwait) as the insane gun-toting employee, seeking revenge on his former boss, leading to some golden laughs and of course the three ghosts.
Director Richard Donner (Superman ‘78 and the Lethal Weapon Anthology) has helped showcase the three most memorable representations of the Christmas ghosts. If anyone was to mention The Dickens’ classic, or any form of string of words that encase “Ghosts” and “Christmas” I’m fairly certain these three characters will spring forth to mind. The Ghost of Christmas Past (David Johansen) a New York- Taxi inspired Cigar-smoking brute that tells it like it is, The Ghost of Christmas Present (Carol Kane) a Fairy more into corporal punishment, then mental recoupment and the Ghost of Christmas Future: Death portrayed as an physical entity that solemn speaks. All three bring a unique approach to the trails and tribulations of Cross and his journey into redemption.
Scrooged is a very enjoyable movie, that can feel corny at times, but I believe this to be the case on purpose. It’s a Christmas movie through and through, with a funny and enchanting story, memorable Characters and a positive message to gain, that will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside with the Christmas spirit.