Scrooged (UK)

Once again one of my childhood favourite movie and after
10 years I was ready to see it again from the dvd disc.
So the story reminds me about the mixture of Ghostbusters and some christmas movies.It`s a legendary story about the greedy man who gets scrooged and he`s gotta travel trought time with some crazy ghosts (The point is that he must change his life, because he`s such a "mean pig").Bill Murray is as funny as always and this sure is one of his best movies and also one of the funniest "Richard Donner has ever done.The transfer is quite compared to the age of this movie.It sure is clear & sharp with good colors.The audio is dolby digital 5.1 and sounds superb.The extras include some trailer nothing else.

28llimaH[at]moc.liamtoh

I think the majority of those reading this review will already know what the plot for this movie is all about. There`s a big clue in the title for those that don`t because this is just a modern version of the classic "Ebeneezer Scrooge" story (from A Christmas Carol).

Bill Murray plays the familiar role of a mizerly spoil-sport and in truth, only the character name and setting differ from the original Dickens tale (he`s called Frank Cross, and is president of a TV station). I don`t think it`s a spoiler to reveal that Cross is visited by a variety of different spirits (including the ghosts of christmas past, present and future) who attempt to imbue a sense of regret and realisation in this mean-spirited man. Fans of Murray will have seen the film before and will remember how brilliantly he performs the role (especially in the first hour).

In actual fact the movie has several captivating performances to speak of, especially Carol Kane`s insane fairy ghost who repeatedly assaults Murray`s character (and she somehow manages to seem `sweet` and likeable at the same time!). Bobcat Goldthwait has a part in it too and he`s just one of many elements that carry a distinct 80`s feel. Whether that`s a bad thing or not depends entirely on the viewer (is it slightly dated or slightly nostalgic?).

It`s definitely the kind of tale that works better at Christmas, but I still find plenty to enjoy throughout the year. The finale is the only part that doesn`t really work out of season, although I`ve always thought the ending was over-cooked anyway. It`s SUCH a joy to watch Murray when he`s being cynical and uncaring, that any change in tone/mood seems a real shame!. I can`t fault the basic intention though and this is typical of Donner`s work (as the sentimental parts aren`t as cloying as they could have been). He`s the kind of director that makes you want to get involved in the storyline and the syrupy bits of his films are more palatable because you really care about the characters.

The disc has a decent 1.78:1 anamorphic image and a good DD5.1 track too. The audio isn`t as lively as more recent offerings, but it`s certainly superior to the Surround audio on my VHS copy (and the Danny Elfman score has never sounded so good). It`s a Paramount back-catalogue title so "added value" comes in the form of a theatrical trailer (and nothing else!). It`s a missed opportunity extras-wise as there MUST be some other promo features lying around somewhere and I bet Donner would have been happy to do a commentary if he`d been asked. Still, good picture and sound are the most important aspects of any disc, so at least the basics are presented to a good standard.

Basically, this is a solidly entertaining Christmas film with some nice performances and a good-natured feel. The final third is a bit too heavy-handed for my taste, but it works okay at the right time of year and there`s more than enough quality overall to make it work.