Scrooged

Dir: Richard Donner

1988

*****

Bill Murray's deadpan style is one of the reason why I, and everybody else, loves him. I don't think this/his style has suited a role better than the one he performs in Richard Donner's Scrooged. Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol had been done before and has been done to death since but this version is easily the best modern adaptation and the funniest of the comedies. It works on so many levels, the updated version of events didn't need exaggeration in order to work and the tradition vs commercialization theme that often runs through Christmas films is also masterfully explored. It's funny, tragic and terrifying in all the right places. The timing is perfect, the effects outstanding and, like I've already mentioned (but it's worth mentioning again) it is really very funny. The three ghosts are portrayed brilliantly, better than they ever had been before with some great performances and many pleasing cameos. Scrooged greatest achievement might just be in its successful mix of humour. It's not often that you can mix one-liners, deadpan, sarcasm, slap-stick, satire and black comedy together successfully, but Scrooged makes it look easy. It's hard to believe that Richard Donner and Bill Murray had a tough time working with each other, will all three brothers and many of his friends making an appearance, it seems Murray generally got his way though. There are very few Christmas films that I would consider essential annual viewing but Scrooged is one of them. Hell, I could watch it in the middle of summer.