(from http://fusedfilm.com) What made me want to see this one was Jim Carrey. I'll admit it. I think he's a genius, a freak of nature. I know most of the time he's overacting, but I think he's more versatile than that. I believe it takes someone willing to be as outrageous as he is to have such a range...
...and he was actually a great Scrooge.
We all know Dickens' story about a miserly sinner who changes his ways after seeing the big picture of his life... brought to him by three ghosts. My current favorite movie version of this story is the Muppet's Christmas Carol. They stay very close to the book, aside from the Gonzo and Rizzo adlibs and Michael Caine makes a wonderful Scrooge. Dickens wrote a timeless enough text that I think most filmmakers choose to use much of his writing for the dialogue (though I am also a fan of Scrooged starring Bill Murray which is really a modern reinvention of the original story). I am somewhat sad to say that these two version remain my favorites...
Zemeckis came so close... so close. The first hour of the movie is pretty good... but the last bits... oy... Just because you can do something with our new technologies and animation does not mean that you should.
So, I'll just point out the highlights since you already know the story... we'll venture through this review a little differently this week...
I really liked the casting. Jim Carrey plays the part of Scrooge as well as all the ghosts. I appreciate this idea since each ghost is really the past, present, and future of Scrooge himself. I guess since Carrey is worth about $20,000,000 per movie, Zemeckis decided he was going to really earn it. Gary Oldman also plays more than one role: he is the voice of Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim, and Bob Marley. Cary Elwes also has several speaking roles. Aside from the fun of the listening to what each actor can do, I'd say it's just efficient budgeting and probably entertaining for the performers as well. All the talent was excellent.
I really disliked the departure of The Ghost of Christmas Present. We're familiar with the idea of this ghost getting aging as he and Scrooge venture into other the dinning rooms of other people. His life only lasts for one day. But they destrory him in this film. His death is long and disturbing and his laughing bones eventually disintegrate into dust and blow away. Maybe the filmmakers wanted to drive home this "ugly truth" that once today is over, it's over, and your chances to make it better are gone. But, this was awfully dramatic and inconsistent with the tone of the movie before that point.
I really liked the animation. They got the awkwardness of The Polar Express under control. The humans of Polar Express were so very real looking, but their movements were strange and not very human. I have never been able to sit through the whole film because the weirdness of the movement distracts me, bothers me. The movement in this film is stunning. In the opening scene, they made an interesting choice to show you Scrooge standing by the open coffin of a particularly not handsome and very dead Jacob Marley. His hands shake not only with cold and age but with reluctance to part with his money. It's very well done. You do see throughout this movie the ocassional strain of weird movement, but, overall, they got it under control.
I really disliked this feeling of Scrooge's Big Adventure. There's a lot of fast flying and whatnot, and that's alright, but towards the end, you watch this completely pointless chase scene. It serves no purpose. It's not like that's how the ghost leads Scrooge from scene to scene of his potential fate. I could understand a minute or two of it... I like the symbolism of the future catching up with you... but this scene went on far too long. I was starting to get bored. There are also a couple of scenes populated with ghosts or street urchins that are a little... remember that Disney amusement park ride that's a Haunted Mansion? It was corny like that at moments.
I really like Marley. He was wonderfully dead and kind of gross. And though he's grotesque, I think they diffuse the scariness with a jaw that snaps out of joint and threatens to fall off. He looks and sounds great. I can't say much more than that. One of my favorite Christmas Carol stories is actualy MARLEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL by Tom Mula... so, Marley's a significant charcter for me. I appreciate that they reinvented him and did him justice in this new film.
I really, really dislike the very end of the movie. I would have let go of the other things I didn't like if they hadn't completely ruined the concluding scene. They break the frame of Cratchit's character to narrate the last part of the story. He left Scrooge's office in character, and then he turns to the camera and says how Scrooge "was better than his word and, to Tiny Tim, like a second father." Call it a hang up, but I think it was a poor directing and writing choice. It destroys the illusion. I wanted to choke up and shed a tear or two, it's a great story after all, but I just couldn't. I was so disappointed. Were it not for that moment, I would have recommended this movie anyway.
I guess I'm not specifically saying you shouldn't go see it... that first hour really is impressive. I just think they missed the mark when they were on the right track.There are many good things to look forward to seeing, but it falls short of what it could have been. It would be like your favorite TV show killing your favorite character and ending the series right in the middle of the season...
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