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| Disney's A Christmas Carol |
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Starring: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Bob Hoskins, Robin Wright Penn
Rated: PG
Total Score : 
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If ever a work of fiction has had plenty of adaptations, it’s A Christmas Carol. For many, George C. Scott’s 1984 interpretation will always be the real Scrooge. Others may view one of the twenty-five (according to IMDB) film and television versions of the story as the definitive retelling. That said – and my own mediocre expectations aside – Jim Carrey as the irascible Ebenezer Scrooge is fantastic.
By now, everyone knows the basic story. Scrooge treats others (including the downtrodden, Bob Cratchit) awfully, in the pursuit of wealth. On Christmas Eve, the ghost of Scrooge’s partner, the chain-bearing and seven-years-dead Jacob Marley, visits him, warning Scrooge about his future, should he not change course. The visits from the three Ghosts of Christmas (past, present, and future) are all there. So is Tiny Tim, whose "God bless us, every one!" still moves, even when uttered by an animated little boy. What sets this movie apart, and elevates it from run-of-the-mill holiday fare is not the story itself, but how it is told.
From Carrey’s sullen elderly Scrooge, to his near-maniacal portrayal of the Ghost of Christmas Present, Carrey fully inhabits his every part in this film. He plays Scrooge as a little boy, a teenager, a young man, a middle-aged man, and an old man, in addition to playing the part of all three Ghosts of Christmas. He does this with his much of his usual gusto. However, at key moments he demonstrates a careful consideration that I’ve rarely taken note of in his movies. As Scrooge panics in the face of his supernatural guests, Carrey’s vocal inflections, and facial ticks (upon which the animators based their work) are surprisingly subdued. I’ve not seen such subtlety from Carrey since his interpretation of the angst of the title character in The Truman Show. Not once as Scrooge does he cross the line into the crass caricature that would have probably come so easy for him.
Particularly moving is the scene between Belle and Scrooge, as the childhood sweethearts part ways for the final time. Robin Wright Penn’s Belle aches to save Scrooge from himself, but she cannot cross the chasm between them. The threshold Scrooge passes in that moment was almost Faustian, and the triumvirate of screenwriters, animators, and actors nailed that sentiment sensationally.
In the end, though, this movie sinks or swims with Jim Carrey and his performance. While Gary Oldman’s Cratchit, and Penn’s Belle are certainly memorable characters, it is Carrey’s bravura, pitch-perfect performance that makes this retelling a classic.
Reviewed by K. Scott Bailey
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Go Wilkes! Users Reviews
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( Write Your Own Review )
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tobe3
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This is one movie I've got mixed feelings about. I would give it a thumbs up for overall audience, but honestly - for kids under 8 I'd skip it. My husband and I went and saw it as a date night movie to "preview" it for the kids and have decided no way will we take them to see it (they are both under 8.) There are several scenes where my husband leaned over and said, "They'd be scared to death right now!" One scene especially, Scrooge is shrunk down to the size of a mouse and is being chased by the Grim Reaper on a carriage - the horses are solid black and eyes are fiery red and he's chased through several scenes with those demonic horses snorting and chasing him.
Good attempt by Disney, just too scary for little kids.
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kscottbailey
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I almost included a line in my review to that effect, but then I got to thinking that most people will know that A Christmas Carol is a pretty dark story to begin with, and will at least preview it themselves before showing it to small children. I'd say that any child who's not prone to nightmares would do okay, but any child who IS prone to nightmares? Stay far FAR away!
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turtle35
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NOT BAD KIND OF BORING BEGINNING AND TOO LONG, BUT OVERALL OK WOULDN'T WATCH IT TWICE.
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
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