Charles Dickens was probably unaware that when he wrote A Christmas Carol he was writing the
most prolific Christmas tale in history. A story that has spawned a thousand
incarnations including, but not limited to, both a Muppet and Disney version of
Ebenezer Scrooge’s tale of redemption. Needless to say it takes a lot to stand
out in a pool that deep. We shouldn’t be surprised though, if anyone can stand
out in a crowd its Bill F%#king Murray.
Scrooged takes on
the classic A Christmas Carol format
with the story of Frank Cross, an ultimate 80s business man/capitalist type who’s
forsaken all of the good things in life like love, family and friends, for his career
as the head of television network. Framing the story is the production of IBC’s
(the network) live production of, you guessed it, A Christmas Carol. So right there you know a little about Frank, he’s
making the entire production work all night Christmas Eve to put on a live
show. The film starts with Frank firing an executive, Elliot Laudermilk (played
perfectly by Bobcat Goldthwait), giving his brother the shaft both in the gift
he’s sending and by not attending his yearly Christmas party, and screwing over
his long suffering assistant Grace. Summary: Frank’s a dick. In comes the ghost
of his mentor warning Frank of a visit from three ghosts and we’re on our way. 
Bill Murray, it’s Bill Murray. There are a ton of reasons
that this movie is a top 3 choice for me around Christmas but none of it works
without Murray. We know he’s great at playing the jerk so that’s no surprise,
but it’s what makes him likeable that really cements it. There’s a fine line
between that funny sarcastic guy in your social group and the jerk-off that no
one wants to hang out with, Murray has always expertly towed that line and it’s
no more on display than it is during Scrooged.
There’s also the little things that he always brings to his performances that
are so endearing, things that I can’t really put a finger on. Things like a
certain inflection he puts on words and the way his voice gets really high when
he’s excited, it all wraps together to create the perfect Ebenezer
Scrooge-esque character. 
Murray alone does not a classic make, the ensemble really
launches this flick into the atmosphere. I already mentioned Bobcat Goldthwait,
who I’ve always had a soft spot for. Then there’s Karen Allen as Cross’s long
lost love Claire, who’s impossibly cute doe-eyed look makes you believe she
could melt the ice around Frank’s heart. Alfre Woodard’s Grace in the Bob
Cratchit role. It’s her section of the story that really brings the Christmas
spirit. The scene where Frank sees her family in their small apartment, a
grandma, Grace, and four kids without a Christmas tree because they couldn’t
afford it, this is where the change begins to happen. It’s really a life lesson
for everyone around Christmas, here’s this family with little to nothing and
still they are the happiest bunch in the whole film. I challenge anyone to not
get misty eyed when Grace’s son (the tiny Tim of our story) says “God Bless us
every one” in the closing minutes.
Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night!
