What the world needs now is … well, one thing we sure don’t need now is another variation of “A Christmas Carol.”
Yet every other year we get a re-imagining/remake/reboot/retelling of the Charles Dickens’ story, and darned if the template doesn’t hold up under the most torturous of circumstances.
Like casting Matthew McConaughey as the Scrooge character.
The latest, “Disney’s A Christmas Carol,” offers a duel-edged distinction. It’s in 3-D and told via motion capture technology.
That’s the same approach “Carol” writer/director Robert Zemeckis took with “The Polar Express” and “Beowulf,” two films featuring characters whose eyes seemed to lack the spark of humanity.
Much of that is improved with the technologically enhanced “Carol” – it’s just the story itself which falls short in the humanity department.
“Carol” hews close to the source material, recalling the transformation of the cruel and calculating Scrooge (voiced by Jim Carrey) into something resembling a human being.
After a zillion retellings of “Carol” that doesn’t count as a spoiler, does it?
He spars with his loyal underling Bob Cratchit (voice by Gary Oldman) before returning to his home. Once there, he is visited by three ghosts who show him the error of his ways.
Zemeckis, once an intriguing director who gave us “Back to the Future” and “Forrest Gump,” has crossed over to the Dark Side of the Force like his peer, George Lucas. Both seem so deeply in love with technology that they make films without a beating, pulsing heart.
As beautiful as “Carol” may be, and it is stunning so often you’re never bored, it’s still an emotionally distant production. The stiff dialogue makes matters worse, even if it’s spoken by a terrific vocal cast including Colin Firth and Bob Hoskins.
And since we’ve seen this story arc play out over and a gain, we’re desperate for a curve ball to make the affair worth our while.
Carrey, who also voices a couple of the ghostly apparitions, delivers a uniquely cold vocal interpretation of Scrooge. He’s restrained but sinister, and there’s a craggy joy to the performance when he’s finally seen the light. It’s hard to fault any aspect of his contributions here, and the film would suffer immeasurably without him.
“Disney’s A Christmas Carol” is also a frightening affair for young viewers. Those iconic ghosts are not to be trifled with, and young viewers will be too scared to appreciate how Scrooge becomes a better man just in time for the holiday.
(Photo: Jim Carrey lends his voice – and physical traits – to Scrooge in the motion-capture feature “Disney’s A Christmas Carol.”)
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I just don’t see how this can surpass the phenomenal tv adaptation with George C. Scott as Scrooge. For a comical twist on the story, I love the Blackadder version of A Christmas Carol where a benevolent Scrooge learns that “bad guys have all the fun”.
Agreed, the George C. Scott one is the best one. Scott nails Scrooge.
The best comical interpretation I’ve seen was from the short-lived George Burns short-story show in the 80’s. Scrooge finds out that being willy-nilly with his money is not better than being niggardly.
Don’t forget Mickey’s Christmas Carol. It does a great job of condensing the plot into just under half an hour; and for most people under 35, it was the first version of the story that they saw. It’s also the only time that I can think of where the classic Disney characters ‘played’ other roles.
George C. Scott was good but the best “A Christmas Carol” was the 1951 version, also known as “Scrooge,” starring Alastair Sim. Anything after that version paled in comparison.
To this day all my Grandkids are terrified of The Polar Express. If they won’t mind just have to say ” if you don’t mind you will watch Polar Express”. Needless to say they are very good kids due to that horrible movie. Don’t think we will be going to see this Christmas Carol. I too love the George C Scott and Alstair Sims versions.
“… just in time for the holiday.” Et tu, Toto? Not one mention of the “holiday” by name that drives the entire story, except for the movie title. I hope the movie itself doesn’t take this PC tack.